Blackjack review

Live Blackjack: rules, strategy and RTP

Live Blackjack is Evolution's standard seven-seat blackjack: 8 decks, the dealer stands on soft 17, blackjack pays 3:2, with Bet Behind and two side bets.

Players waiting for a seat can Bet Behind on any seated player.

Our verdict: The table to learn on and the reference for every Evolution blackjack variant. With basic strategy it returns 99.28%.

Software: Evolution Gaming
Game type: Blackjack
RTP: 99.28%
House edge: 0.72%
Min. bet: $1
Max. Bet: $5,000
Release year: 2018
Side bets: Yes
Live game: Yes

RTP 99.28% Dealer stands on soft 17 Bet Behind

By Fiona Gallagher Updated Oct 6, 2026

RTP: 99.28% Main bet, Evolution
Seats: 7
Decks: 8
Bet range: $1–$5,000 Default table limits

Live Blackjack at a glance

99.28%
Main-bet RTP with basic strategy, Evolution's figure.
0.72%
The house edge on the main bet with basic strategy (Wizard of Odds).
3:2
Blackjack payout at every Evolution seven-seat table.

RTP per bet

Live Blackjack: RTP and house edge per bet

Bet	Payout	RTP	House edge	Cost per $100	Note
Main bet, basic strategy	1:1, blackjack 3:2	99.28%	0.72%	$0.72	Evolution's seven-seat rules
21+3	Up to 100:1	96.3%	3.7%	$3.70
Perfect Pairs	Up to 25:1	95.9%	4.1%	$4.10

RTP: Evolution's published figures as quoted by Wizard of Odds and LiveCasinoComparer. They assume basic strategy.

What the numbers mean

RTP 99.28% $992.80

back on average per $1,000 wagered

House edge 0.72% $7.20

expected cost per $1,000 wagered

Turnover 139×

times a balance can be wagered before the house edge has, on average, used it up

How it works

How a round of Live Blackjack works

One round

Bet Place the main bet and any side bets while the timer runs.
The deal You get two cards face up; the dealer gets one face up.
Your decision Hit, stand, double or split, using the chart below.
The dealer plays The dealer draws to 17 and stands on soft 17; hands are settled.

Table rules

Live Blackjack rules and what each one does to your odds

Rule	At this table	What it means for you
Decks	8	More decks raise the edge a little and make counting impractical.
Dealer on soft 17	Stands	Better for you than a dealer who hits soft 17.
Blackjack pays	3:2	Avoid tables paying 6:5; they cost far more.
Double down	Any first two cards, also after a split	Lets you press the edge on 9, 10, 11 and soft hands.
Split	Once; split aces get one card each	No resplitting, so pairs after a split are played as totals.
Surrender	Not offered	No way to give up half on 16 against a ten.
Dealer peek	Only with an ace up	Against a ten, a dealer blackjack also takes your doubles and splits.

Evolution's Live Blackjack rules as quoted by Wizard of Odds (house edge 0.72%) and LiveCasinoComparer.

Side bets and what they return

Side bet	#RTP	Top payout	What it means
Perfect Pairs	95.90%	25:1	A much higher edge than the main bet
21+3	96.30%	100:1	Poker hands from your cards and the dealer's up card

Side-bet RTPs: Evolution as quoted by Wizard of Odds and LiveCasinoComparer.

Strategy

Basic strategy for Live Blackjack

Evolution's seven-seat tables use 8 decks, the dealer stands on soft 17, you can double on any first two cards and after a split, and there is no surrender. The dealer checks for blackjack only with an ace up, so against a ten the chart hits 11 and hits a pair of 8s.

Basic strategy is what the published RTP assumes. Play by feel and the real return drops below it; the chart below is the decision that loses least on average for every hand.

Your hand / Dealer shows	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
Hard 8 or less	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
Hard 9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Hard 10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
Hard 11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
Hard 12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
Hard 13–16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
Hard 17+	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Soft A,2 – A,3	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Soft A,4 – A,5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Soft A,6	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Soft A,7	S	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	S	S	H	H	H
Soft A,8 – A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Pair 2,2 – 3,3	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
Pair 4,4	H	H	H	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
Pair 6,6	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
Pair 7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
Pair 8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	P
Pair 9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
Pair A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

H Hit S Stand D Double, otherwise hit Ds Double, otherwise stand P Split

Rules: Evolution's Live Blackjack rules as quoted by Wizard of Odds and LiveCasinoComparer. Chart: standard 8-deck basic strategy for these rules, adjusted for no peek under a ten.

