Blackjack is all about the math as far as table games go. In every hand, there is a finite number of possible combinations that can win and a limited number of ways to form those combinations.
Within that range of possibilities, there are a few combinations that can mean amazing payouts for players lucky enough to land them. The Five Card or Five Card Charlie rule is the best example of these rare feats.
This rule simply provides for the scenario in which a player takes five cards without busting. For new players, it’s important to start with the basics to understand the Five Card rule in blackjack.
A Quick Look At How Blackjack Works
Blackjack is a card game in which the objective is to win, and you win by putting together a hand with a total closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand but without going over 21. Playing blackjack with confidence requires a little more knowledge.
In traditional games, all numbered cards count for their face value, while face cards count for 10. Aces count as either one or 11 in standard blackjack rules.
Games with normal rules consist of the dealer giving each player two cards and then asking if the players want to hit (take another card), stand (refuse additional cards), or surrender (forfeit half of their bet to get the other half back). In most games, players can also split their blackjack hand into two hands if they get dealt a pair.
Once all players have made their moves, the dealer takes their turn and settles the bets. Amid that process, the blackjack Five Card Charlie rule might take effect.
What Is the Five-Card Charlie Rule in Blackjack?
The Five Card or Five Card Charlie rule dictates what happens if a player hits three times and still doesn’t bust. In most cases, this results in an instant payout for the player.
Suppose that your first two cards are a two and a four. As your total is six, most blackjack strategy charts will tell you to hit, as you’d be counting on the dealer busting (going over 21) if you stand.
In this example, the next card is a three. That puts you at a total of nine. You’re still facing long odds to win at this total, so you hit again and get a five.
At 14, you’re in a more precarious position. You would bust if you hit and get an eight, nine, 10, or a face card.
However, a seven or below would get you to five cards without busting and a great payout. In this hypothetical, you get a six and achieve the rare Five Card trick.
Different versions of the game will offer various payouts according to their blackjack Five Card Charlie rule. A 2:1 return is very common.
It’s important to check the rules of the blackjack game you want to play to not only verify the payout for the Five Card rule but also to see if there are any other restrictions on this circumstance. Experience will help you recognize when you might be building toward this opportunity.
How Is a Standard Hand Different From a Five-Card Charlie?
When you play blackjack online or at a physical casino, a “standard hand” is a hand of four or fewer cards that totals less than 21. Once you add a fifth card, you will either bust or trigger the Five Card rule.
Players can have more than five cards on the table that belong to them without triggering the Five Card rule, however. This happens when you split, and if the game gives you the option to hit after a split.
Under those circumstances, you have two standard hands on the table, and you don’t trigger the Five Card rule unless you get one or both of those hands up to that number without busting. Although it’s very unlikely, it might be theoretically possible to activate the Five Card Charlie on both hands, depending on the rules and how many decks are in play.
Those blackjack rule variations will guide you in making the best decisions when you’re in these uncommon situations. The math can change drastically with minor tweaks.
The Five-Card Rule in Different Blackjack Variations
When you’re trying out blackjack variants, you need to pay attention to every way that the variation changes the rules. For the Five Card rule, there are some obvious and less apparent ramifications.
Among the facets of rule changes that have obvious implications for Five Card rules are changes in the number of hands you can play simultaneously and the number of decks in the shoe. On the latter point, the more cards that are in action, the greater the number of possible combinations.
If you’re playing multiple hands at the same time, your odds of triggering the Five Card rule in that game go up because you have more possibilities. However, the probability of getting any one of those hands individually up to five cards without busting is still dependent on the basic math.
Some variants, like Blackjack Switch, are more amenable to your interests because of their less obvious rule tweaks. In this game, you play two hands simultaneously and can switch the second card of each hand if you like.
That ability might help you get closer to pulling off a five-card trick, but there are no guarantees. Even with that tweak, the odds are still against you getting to five cards without busting.
The Odds of Drawing a Five-Card Trick
There’s no doubt that Five Card Charlie pays out nicely. That’s only because accomplishing the feat is so rare, though.
In standard games, you will get five cards without going over 21 exactly one time in every 1,300 hands. Any rule changes can make the odds even longer.
Because of those odds, you are usually better off trying to win the standard way, by besting the dealer’s hand. While the payout might not be as nice, the math is much more friendly.
Does a Five-Card Trick Beat a Traditional Blackjack Hand of 21?
In games with traditional rules, it’s best to look at the five-card trick as a special exemption to normal play rather than a blackjack hand you try to build to beat the dealer’s hand. This is because, in most games, you get a payout for accumulating five cards without busting, regardless of what the dealer ends up with.
With most standard games, your payout from activating the Five Card rule is better than what you’d get even from hitting blackjack. That’s simply a reflection of the probability of both scenarios.
While a five-card trick beats a hand of 21 in terms of profit potential, a hand of blackjack beats a five-card trick as far as the odds go. Responsible gambling says to always play the odds and react if you get a rare chance at something bigger.
Splitting 8s and The Five Card Rule
Another piece of conventional wisdom is always splitting a pair of eights in blackjack. The math shows that you’re taking a mediocre hand and giving yourself a chance at two strong hands by splitting.
The Five Card rule is not a good reason to stray from this advice. With a starting total of 16, your odds of getting three more cards without busting are extremely slim.
Even after you split, the odds aren’t on your side for either of your new hands. In this case, your next four cards would have to total 13 or less.
Lower pairs might lend better to creating two opportunities to trigger the Five-Card rule, but the math doesn’t favor your ability to do so twice in the same game. You are far better off playing pairs according to whether it makes sense to split them against what the dealer is showing.
Why Five-Card Charlie Is a Good Rule
A special stipulation for a rare scenario is what the Five Card rule in blackjack is. Nonetheless, it’s a necessary and useful rule.
It rewards players for having a run of extremely good luck in getting five cards that total less than 22. Even more importantly, it keeps players’ turns from going on too long.
Without the Five Card Charlie rule, it would be possible for players to keep hitting to six, seven, or maybe even eight cards if they keep getting dealt low-value cards. A hand of three threes, three twos, a four, and an ace, for example, adds up to 20.
The Five Card rule limits such scenarios by cutting off the chain at five cards, keeping the game moving. BetMGM is the top choice for enjoying this kind of exciting blackjack play.
Play Blackjack Online with BetMGM Casino
BetMGM is the best site for playing blackjack online because it gives players the same thrills that a five-card trick delivers. Those thrills encompass the challenge of working out the math of the game and the anticipation of the luck of the draw.
As soon as you register for BetMGM, you can begin feeling out just how rare a chance at the Five Card rule is, but also how the tension can build when those moments do come. With BetMGM, you can get five-star experiences no matter how your blackjack hands go.
