Understanding the Charlie rules and the Vegas rules at a blackjack table
We’re relatively sure that many novice blackjack players wonder if 5-6-7-10-card Charlie or Vegas Style rules are more advantageous? However, before answering this, we feel that breaking down what each game style offers is essential. So below, we’ve recapped some of the rules you’ll stumble on as you play online blackjack.
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5-card Charlie, 6-card Charlie, 7-card Charlie, or 10-card Charlie rule + how does it affect how you play blackjack?
For most people, winning a blackjack hand means either getting a blackjack with 2 cards or beating the dealer before going bust. But if you sit at a blackjack table that uses the 7-card Charlie rule (or the 10, 5, or 6-card Charlie rule), you have another way of winning.
Indeed, in some online casino variations of the game, such as Evolution‘s Infinite Blackjack or Evolution’s live blackjack, you’ll win your bet back even without beating the dealer. This is because these tables use the 6-card Charlie or the 7-card Charlie rule.
Charlie rules Blackjack – So how is this advantageous for you?
To put it simply, you’ll win a hand at a 5-6-7-10-card Charlie table even if you don’t beat the dealer. But if you have drawn the indicated number of cards by the Charlie rule.
So let’s put this in context.
Suppose your hand’s total is 4, and the dealer shows a 2. If you know your basic blackjack strategy well, you’ll hit as it’s recommended. Then suppose the following cards you get are 2, 2, 3, giving you a total of 12. According to the basic blackjack strategy chart, you should hit again. But if you’re sitting at a 6-card Charlie table, you might want to stand. Indeed, this is because you’ll automatically win because you’ve drawn 6 cards without going bust even if you don’t beat the dealer. So, you’ll get even money back just for reaching a total that’s below 21 and for drawing 6 cards.
Charlie rules Blackjack – What are your odds?
It’s true that winning a hand because of the Charlie rule won’t happen frequently. Indeed, you should estimate that you’ll beat the dealer with the 6-card Charlie rule (like in Infinite blackjack) on average 1 time in 400 hands. And if the table you’re sitting at uses the 5-card Charlie rule, you’ll win a hand this way on average every 15 draws. If it’s a 7-card Charlie table, you’re sitting at. Your chances of beating the dealer with 7 cards and not going bust are down to 1: 4,600 hands. So in those cases, it’s best to follow the basic blackjack strategy chart you’ve mastered.
Essentially, the 7-card Charlie rule only gives a 0.01% edge to the house. So, these tables are hard to come by. On a 6-card Charlie table, the casino edge is 0.16%, and on a 5-card Charlie, the house gets an edge of 1.46%.
A closer look at the Vegas rules
To sum up, there are two variations of the Vegas rules, and it indicates when the dealer needs to stop drawing cards. It’s worth pointing out that in both cases, the table you’re sitting at, whether it uses the strip rule or the Downtown Vegas rule, may also have a Charlie rule in place. Again, you have to ask the dealer, and they’ll fill you in.
But let’s see the 2 Vegas rules you could stumble on as you play.
Las Vegas Strip Rules into more details
If you’re sitting at a Las Vegas Strip Rule table, it’s worth knowing that the dealer will draw until the house reaches a total of 16. And no more cards are taken from the shoe when the dealer’s total is 17 to 21. At a Las Vegas Strip Rules table, you can also split all pairs, even aces, in some cases. If the house allows aces split, you’ll typically only get 1 extra card. On these tables, re-splitting is generally permitted. And so are double downs after a hand was split.
Downtown Las Vegas Rules into more details
To simplify things, you should think of the Downtown Las Vegas Rules as another blackjack variation. Although the Downtown Las Vegas Rules table uses the fundament of the Las Vegas Strip Rules. The main difference is that the dealer will draw to a soft 17. Then he or she will stand on a hard 17 to 21.
Besides, it’s worth pointing out that Downtown Las Vegas Rules tables are typically stricter after splits. Experienced blackjack players will tell you that it’s always best to play a table that uses Las Vegas Strip Rules because the rules are softer. But in the end, it’s up to you to follow the expert advice or not. And to know the rule of the table, all you have to do is check the felt. It’s easy like that.
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