6-Deck Blackjack Strategy – A Concise Guide To The Basics

In many ways, the casino game of blackjack is one of the most satisfying gaming experiences you can find in the casino, whether online or off. That’s because, to win, you’ll need a thorough understanding of both the gameplay and the best strategies for winning. You may have heard of perfect blackjack strategies. This refers to the fact that the game involves some mathematics dealing with the odds. Meaning that there is, in theory, an optimal way of playing every hand against the dealer.

6-Deck Blackjack Strategy 

When it comes to the game of blackjack, you’ll find that there are many variations. The primary reason for this is that the rules of the game are incredibly flexible. Today we thought we’d have a deep dive into the 6-deck blackjack strategy. Keep in mind that the main difference between playing 8-deck, double deck, single deck, and 6-deck blackjack are the effects each deck of cards will have on the house edge. But you’ll also find the blackjack strategy charts that can be used to play blackjack and find the best house edge or RTP.

The Best & Worst 6-Deck Blackjack Strategy Tables

Without a doubt, the use of 6 decks in the game of blackjack is the most common number of decks used in both land-based and online casinos. You’ll find that one of the positive points about playing at the 6-deck table, is that the rules are going to be fairly liberal. This is because the casino already gains an extra percentage point for each additional deck that’s added to the shoe.

6 deck blackjack strategy
Picture Source: Flickr

If you’re playing at a 6-deck blackjack table, then you’ll find the following rules: S17, DAS, RSA, ES & DOA

  • Dealer Stands on Soft 17 (S17)
  • Double Down After Split (DAS)
  • Re-Splitting Allowed (RSA)
  • Early Surrender Allowed (ES)
  • Double Down on Any Total Allowed (DOA)
  • Blackjack Pays 3-2

Be wary if you’re a novice at the blackjack tables. It’s quite possible to find some land-based casinos, especially those in tourist hot spots, which will have house rules heavily tilted towards the casino. They rely on the fact that most of the visitors are tourists, who just like spending some hours foolishly filling time.

The Worse Strategy Tables

Some of the worst of these 6-deck blackjack strategy tables will have the following rules: H17, NDAS, NRSA, NS, NDOA, and blackjack pays 6-5!

  • Dealer Stands on 17 (S17)
  • No Double Down After Split (NDAS)
  • There’s No Re-Splitting Allowed (RSA)
  • No Surrender Rules (NS)
  • Double Down on 9 Total Only (D9)
  • Blackjack Pays 6-5

This latter list gives the casino advantage by increasing the house edge. Whereas with the former list, you’ll see that the advantage goes to the player by reducing the house edge.

6 deck blackjack strategy
Picture Source: Pxfuel

So when you’re looking for a 6-deck blackjack table to play at, you must find as many rules as possible that are going to work in your favor. To that end, we’ve listed a few of the rules you may come across at the best online blackjack sites, like King Billy Casino. But keep in mind that some of them might be quite rare. Some may not even exist in some varieties of blackjack. Nevertheless, it’s important to be aware of these rules. They can certainly offer you an advantage over the house.

Double Downs

  • Double Down on 10 or 11 (D10)
  • Doubling down on soft count (Rare)
  • Double down on three cards (Rare)
  • Doubling on any number of cards (Rare)
  • Redouble (Rare)

Surrender

  • Late Surrender Allowed (LS)
  • Surrender any number of cards
  • Surrender after Double

Splits

  • Surrender after Split
  • Split any time
  • Multiple draws after split Aces

The Worst Hand In 6-Deck Blackjack

It doesn’t matter what variant of blackjack you’re playing, but the dreaded 16 hands are often considered to be the worst hand available. It’s a hand that will leave many blackjack players quaking their boots. That’s because it’s so easy to go bust, and yet at the same time, also very easy for the horse to beat. Unfortunately, many players fail to utilize the basic 6-deck blackjack strategy.

6 deck blackjack strategy
Picture Source: Pixabay

As a result, they tend to stand on this hand, especially when the dealer has a 7, 8, 9, 10, or an Ace-upcard. But if you understood the perfect 6-deck blackjack strategy, you would instantly know this is the wrong move to make.

