How many decks are used in blackjack?

The number of decks is one of the first things that varies from table to table. Some games use a single 52-card deck; others shuffle six or eight together into a shoe. It changes the odds a little and the counting a lot, but the game you play feels the same.

Quick answer: It varies by table. Blackjack can be played with one deck, two decks, or - most commonly in casinos - six or eight decks dealt from a box called a shoe. More decks slightly increase the house edge and make card counting harder, but the basic rules and strategy stay almost the same.

Common deck counts

Single-deck and double-deck games are usually dealt from the dealer's hand. Six-deck and eight-deck games are dealt from a shoe and are the casino standard today. More decks mean more total cards, but each card matters a little less to the odds of the next.

How decks affect the edge

Adding decks nudges the house edge up slightly - roughly 0.5% higher going from one deck to eight, all else equal - mainly because natural blackjacks come a bit less often. It is a small effect, and single-deck is only better if the payout is a true 3 to 2.

Why casinos use more decks

More decks and continuous shuffling make card counting far harder, which is why shoes dominate. Our site offers everything from single-deck to multi-deck games so you can feel the difference. Browse them on the games page.

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Related questions

Is single-deck blackjack better?

Single-deck blackjack lowers the house edge slightly - by about 0.5% compared with a six-deck game - if the rules are otherwise equal. The catch is that many single-deck games quietly pay only 6 to 5 on blackjack, which adds back far more than the single deck saves. A single deck only helps when it pays a true 3 to 2.

How does card counting work in blackjack?

Card counting keeps a running tally of the cards already played to estimate whether the remaining deck is rich in high cards or low cards. High cards (tens and Aces) favor the player, so a counter bets more when the count is high and less when it is low. It is legal skill, not cheating, but it does not work against online shuffling.

What's the difference between blackjack variants?

Variants differ in the number of decks, whether the dealer hits soft 17, the blackjack payout, and any bonus rules or special hands. Some changes help players (like Spanish 21's bonuses), some help the house (like even-money blackjacks). The core goal - beat the dealer without busting - stays the same across all of them.