Ever heard of blackjack push? Do you know what it means? The idea is actually quite simple to understand. While rare, there is always a chance to hit a push, which in effect restarts the round in play, and allows you to retain your initial stake. So let’s break down this special Blackjack push rule further, so that a push doesn’t come to shove once you find yourself at the table.
What Is a Push in Blackjack?
Let’s break down that first statement: what does blackjack push mean? A blackjack push happens when dealer and player receive a hand with the same total point value. In fact, simply put, this is a tie situation, neither the croupier nor the player wins the hand and the player receives their bet back.
An example of this is if the dealer and player both have a total point value of 19, the round will be declared a push and nobody has won, which allows the next round to begin. Keep in mind, though, that blackjack is a game against the dealer, and with a bunch of players around the table, some lucky chap may hit closer to blackjack and walk away with the hand!
It rarely happens but a push is possible, which means learning from it can make a difference to your game.
Blackjack Push: Basic Rules Explained
Unless otherwise stated for a specific blackjack variant, the overall blackjack rules regarding a tie in blackjack are quite simple:
- A blackjack push is when the player and the dealer hit the same hand value no matter how the hands are structured;
- A blackjack push occurs when there is a tie between the dealer and the player;
- If a push happens, the player receives their original bet back, and a round may begin over;
- Written up as neither a win nor a loss, a push does not affect one’s overall total of wins or losses.
These are rules for the standard game you’ll find at most blackjack casinos. We recommend avoiding blackjack sites or variants that treat a push as an automatic win for the house when playing blackjack online.
How Does Pushing Work in Blackjack?
Alright, now let us walk through a game sequence step by step. Assuming we’re playing general blackjack rules, this is how a typical push situation works:
Place bets. This is where every blackjack round starts.
Card dealing. You and the dealer each get two cards. Usually the dealer has one card up and one down (the so-called “hole” card), and the player’s cards are both up.
Calculate the hand’s value. So, let’s say you got a 7 and a Queen, which makes 17.
Dealer’s turn. After you have made your decision (hit, stand, double down, etc.) it’s time for the dealer to operate by the house rules. Hit until at least 17 (Dealer).
Determine the outcome. In a push scenario, the player’s total hand value equals the dealer’s total hand value, whether you have an 18 consisting of two nines or a natural blackjack (ace + 10-value card). Lastly, if you have a natural against a 21-point hand that doesn’t have one, you’re the winner of that round.
How Blackjack Push 22 differs from push on 21
Push on 21 and push on 22 in blackjack are different.
As we mentioned, a push in 21 Blackjack is when you and the dealer push 21 together, either with a natural blackjack or by combinations of lower value cards reaching 21.
Conversely, in 22 blackjack, the dealer busts with a hand value of 22, but the player’s hand remain in play. Essentially, the casino is telling you to hit when you wouldn’t necessarily want to, increasing your chances of busting.
Perhaps most strikingly, this special rule can be found in Free Bet Blackjack and Blackjack Switch. A player’s eye view is bad news, though: when it comes into play, a 22-push expands the house edge by as much as 6.91%, on top of an already relatively meager cut the casino takes for blackjack.
If you come across a 22-push rule, we recommend finding another casino.
Also Read: Mastering Blackjack: House Edge, Odds, and Winning Strategies
How to Deal with a Blackjack Push
If you’re a blackjack player, you need to include the chance of a push in your blackjack play. We explain all the other essential blackjack tips, but here are the most important.
Avoid risks. If you are near 21, you might be inclined to hit and take a chance. In a push though, that would mean that you risk it some more, which potentially means losing out on the original wage, as we’ve done in the example above. If you find yourself in that situation, take what you can to avoid losing money.
Manage your budget. Push or no push, always make sure you have enough money and don’t spend more than you can afford to lose.
Keep an eye on the cards. Even though card counting is generally prohibited in most casinos, knowing at least a little about the cards that have been eliminated can help; it could indicate a potential push in future rounds.
In summary, never take an unneeded risk, know your request, and try to memorize which cards have passed to the desk to enhance your performance when predicting for a push situation.