Rule Comparison
How each rule variation affects the counter's edge
Rules Matter
Not all blackjack games are equal. Each rule variation shifts the house edge, sometimes dramatically. For a card counter using a bet spread, these rule differences compound: better base rules mean a higher overall edge.
Rule Impact Analysis
The chart below lets you explore how each rule affects the player's edge across all 960 simulated rulesets. Select a combination of rules and see the resulting edge. Each option shows the EV difference from your current selection so you can instantly see how much a single rule change is worth.
Rule Impact on Player Edge
960 simulated rulesets · 9.6T total hands · Hi-Lo floored TC
How to Read the Chart
Baseline vs. delta: The currently selected option for each rule is marked “baseline.” Every other option shows how much the edge would change if you switched to that rule while keeping everything else the same.
Flat vs. spread: Toggle the “Bet spread” switch to compare the edge when flat betting (every hand the same size) versus using a counting-based bet spread. With a spread, favorable rules have an even larger impact because you bet more when the count is high.
Biggest factors: Number of decks, dealer soft 17 (S17 vs H17), and penetration depth tend to have the largest effects. Surrender and re-splitting aces matter less in absolute terms but can still swing the edge noticeably.