Do You Lose Money on a Push Blackjack?

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It’s simple to learn, but difficult to master.

Players love the game because of its low house edge and potential for big payouts. However, there is one aspect of blackjack that often confuses players – the push.

A push occurs when the player and dealer both have hands with the same value. For example, if you have a hand of 17 and the dealer also has a hand of 17, it’s a push.

In this situation, neither you nor the dealer wins or loses any money. The bet is simply returned to you.

So, do you lose money on a push blackjack The short answer is no – you don’t lose any money on a push. However, it’s important to understand how pushes affect your overall winnings.

Let’s say you’re playing blackjack and your initial bet is $10. You’re dealt a hand of 20 and the dealer has a hand of 20 as well.

This is a push, so you don’t win any money but you also don’t lose any money. Your original $10 bet is returned to you.

Now let’s say that instead of a push, you had won this hand against the dealer with your hand value being closer to “21”. Your payout would have been 1:1 or even higher depending on how much was at stake in this game.

This means that while pushes don’t result in any monetary loss for players, they also don’t result in any monetary gains either. So if you’re looking to make big winnings while playing blackjack, pushes won’t help in achieving that goal.

How Pushes Affect Basic Strategy

Basic strategy is a set of rules that players can use to maximize their chances of winning at blackjack. It takes into account the player’s hand and the dealer’s up card to determine the best move to make. Basic strategy charts often include instructions for what to do in the event of a push.

If you follow basic strategy, you’ll know that when you have a hand value of 12-16 and the dealer has a 2-6 up card, you should stand instead of hitting. This is because the dealer is likely to bust with these cards, so it’s better for you to stand and hope that the dealer busts.

However, if you have a hand value of 12-16 and the dealer has a 7-Ace up card, basic strategy tells you to hit instead of stand. This is because the dealer is less likely to bust with these cards, so it’s better for you to take another card and try to improve your hand.

In the event of a push, basic strategy tells players to simply take their original bet back. There’s no need to adjust your strategy based on whether or not you won or lost the hand.

Conclusion

A push in blackjack doesn’t result in any monetary loss for players, but it also doesn’t result in any monetary gain. It’s simply a tie between the player and dealer.

While pushes don’t affect basic strategy, they do affect overall winnings. If you’re looking to make big winnings at blackjack, pushes won’t help in achieving that goal.

Remember that blackjack is ultimately a game of chance. While there are strategies that can help improve your chances of winning, there’s no guaranteed way to win every hand. Enjoy playing responsibly while keeping your bets within limits.