Single Deck Blackjack is blackjack dealt from one 52-card deck, which gives one of the lowest house edges in the casino. At Bovada, Ignition, Cafe Casino and Slots LV it pays 3 to 2, the dealer hits soft 17 and bets run from $1 to $300. You can play it for real money in casino apps and mobile browsers.
- Blackjack with one 52-card deck, reshuffled every hand
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2 online, unlike many 6 to 5 tables in Las Vegas
- One of the lowest house edges in the casino
- Real money Single Deck Blackjack at Bovada, Ignition, Cafe Casino and Slots LV
Single Deck Blackjack is blackjack in its purest form: one 52-card deck, a dealer and you. It’s the version card counters made famous and the one many players look for first when they want the best odds. In land-based casinos it has become rare, and often pays only 6 to 5 on a blackjack. Online, you can still play Single Deck Blackjack for real money with a 3 to 2 payout, on your phone, at any time of day.
This review covers the rules, the house edge, basic strategy for one deck and where to find a good Single Deck Blackjack app for real money.
What is Single Deck Blackjack?
As the name says, the game is dealt from a single deck of 52 cards instead of a six- or eight-deck shoe. Fewer decks means more blackjacks for the player, fewer pushes when you both have blackjack and a lower house edge overall. That’s why casinos usually compensate with stricter rules, and why it pays to read the rules of each version before you play.
Online, there’s one important difference with a live table: the deck is reshuffled after every hand. That keeps the low house edge but makes card counting useless, because the count resets every round.
Single Deck Blackjack rules
The online versions at Bovada, Ignition, Cafe Casino and Slots LV use essentially the same rules:
- One deck, reshuffled after every hand
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2, insurance pays 2 to 1
- Dealer hits on soft 17
- Double down on any two cards, also after splitting
- Split once, for a maximum of two hands
- Split aces receive one card each, with no re-splitting of aces
- A split ace and a 10-value card count as 21, not blackjack
- No surrender
- Bets from $1 to $300 per hand
Bovada also offers a Classic Single Deck Blackjack alongside the newer version, so you can choose the layout you prefer.
Single Deck Blackjack house edge
With a 3 to 2 payout and basic strategy, single deck blackjack has one of the lowest house edges in the casino, often quoted at around 0.15% to 0.5% depending on the rules. Bovada describes its single-deck game as having the best theoretical return of all its blackjack games. The dealer hitting soft 17 and the lack of surrender cost the player a little, but the free doubling rules give some of that back.
The one rule to avoid is a 6 to 5 payout on blackjack, which is common at single-deck tables in Las Vegas and adds well over a percentage point to the house edge. Always check the payout before you sit down.
Single Deck Blackjack strategy
Basic strategy for one deck differs slightly from multi-deck strategy. Doubling becomes more attractive, because each card you see changes the remaining deck more. A few examples for a game where the dealer hits soft 17:
- Double on 11 against every dealer card, including an ace
- Double on 9 against dealer 2 to 6
- Double on hard 8 against dealer 5 or 6
- Double soft 13 to 18 against weaker dealer cards more often than in multi-deck games
- Always split aces and 8s, and never split 10s or 5s
- Never take insurance
For the best results, use a single deck blackjack strategy chart that matches the exact rules of your game. Ignition’s game page even includes charts for its version.
How to play Single Deck Blackjack on your phone
There’s no separate Single Deck Blackjack app in the stores. You play it inside a casino app or in your phone’s browser:
- Pick one of the casino apps below and create an account
- Open the table games or blackjack section and select Single Deck Blackjack
- Drag a chip onto the table and tap Deal
- Hit, stand, double or split, with buttons that only appear when they’re available
Most of these casinos also offer a practice mode, so you can try the game without real money before you play.
Where to play Single Deck Blackjack for real money
US players can play real money Single Deck Blackjack at Bovada, Ignition, Cafe Casino and Slots LV, all with the rules above and bets from $1 to $300. Slots LV also runs blackjack tournaments that include Single Deck Blackjack. Below are the casino apps we recommend for this game.
Mobile experience
Single Deck Blackjack is one of the best casino games to play on a phone. The minimalist layout shows only the buttons you need, hands play quickly and there’s no waiting for other players. Because it’s an RNG game, it works fine on a weaker connection too, unlike live dealer blackjack.
Can you count cards in online Single Deck Blackjack?
Not in the RNG versions. Card counting works at a physical table because the cards that have been played are gone until the next shuffle. Online, the deck is reshuffled after every hand, so each round starts with a full 52-card deck and there’s nothing to track. The upside is that the game is completely predictable in a different way: with perfect basic strategy, your long-term return depends only on the rules, not on how deep into the deck the dealer goes. That makes Single Deck Blackjack a clean, fair test of your strategy skills.
Single Deck Blackjack vs other blackjack games
If you want the lowest house edge with simple rules, this is the game to play. Spanish 21 offers more options and bonus payouts, Free Bet Blackjack gives you free doubles and splits in a live setting, and Power Blackjack lets you triple or quadruple your bet on strong hands.
More blackjack apps
Compare all formats in our blackjack apps guide. Single Deck Blackjack is also a great game to practise basic strategy before you try other variants. If you’d rather practise for free first, try MobilityWare Blackjack for strategy training or Blackjackist for multiplayer tables with virtual chips.
Pros and cons
- One of the lowest house edges in the casino
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2
- Double on any two cards, also after splitting
- Fast, minimalist gameplay on mobile
- Available at several popular US casino apps
- Dealer hits soft 17
- Split only once and no surrender
- Card counting is impossible online
- Maximum bet of $300 per hand
Play Single Deck Blackjack in these 3 casino apps
18+ (21+ where required) · T&Cs apply
18+ (21+ where required) · T&Cs apply · Min. deposit $20 · 25x wagering on the casino part · Live dealer and Hot Drop Jackpots excluded
18+ (21+ where required) · T&Cs apply
Features
Single Deck Blackjack app FAQ
Where can I play Single Deck Blackjack for real money?
US players can play Single Deck Blackjack at Bovada, Ignition, Cafe Casino and Slots LV, in their mobile casinos or apps.
Is there a Single Deck Blackjack app?
There's no standalone app in the stores. You play Single Deck Blackjack inside casino apps or in your phone's browser.
What are the rules of online Single Deck Blackjack?
One deck reshuffled after every hand, blackjack pays 3 to 2, the dealer hits soft 17, you can double on any two cards, split once and there's no surrender.
Can you count cards in online Single Deck Blackjack?
No. The deck is reshuffled after every hand, so there's nothing to count.
Is Single Deck Blackjack better than multi-deck blackjack?
With a 3 to 2 payout, yes. A single deck gives you more blackjacks and a lower house edge. Avoid tables that pay only 6 to 5.