Versions

Live Blackjack against Evolution's other blackjacks

RTP and default limits of the closest Evolution versions on this site, as we list them.

Game	RTP	Min bet	Max bet	What sets it apart
Live Blackjack	99.28%	$1	$5,000	Seven seats, Bet Behind
Infinite Blackjack	99.47%	$1	$5,000	Unlimited seats, Six Card Charlie
Lightning Blackjack	99.56%	$1	$5,000	100% fee, 2x–25x multipliers
VIP Blackjack	99.28%	$50	$5,000	High limits, same rules
Speed Blackjack	99.28%	$1	$5,000	Simultaneous decisions
Infinite Fun Fun 21 Blackjack	99.37%	$1	$5,000	Player 21 always wins
Blackjack Party	–	$0.50	$5,000	Two hosts, music
Salon Privé Blackjack	–	$100	$10,000	Private table

RTP: the best-bet figure verified for each game (sources on each game's page; – where none is published). Default limits: the figures we list on LiveCasinoRank. Features: Evolution's game pages. Casinos set their own limits on each table.

Cost per hour

What an hour of Live Blackjack costs on average

Expected cost is stake per round × rounds per hour × house edge. Change the inputs in the calculator to match your own stake and pace.

Live Roulette 97.3% · 40 rounds/h

$11

Live Baccarat, Banker 98.94% · 50 rounds/h

Live Blackjack 99.28% · 50 rounds/h

RTP: Evolution. Rounds per hour are an assumption for the example; Evolution does not publish a pace for every table, and real pace depends on the number of players.

Variance

How Live Blackjack swings from round to round

Main bet with basic strategy

Small, steady swings; most hands win or lose one stake.

Suits you if: Long sessions.

Doubles and splits

Two or more stakes on one hand when the odds favour you.

Suits you if: Players following the chart.

Side bets

Rare wins at 25:1 to 100:1 with a much higher edge.

Suits you if: Small add-ons only.

Limits

Live Blackjack bet limits

The range below is the default we list for the game. Each casino sets its own limits, so the table in your lobby can start higher or stop lower.

Game	Lowest min	Highest max	Range	What it means
Live Blackjack	$1	$5,000

Default minimum and maximum bet: the figures we list for the game. Check the limits shown at the table before you play.

Live Blackjack compared with similar games

Published Blackjack games on CasinoRank, best RTP first.

Game	Software	RTP	House edge	Min. bet
Live Speed Blackjack	Pragmatic Play	99.59%	0.41%	$5.00
Lightning Blackjack	Evolution Gaming	99.56%	0.44%	$1
Unlimited Blackjack	Playtech	99.54%	0.46%	$1.00
Blackjack Party	Evolution Gaming	99.5%	0.5%	$0.50
Infinite Blackjack	Evolution Gaming	99.5%	0.5%	$1
Infinite Fun Fun 21 Blackjack	Evolution Gaming	99.5%	0.5%	$1
Live All Bets Blackjack	Playtech	99.5%	0.5%	$1.00
Live Blackjack	Evolution Gaming	99.28%	0.72%	$1

RTP and bets listed for each game.

FAQ

What is the RTP of Live Blackjack?

99.28% on the main bet with basic strategy, per Evolution's published figure. Side bets return less.

How many decks does Live Blackjack use?

Eight decks, shuffled by the dealer or a shuffler between shoes.

Can I play Live Blackjack when the table is full?

Yes. Bet Behind lets you back a seated player's hand; you win or lose with their decisions.

Does the dealer check for blackjack?

Only with an ace showing. With a ten up the dealer checks after you play, so you can lose a double or split to a dealer blackjack.

Where can I play Live Blackjack?

At casinos that carry Evolution's live games; the ranked list on this page shows them. Check that the casino accepts players from your country and that online casino play is legal where you live.

Responsible gambling

Set your limits before you join a live table

18+ only

Licensed casinos check age and identity before they pay out. Play only where online casino play is legal for you.

Responsible gaming →

Time and budget first

Set deposit, loss and session limits in your casino account before the first bet, and keep to them when a round goes against you.

Limit tools →

Help is free

Confidential support is available if gambling stops being fun or starts to cost more than you planned.

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