Compare two tables before choosing a game. Set the payouts and rules for each game to see which differences favor the player and how much they may change the estimated house edge.
Side-by-side comparison
Compare two blackjack games
Assumes correct basic strategy and conventional blackjack. Side bets and variants such as Spanish 21 are outside the model.
Estimated result
Game A has the better rules
| Rule | Game A | Game B | Estimated effect |
|---|
How the comparison is calculated
The model begins with an approximate 0.50% benchmark: eight decks, S17, double on any first two cards, double after split, up to four hands, no resplitting aces, no hitting split aces, no surrender and a 3:2 payout. It then applies each rule’s effect on player return.
The effects are additive for a clear comparison. Exact combinatorial results can differ because rules interact, cut-card dealing differs from shuffling every hand and some strategies depend on composition. This comparison does not establish a fixed error bound for every combination.
Read percentage points and payout ratios correctly
In the reset example, Game A is estimated at 0.70% and Game B at 2.09%. Subtracting gives 1.39 percentage points, not a 1.39% relative increase. At an identical total of 1,000 units in initial wagers, the model implies expected losses of 7.00 and 20.90 units: a difference of 13.90. It does not predict the loss in a particular session.
The payout ratio applies to a qualifying natural blackjack, not every winning hand. With a 5-unit initial bet, a winning natural earns 7.50 units at 3:2 or 6 units at 6:5, plus return of the initial stake in either case. The 1.50-unit difference occurs on that result; the modeled 1.39-point effect averages the payout change over all rounds.
Isolate one rule before comparing a whole table
- Enter the full rules for Game A and select Copy A to B. Identical inputs should give zero difference.
- Change one rule in Game B, such as the natural payout. Read the difference table to identify its modeled effect.
- Enter the other verified differences, then check whether the game has an unmodeled rule, such as a different dealer-blackjack settlement procedure. Do not use the displayed number as an exact answer for such a game.
A lower estimated house edge still requires a strategy chart matched to the rules. Optional bets and playing errors can add costs. Use the strategy recommendation tool to study decisions and the session links above to explore the same expected-loss assumptions.
Included rule effects
| Change | Approximate player effect |
|---|---|
| 6:5 instead of 3:2 | −1.39 points |
| H17 instead of S17 | −0.22 |
| No double after split | −0.14 |
| Double on 9–11 / 10–11 only | −0.09 / −0.18 |
| Late surrender | +0.07 |
| Resplit aces | +0.08 |
| Hit split aces | +0.19 |
Sources and limitations
- Wizard of Odds: effect of blackjack rule variations
- Wizard of Odds: house-edge calculator methodology
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board: 6:5 rule analysis
Always verify the complete rules. This tool does not model penetration, card counting, strategy errors, side bets or unconventional variants.