Blackjack is one of the most beginner-friendly casino games, which is why it’s easy to play at home with friends or family as well as at licensed gaming venues. And if you’ve only ever played blackjack casually, you may have used the 5 card trick into your games. Sadly, though, you won’t be able to benefit from this at brick-and-mortar casinos.
But what about playing at online casinos? And how does the 5 card trick work if you’ve never heard of it before?
We’ll explore the blackjack 5 cards trick, its cons, and more below.
5 Card Trick in Blackjack
As you probably know, the aim of blackjack is to get the value of your hand closer to 21 than other players’ and the dealer’s without going above that number. Each player is dealt two starting cards, and then they can decide to either take another card or stick with their current hand. Adding extra cards to a hand can help a player increase the combined value of their cards, possibly enough to reach 21.
So, where does the blackjack 5 card rule come into play? It’s simple: if you hold 5 cards in your hand at any one time, without busting (exceeding 21), you win the game. Even if your hand adds up to a number far below 21, such as 12, you would still win the game with the 5 card trick in play.
The 5 card trick in blackjack offers a number of benefits. First and foremost, it means that any player can win without hitting 21. Simply taking one card after another and not busting is enough to help you win chips, coins, sweets, or anything else you might play with in a casual game at home. That gives you an incentive to keep taking a chance, if you’re the type of player who always prefers to hit instead of sticking.
Another benefit is that it can give more players at a table a better opportunity to win than if you play without the 5 card trick. If you start with two low-value cards (e.g. a 2 and 3), you could still win the game if you’re dealt 3 more without going above 21.
Incorporating the blackjack 5 card rule into your casual games is a simple way for seasoned players to mix up their experience, too. You may be tired of sticking to traditional rules used in casinos, and the 5 card trick can add a new element of risk to the game.
5 card trick
Is There a Drawback in Playing the 5 Card Trick in Blackjack?
The 5 card trick in blackjack can be fun and refreshing, but it offers a couple of drawbacks you need to consider before you try it.
With the blackjack 5 card rule, you may feel more incentivized to hit when you might otherwise stick in a standard game. For example, if you have 4 cards in your hand, you could be tempted to hit in the hopes of landing a low-value card and winning. But depending on the combined value of your hand, chasing that fifth card could bring you dangerously close to busting.
Let’s say your hand of 4 cards adds up to 17 in total. Yes, you might draw a 2 or 3 and win with the 5 card trick, and a 4 would give you blackjack anyway. However, there’s also a decent chance that you could receive a card with a value of 5 or above — costing you the game.
With that in mind, it’s crucial that you weigh your options carefully when using the 5 card trick in blackjack.
The other drawback of the blackjack 5 card rule is that it can slow the pace of play down significantly. Players may spend more time staring at their cards and deciding whether to hit or stick than usual. If you prefer blackjack to move quickly, you may find playing with the 5 card trick irritating (to say the least).
Blackjack Table Game
Is the 5 Card Trick in Blackjack Popular?
While casinos implement many blackjack rules, 5 cards equalling an instant win generally isn’t one of them.
You’re unlikely to find any brick-and-mortar casinos that accept the 5 card trick in blackjack. And with good reason.
Essentially, casinos want to make a profit, which is where the house edge is so important. This refers to the profit that a casino typically generates from each game. The average house edge in blackjack is approximately 4%, but using the 5 card trick could reduce that. Casinos would then make less profit from blackjack overall, and the odds would be tipped too far towards the player to make the game profitable.
That’s why you’ll never be able to use the 5 card trick at the vast majority of brick-and-mortar casinos around the world. However, some online blackjack games may include the 5 card trick and award wins for hands of 5 cards. If you’ve only ever played blackjack at home with this rule, playing online games that include it may help you transition to trying more traditional versions of blackjack in future.
Here is the Gambling Zone list of recommended online blackjack sites.
Boost Your Blackjack Expertise
The 5 card trick is a popular rule for casual blackjack sessions and may be available in some online games, but is not accepted at brick-and-mortar casinos. It would reduce the level of profit that casinos generate from each blackjack game, while increasing a player’s chances of winning simply for acquiring five cards.
We hope this guide has helped you expand your understanding of blackjack. Want to boost your blackjack expertise further? Check out Gambling Zone’s other blog posts focused on blackjack for a wide range of other insights.
