How to Figure Blackjack Payouts

Blackjack is a very popular form of gambling played by millions of people every day all over the world. If you play blackjack (sometimes called “21”), then you should be able to figure the blackjack payouts. You want to be aware of what you should be paid ahead of time. This will give you the confidence to track your money (and winnings) at all times. The following steps give you the information needed to know how to figure blackjack payouts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blackjack game

1. Comprehend the fundamentals of blackjack. Blackjack is a gambling game played with a deck of cards or several decks. It involves a dealer and from one to many blackjack players. The objective of blackjack is to get as close to 21 as you can (to beat the dealers hand), without going over. If you do go over 21, you forfeit your hand and lose your money. If the dealer goes over, then every blackjack player still in the game wins. When you have a hand equal to the dealers’ hand, you tie (neither win nor lose). Every one starts with two cards and one of the dealers cards is face up on the table. Each player is given an opportunity to receive additional cards to improve their hand. At the end of the game if your hand is higher than the dealers, you win. There are several different payout involved in blackjack as detailed in the following steps.

2. Identify the most common blackjack payout. A large amount of your blackjack hands will have “even money” or a one to one payout. This includes all bets placed, all hands that are split and all hands that double down. You will receive an equal amount to your bet placed, if you win the blackjack hand.

3. Know what a blackjack pays. When your first two cards are 21, you have blackjack or what is known as a natural 21. This hand pays three to two or 1 ½ of the bet. The easiest way to figure this payout is to take the amount of your bet and add half of this amount to it. Examples would be: $5 would be 5 + 2.50 (half of five) for a total payout of $7.50, $10 would be 10 + 5 (half of 10) equals $15, $18 would be 18 + 9 equals $27, $25 would 25 + 12.50 equals $37.50 and so on. The more you do the math, the easier it becomes.

4. Understand insurance payouts. The only other payout in blackjack is the insurance bet. This is a side bet that the dealer has a blackjack and is not required. If you take insurance and the dealer does have a blackjack, your insurance bet will pay two to one. If your insurance bet is $5, you would win 2 x 5 or $10, a $9 bet would pay $18 (2 x 9) and so on. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, you simply lose the insurance bet; not your original bet.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have any questions during a game, ask the dealer, other player or pit boss for assistance.