House edge: 0.52%
Expected cost of this session: – (edge × total action; single sessions swing far wider)
Common rule sets, precomputed
| Rules | House edge |
|---|---|
| 3:2, S17, DAS, double any (the good game) | 0.52% |
| 3:2, H17, DAS, double any | 0.73% |
| 3:2, H17, DAS, late surrender | 0.63% |
| 6:5, S17, DAS, double any | 1.87% |
| 6:5, H17, no DAS, double 9–11 only (the tourist trap) | 2.31% |
How to read the result
The edge is the long-run average cost per unit wagered with correct basic strategy for the displayed rules. The session figure multiplies it by your total action (bet × hands × hours); it is an expectation, and any single session lands well above or below it. The per-rule lines show what each unfavourable rule adds against the best available version of that rule, so you can see exactly what walking to a better table is worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where do these numbers come from?
- Each of the 96 rule combinations was computed by our expected-value engine at build time, playing out every dealer outcome under an infinite-deck model. The page only looks results up; no mathematics runs in the browser.
- Why does my casino's brochure say a different number?
- Published figures usually assume a specific shoe size. Our model treats draws as independent, which sits a few hundredths of a percent from an exact six-deck analysis; rule DIFFERENCES match published values. The methodology page spells out the model.
- What is the single most expensive rule?
- The payout. 6:5 blackjack adds about +1.35 percentage points to whatever the rest of the rules produce - more than every other bad rule combined.
Every figure behind this calculator is computed by the site's blackjack expected-value engine (infinite-deck model, disclosed on the methodology page) and checked against published rule deltas before the page is built. The browser only formats results.