Number of decks used in Blackjack?

Does anyone know how many decks of cards RCCL uses to play Blackjack? We are sailing on Independence.Thanks for any help!!

Unless you are planning on counting cards does it make a difference? I think the average casino uses six (or so my brother tells me).

Not a avid gambler so I am just curious as to what prompted the question.

On our last cruise on the Brilliance, in May, they had two 21 tables, one used a shoe and had what looked to be 6-7 decks of cards and they shuffled about half way through the shoe...the other one was single deck BUT on the single deck table they only payed 6 to 5 for blackjacks.

They have both multi deck and single deck tables.

Unless you are planning on counting cards does it make a difference? I think the average casino uses six (or so my brother tells me).

 

Not a avid gambler so I am just curious as to what prompted the question.

Thanks for the responses. The reason for the question was different strategy for different number of decks used. Thanks again!

This doesn't help OP but just got off Carnival. They had 3 blackjack games, a traditional with continuous shuffling 6 decks, a game called fun 21, and dealer cards up blackjack.

Fun 21 was interesting because you could double down anytime (even with 3 or 4 cards) and surrender anytime. 21 got paid immediately, before dealer played his hand or checked for blackjack. They removed Queens from the game, not sure how this helps the house.

Cards up was just silly, the dealers cards were dealt up. Can't lose, right? Dealer wins pushes, so if you've got 20 and so does dealer, you need to hit for an Ace. People were getting cleaned out, lol!

A side story, there was a family betting big money on our 4 day carnival. They were farmers, the patriarch was bankrolling the whole thing. They'd walk up, plop down 2 or 3 grand and bet hundreds per hand, multi hands sometimes. They lose $200, next hand is $500. Dude was down $42,000 on day 3. Last day we saw him playing (he was up big) but all his people weren't, they were drunk on top deck.

Usually 6-8 decks....if it's a continuous shuffle machine....they will beat your ass everytime!

Usually 6-8 decks....if it's a continuous shuffle machine....they will beat your ass everytime!

They didn't use automatic shufflers on the Brilliance, so I guess different ships different ways of doing it.

And they bet your ass every time because the game is rigged for the house. They get to play last, which gives them a huge advantage, and they don't pay the real odds for blackjack, plus they have to follow a very strict rule of play....the dealer doesn't get to play their hunches! And if you play the optional prop bets your money really disappears fast...and they don't pay the right odds on those either.

Usually 6-8 decks....if it's a continuous shuffle machine....they will beat your ass everytime!

Yup your right

Six decks for regular but they usually have a single deck as well. They change some of the rules and odds on the single deck.

Thanks for the responses. The reason for the question was different strategy for different number of decks used. Thanks again!

Let us know how it works out.:rolleyes:

Usually 6-8 decks....if it's a continuous shuffle machine....they will beat your ass everytime!

Isn't reshuffling irrelevant to the odds on the next card drawn?

Does the dealer have to stay on a soft 17?

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Does the dealer have to stay on a soft 17?

 

 

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Dealer has to stay on any 17.

Statistically, I have been told, the odds at Black Jack are about as good as it gets in the casino. As Desertbelle previously said, the dealer plays last and therein lies the one advantage that the dealer has over the individual players. The odds turn in the players favor when the dealer has to hit everything from 16 & below. Every player at the table could stick on a number lower than 16 and even though the dealer knows this they are still obligated to take a card. Where the odds favor them is that they need only beat a certain number of people on each hand. If you stay in the game at least you have a chance. If you bust prior to the dealer you lose every time. Better to avoid hitting high numbers assuming that the dealer has a hand that beats you. Stay in the game and at least have a chance to win if the dealer busts.

Does the dealer have to stay on a soft 17?

 

 

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Dealer must hit Soft 17.

They use 8 decks of cards.

Sherry