Here are your 6-deck blackjack strategy options with 16 total:

  • Stand only when the dealer has a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 up card
  • Hit if the dealer’s card is a 7 or 8
  • Surrender if the dealer has a 9, 10, or A
  • If surrender is not allowed hit  if the dealer has a 9, 10, or A
  • Split if you have 8-8 and the dealer’s upcard is 2 through to 10
  • Surrender if you 8-8 and the dealer’s upcard is an Ace

If you have a soft 16 (A-5) treat it as a 6 which means always hit. The same actions above will apply if you have hit for 3 cards, 4 cards, or 5 cards and your total 16 for all cards!

Playing 17+ Totals on 6-Deck Blackjack Tables

Probably the most difficult decisions you’ll need to make when playing 6-deck blackjack are those when your hand is close to 21. In these situations, most players become nervous about how to act. We suggest that if you are unsure what to do then you simply just stand.

6 deck blackjack strategy
Picture Source: Pixabay

If you look at the most basic strategy charts in blackjack, you’ll see that the rules require you to stand with almost every hand that has a value of 17 all over. It doesn’t matter what the dealer’s face cards are in this situation.

  • 17 Total: If the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, then ‘Surrender’ or ‘Stand’ unless you are playing on an S17 DAS table, then you should always ‘Stand’
  • 18 Total: Always ‘Stand’ unless you have 9-9 then ‘Split’ only when the dealer’s upcard is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 9 otherwise stand
  • 19 Total: Always ‘Stand’
  • 20 Total: Always ‘Stand’ even if you have 10-10

Split 9-9 When The Dealer’s Upcard

Another move you’ll commonly see at the blackjack table is to see players split 10 / 10.  Again, without an understanding of the basic 6-deck blackjack strategy, this is arguably one of the worst moves you can make in the situation. Then some play Ace / Ace as a 2 or 13. Unfortunately, this is just as bad.

6-Deck Blackjack Strategy: The House Edge & RTP

Whatever blackjack strategy you’re going to play, you’re always going to come up against how the number of decks changes the house edge. If you are determined to be a big-brained blackjack player, it’s important to know exactly which rules affect the house edge.

These percentages subtract (-) from RTP or add to (=) the House Edge

  • 8-Deck Tables: (-/+) 0.57%
  • 7-Deck Tables: (-/+) 0.56%
  • 6-Deck Tables: (-/+) 0.55%
  • 5-Deck Tables: (-/+) 0.53%
  • 4-Deck Tables: (-/+) 0.5%
  • 3-Deck Tables: (-/+) 0.45%
  • 2-Deck Tables: (-/+) 0.34%

Why Are These Percentages Are Important?

If you’re playing at a land-based casino, then the chances of finding out the house edge or the RTP may not be ready to be available. It’s true most reputable online casinos will display both of these. But there are, nonetheless, many internet websites that fail to do so. If you already have this information then you’ll know which rules will increase or decrease the house edge. This will help you decide which blackjack variation is going to offer you the best house edge. Especially if you’re faced with multiple choices.

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Choosing 6-Deck Blackjack Strategy Charts

If you’re going to be playing blackjack seriously, then you must learn the 6-deck basic blackjack strategy chart. Failing that, you can always have a chart handy at the games table. You’ll find that there are four different 6-deck blackjack strategy charts all in all:

  • S17 DAS
  • H17 DAS
  • S17 NDAS
  • H17 NDAS

All of these charts will display a proven mathematical set of actions. You can then use these to tell you whether to stand, hit, split, double down, or surrender. Which one of these options you take would depend on your hand total versus the upcard. Because the perfect blackjack strategies charts give you the optimal move, then mathematically speaking, you’re going to be playing from the best possible position. If you happen to be playing online, then using the 6-deck blackjack strategy chart is going to be much easier, as there’s nothing to memorize. You can try out these 6-deck strategies for free at King Billy Casino. By utilizing their free play option. Once you’re feeling more confident, then go over to their great blackjack live dealer games.