If you’re a new or experienced blackjack player, you might be asking yourself, “How often do dealers bust in blackjack?”
Nearly all blackjack veterans might have a basic understanding of some blackjack statistics, such as the house edge or the possible payout for hitting a natural blackjack (21). However, they might not know what the dealer’s odds are.
In this Wizard Slots blog post, we will be discussing how often dealers tend to bust in blackjack, and if a dealer does go over 21, does everyone at the table win?
Continue reading to find out!
Can The Dealer Bust In Blackjack?
The simple answer is, yes, of course the dealer can bust in blackjack!
If the dealer wasn’t able to bust, this would mean that, depending on the version of blackjack being played, they would most likely win or push (tie) every hand.
Generally, players can make several assumptions given the dealer’s face-up card. For example, if the dealer has a 6 as the upcard, we could assume their downcard is a 10, which would make their total 16.
In most versions of blackjack, dealers have to hit if they land a hand that is equal to or less than 16, and they are typically required to stand on any potential hand that is equal to or more than 17.
If playing this rule, and the dealer were to hit a 16, that would force them to take an extra card. If the next card has a value of 6 or more, that would send them over 21, causing them to bust. However, if their next card was a 5, this would give the dealer a total of 21.
What Are The Odds Of A Dealer Busting?
Each upcard can offer different odds of the dealer busting. For example, in some versions of blackjack the dealer has the following odds of potentially going bust based on their upcard;
- A has an 11.65% chance of busting.
- 10, J, Q, & K all have 21.43% odds.
- 9 has 23.34% odds.
- 8 has 23.86% odds.
- 7 has 25.99% odds.
- 6 has 42.08% odds.
- 5 has 42.89% odds.
- 4 has 40.28% odds.
- 3 has 37.56% odds.
- 2 has 35.30% odds.
Therefore, the dealer’s worst face-up cards would be 4, 5, and 6 since these have a higher chance of potentially busting. However, this can depend on the game rules and blackjack version being played.
These odds may help players to make strategic decisions when playing, which could potentially lower the house edge.
Does Everyone Win If The Dealer Busts?
If the dealer busts, then all remaining hands that are in play will win (as long as they have not gone over 21). However, if any players have already busted, they lose too.
Be sure to check both the casino and game rules, as this could change depending on the variation of blackjack being played.
Conclusion
Blackjack is a classic table game that offers many different versions, such as Blackjack Pro, Single Deck Blackjack, Live Blackjack, Platinum Blackjack, Atlantic City Blackjack, Vinnie Jones Blackjack, Perfect Pairs and more!
Not only do players have a chance of busting, but so does the dealer, and these odds or percentages may change based on the online casino and game rules.
However, blackjack is a game that can involve chance, skill and strategy. Understanding the basic rules and strategy may help punters make better decisions, which could potentially lower the house edge.
Knowing the dealer’s odds of potentially going bust may help players decide whether or not they should hit, stand or double down (depending on the version being played).
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time.
