How many decks cards in blackjack? - Answers

Blackjack was played with one 52-card deck until card counting was discovered. Once casinos realized that card counters could gain an advantage over the "house" (casino) fairly easily on single deck games, they began to change the rules and add more decks. Today, you can find very few single deck games, and if you do, the rules have been altered to heavily favor the house. There are some double deck games, but most blackjack games are known as "shoe" games. They are 4, 6, or 8 deck games where the cards are placed in a plastic holder. Dealers do not hold the cards while they deal like they would in a single or double deck game. Shoe games make it more difficult for card counters to gain an advantage, but it is still possible to gain an advantage counting cards in shoe games under the right conditions.