Microgaming Vegas Single Deck 21 Rules

How to play Vegas Single Deck Blackjack, a Microgaming exclusive with a supremely low 0.31% edge.

Of all the online blackjack games, one has gained more recognition than any other. I’m talking, of course, about Microgaming’s Vegas Single Deck Blackjack. The name alone draws a crowd, but in this case, it’s got a crowd-pleasing RTP to back it up. Played with basic strategy, this game offers an ultra high RTP of 99.69%, equal to a house edge of just 0.31%.

Every pro gambler knows that the fewer decks there are in use, the lower the edge gets. In this case, the edge was so low, Microgaming had to throw some less player-friendly rules on top just to keep the tide rolling in the casino’s favor. Just imagine how good this game would be if you could count cards in an online game?

How to Play Vegas Single Deck Blackjack

Microgaming infused the same 21 rules into this game that you find most often on the Las Vegas Strip’s blackjack tables. The Bellagio doesn’t offer single deck games, though, so their RTP isn’t so generous as Microgaming’s online version.

The dealer will hit a soft 17, doubling is restricted to totals of 9-11, and you can only split once per hand. To maintain an edge, there’s no doubling after a split, but the dealer will peek for blackjack, and a natural pays the standard 3 to 2.

Unlike its Vegas Downtown Blackjack cousin, this is a very simple version of 21. There are no multi-hand play options or side bets available.

The complete Vegas Single Deck Blackjack rules are as follows:

Specific Rules of Play

• Decks: 1
• Soft 17: Dealer Hits
• Doubling: Yes, on 9, 10 or 11 only
• Splitting: Yes, 1x only
• Double after Split: No
• Resplit Aces: No
• Draw to Split Aces: No
• Surrender: No
• Dealer Checks for Blackjack: Yes
• Blackjack Pays: 3 to 2

Strategy for Vegas Single-Deck 21

Playing Microgaming’s Single Deck Blackjack with the following basic strategy will beget the highest possible RTP of 99.69% (house edge 0.31%).

Using the three charts below is simple. First, choose the chart that matches your hand type – hard hand (without an 11-point Ace), soft hand (with an 11-point Ace) or paired hand. Next, scroll down to total that corresponds with your current hand value. Last, follow the instruction in the right column based on the dealer’s up-card.

How to Decide a Hard Hand

How to Decide a Soft Hand

Conditions for Splitting Pairs