Whether the dealer shuffles the deck after every hand depends on the blackjack game you play. It can differ depending on whether it is live blackjack online, an RNG-based blackjack game or blackjack played in a land-based casino.
In this blog post, we’ll go through everything you need to know about when and how often blackjack dealers shuffle the deck.
How Often Do Blackjack Tables Shuffle?
Dealers shuffle cards in blackjack to ensure the cards are in a random order so that the casino game is fair for both the casino and the players. When a dealer shuffles a deck, it is impossible to know what card will be dealt next, which makes it difficult for players to count cards.
The introduction of card counting changed betting behaviour and saw many gamblers having a go at card counting to increase their chances of winning. In recent years, casinos have come up with a few solutions to combat this problem.
The main solution to stopping card counting is for the dealer to shuffle decks often. Sometimes shuffling machines are used, and shoes are swapped more regularly.
If you are playing single-deck blackjack, a blackjack table tends to shuffle after every few hands. This is because it’s easier to count cards if only one deck is used, so the dealer will shuffle more often.
If a blackjack game uses multiple decks, the shoe is typically shuffled when around 40 - 60% of the cards have been used. These decks include a “cut card” somewhere in the deck, signalling the dealer when it is time to shuffle.
Although some tables at the casino have dealers who shuffle by hand, most use automatic shuffling machines. Automatic shuffling machines shuffle after every hand very quickly, making it impossible for cheaters to count cards.
Does Online Blackjack Shuffle After Every Hand?
If you are playing a standard blackjack game online, you don’t have to worry about shuffling. Online blackjack games that use a Random Number Generator (RNG) do not require a dealer or real cards and, therefore, do not require shuffling.
RNG-based blackjack games make it impossible for players to count cards. This top technology allows cards to be “shuffled” in an instant. Cards will quickly and randomly be selected. In online blackjack RNG games, the cards are essentially shuffled every round.
However, it is different to live blackjack games. Many casino sites online offer live blackjack where there’s a real dealer, and you’re playing live with other players. The shuffle in live blackjack is part machine and part manual. There are two shoes; one shoe is shuffled by the live dealer, who you can see on camera, and the other is shuffled using an automatic shuffling machine. Online blackjack, therefore, shuffles after every hand.
Are Multiple Decks Shuffled Together In Blackjack?
Before card counters arrived, only one deck was used in most games of blackjack. This soon switched to two decks to make it harder for players to keep track of cards. Now, casinos, both online and land-based, use multiple decks.
The amount of decks shuffled in a game of blackjack depends on the casino you go to; each one differs slightly. Typically, blackjack shuffles together between 1 and 8 standard 52-card decks.
Can You Count Cards With an Automatic Shuffler?
A lot of casinos use an automatic card shuffler, which automatically shuffles all cards in a matter of seconds. As these machines shuffle cards so quickly, it is impossible to count cards.
Automatic card shufflers are used to prevent card counting. Using these machines allows casinos to shuffle more often. If you are not a fan of blackjack or poker that uses automatic shuffling machines, there are still some tables at the casino where the dealer shuffles cards manually.
