In the sea of side bets and sneaky strategies to bring the house down, casinos invented Charlie blackjack rules. This rule allows players to win automatically if they don't bust after drawing 5 or more cards, which adds another avenue to success.
In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at the Six Card Charlie rule in blackjack. We’ll also discuss its sibling 5 Card Charlie, which operates almost identically.
Do these rules apply to the dealer? Is a win guaranteed? What are the odds of winning with a Six Card Charlie? We'll tackle all of these questions and more.
What Is Six-Card Charlie?
Six Card Charlie is a special blackjack rule according to which you automatically win if you draw 6 cards without busting (going over 21).
Generally speaking, this rule is food for the player because it slightly increases your chances of winning. If you play a Six Card Charlie game, the house edge up to 0.016% lower than what it would be on the same table without the same rule. This contributes a bit to the high RTP of blackjack, which is one of the best casino games in that regard.
In short, to benefit from this rule, you need 6 cards out of the shoe in a single round without busting.
However, this blackjack rule has two flaws.
Firstly, it doesn’t happen often at all. Namely, a six-card Charlie blackjack hand occurs once in every 400 hands. So, the odds are a mind-blowing 400:1.
Secondly, there are only a few games with this interesting rule. After all, no matter how low the likelihood, casinos like to play safe. Therefore, not many software developers build in this feature in their blackjack titles.
That said, Six Charlie Rule blackjack tables are becoming increasingly common due to their popularity among players.
You can find a few of the best Six Card Charlie blackjack games further down in this article.
The Advantages of 6-Card Charlie
Sometimes in blackjack, it takes just three cards to bust. Say that you’ve lost track of your true count and miscalculated the circumstances. In such a scenario, you find yourself with a score of 22. You just busted. With just 3 cards.
But what if you hadn’t busted?
In games that feature the 6-Card Charlie rule, you get paid for having at least 6 cards that total below 21. And if you get to that point, you win instantly.
For example, let’s imagine you got these values – 2, 2, 3, 4, and 6. Your hand’s total is an astounding 17, which is below 21. If you’re playing a 6-Card Charlie rule game, you win automatically.
Typically, even getting to that point is highly unlikely though. In most situations, lucking out for a 6-Card Charlie means you had to Hit when you probably should not have according to most blackjack charts.
This means that, in practice, the rule is almost useless 99% of the time. There are very few situations in which predicting a 6-card no-bust hand is actually feasible.
Still, it does happen, hence the minor increase in the RTP of games that incorporate this rule.
Also, in games like Spanish 21, a 5-card no-buster wins the game with a 3:2 payout. In fact, the 5-card Charlie rule is more easily found than its 6-card brother. However, Spanish 21 features other rules that balance out the 5-Card Charlie, which means their overall ruleset is not as player-friendly as classic blackjack.
So, in Spanish 21, a 5-card Charlie is treated the same as a natural.
Top Game with Six Card Charlie Rules
Truth be told, only a handful of games feature this player-friendly rule.
But the best one to capitalize on in 2024 is ONE Blackjack from Pragmatic Play.
In ONE Blackjack, you have four side bets – Crazy 7, Bust Bonus, 21+3, and Perfect Pairs. Also, getting a suited pair right can result in a 2,000:1 payout. And if that weren’t enough, getting 6 cards without going overboard results in a 50:1 payout!
What’s more, if you don’t bust with 7 cards, you’ll be paid 100 to 1. Lastly, for 8+ cards in your hand under 21, you get a 250:1 payback!
Read our detailed ONE Blackjack review for pro tips on how to win at this 21 variant.
Key Facts & Strategy Tips
To conclude this Six Card Charlie review, here are its main features:
- Drawing 6 cards without busting wins automatically
- 0.016% lower house edge in any game with this rule
- The chances of winning a round this way are 400:1
- Payouts as agreed in advance; usually the same as a standard win
All that said, players don’t need a special strategy to play according to the Six Card Charlie rule. Again, the only way it affects strategy is if you have an unusually low score total even after 4/5 cards. For instance, if you draw several 2s or 3s in a row.
Simply follow the perfect basic strategy for optimal results. If the opportunity to take advantage of 6-Card Charlie comes up, great. But it's not something you can feasibly set out to do.
Also, if you’re a card counter, release your inner advantage player. But don’t get caught!
Lastly, if you’d like to learn more blackjack fun facts, we’ve got a whole blog post dedicated to blackjack books.
Let us know what you think about this fun rule in the comments below!
FAQ
What is a Charlie in blackjack?
A Charlie in blackjack is any rule that allows players with 3 or more cards totalling below 21 to win. The most popular ones include 5 and 6 cards. However, some game variants offer higher payouts for 7-member hands.
How much does 5 card Charlie pay?
The 5 card Charlie payout is 9:1 (bust with 5 cards).
What is a 5 card Charlie?
A 5-card is a special rule that some blackjack games have whose winner is the player with 5 cards without going over 21. If you play this type of game, the house edge is 1.46%. However, the 6-card variation lauds an awesome 0.18% house edge.
Can dealers get 5card Charlie?
The dealer has no benefit from this rule. He or she is allowed to draw as many cards as needed to get to at least 17. If you’re unsure, just ask the croupier before the round starts.
What is the meaning of Charlie in 21?
Charlie in blackjack means that you win if you have 3+ cards and a score below 21. In other words, if you don’t bust with 3 or more cards in your hand you’re the automatic winner.
What do I split in blackjack?
According to the basic strategy chart, always split aces and eights. But do consider doubling after a split in certain outcomes.
