Blackjack is an exciting game of probability, strategy, and chance. There are circumstances when the player and dealer get a hand that instantly wins a game. When this happens, will the player lose their stake or still win their hand?
This article will discuss natural Blackjack and what happens should the dealer and players draw it.
When More Players Get 21 in Blackjack
In Blackjack, players never compete against each other. Each player's hand is considered in a vacuum against the dealer's hand.
Blackjack does not play like poker, where there is a communal pot that everyone is competing for. In Blackjack, it is always the player against the dealer. Nothing happens to you or other players at the table if someone else gets a natural blackjack hand. The dealer will pay them all.
When Players and the Dealer Gets 21 in Blackjack
In Blackjack, we have this term called blackjack push or blackjack tie. This occurs when both the dealer and the player have similar hand value. In this case, the hand is a push, so the round is voided, and the player's initial wager will be returned.
Dealers usually stand with 17 or more, where their hand results in 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, or bust. Remember that the point total must not go below 17 since that would require the dealer to draw another card. Also, make sure not to get total points higher than 21 because that would indicate that either the dealer or player would bust. When the results are tied, a push is called. If this happens, you neither lose nor win. Your initial wager will just be refunded when your hand pushes.
The probability of the dealer and player having Blackjack in an average 6-deck table is about 1 in 461. Meanwhile, for average players, the blackjack odds of experiencing a push or tie are 8% of the total hands he plays. You can minimize the casino house edge to less than 1%. However, the situation can get quite complicated regarding the odds of blackjack ties.
Ways to Win a Blackjack Tie
If you are in a situation where both the dealer and player are tied in a blackjack game, there are other ways you can still make money in this situation.
Blackjack Insurance
When the dealer receives an ace as their first card, the player will be offered 'insurance.' Blackjack Insurance is a side wager on whether the dealer's hidden card fulfills their Blackjack. Though it pays a ratio of 2:1, the wager is limited to half the starting wager. Thus, once the player precisely predicts and the dealer gets a blackjack, the player will lose their starting wager but collect double their insurance bet. In the end, the player will only obtain their initial wager back, sometimes called 'even money.'
Blackjack Tie Side Bet
Various casinos have specialty blackjack tables that include side bets to their regular blackjack game. These side bets include Blackjack perfect pairs, 21+3, Push Your Luck, Push, or Tie.
A standard side bet is where you must put your wager behind your primary stake in the side bet box. You must remember that regardless of winning the main hand, you will lose the side bet if you do not meet its requirements. Perfect pairs are one of the standard side bets in Blackjack. It is a choice that only focuses on your two-hole cards, which need to be a pair with similar values. This Blackjack side bet's payout depends on the following:
- Colored: 10:1
- Mixed Pair: 5:1
- Perfect Pair: 30:1
Another side bet is the tie bet, where you guess both player and dealer have finished on the same total points. Depending on the casino, a tie bet usually pays roughly 8:1 or 9:1. On this side bet, you can generally bet just half of your primary wager. Also, if you have to split your hand, you should split the side bet. Although, you will need to leave the side bet in place once you double down.
Note that blackjack side bets have the highest house edge in the game due to their incredible variance rate or high risk-vs-reward. Only consider them if you are playing Blackjack casually. Avoid any side bet if you use a bankroll to increase your limited fund of $100 to $1,000.
What is a Natural 21 in Blackjack?
The blackjack game's objective is to ensure that your hand value is closer to 21 than the dealer without exceeding 21. All cards are at face value, except for the Jack, Queen, and King, which count as 10. An ace has two values since this card can count as 11 or 1.
When the first two cards of a player are a "ten-card" and an ace - giving an overall value of 21 - it is called a "natural blackjack." Anyone who draws this blackjack hand automatically wins the game and gets a payout of 3:2 or 6:5. There is no need to consider hitting, standing, or doubling down. Unfortunately, this is also true for the dealer who beats other players on the table who do not have a natural blackjack.
Though the odds are slim, there's a possibility that a blackjack push or tie will happen. If you experience this, it simply results in scenarios where no one loses or wins. Fortunately, you can still make money on a tie with side bets.
This article was published on August 27, 2022, and last updated on October 26, 2022.