In blackjack terminology, push simply means that the player has a tie with the dealer.
But what are the blackjack rules for a push? What happens to your stake, and what if you have doubled or split your hand, or made side bets?
This quick guide will answer all your questions.
What is a blackjack push?
In blackjack, a push is when the dealer and player both have hands with the same value.
A push can only happen on hands valued between 17 and 21 since the dealer is required to hit on any total lower than 17.
A push can also occur if both player and dealer are dealt a Blackjack (Ace and 10).
What are the rules when there is a push in blackjack?
This is one of the easiest rules of blackjack to understand.
In the event of a push, no one wins or loses the hand. As a player, if your hand results in a push, your stake will be returned.
If you have added further chips to the table, after a double, split, re-split, or side bet, then the push rules are as follows:
Doubled Hands
If you have doubled down then you will have doubled your original stake. In the event of a push, the entire amount you have bet will be returned.
Split Hands
For hands that have been split, only the hand or hands that ended up with the same score as the dealer will have their stakes returned. Other hands with different values will be treated separately and win or lose accordingly.
For example, if you split 8s and were dealt a 10 and Ace, you may have ended up with two hands valued at 18 and 19. If the dealer then gets a score of 18, your first hand would result in a push (and have its stake returned) and your second hand would be a winner and payout at even money.
Side Bets
Any side bets that have been placed are also treated separately. A side bet cannot result in a push, it will either win or lose based on its individual rules, regardless of the push or tie in the main hand.
For example, if you place the Insurance side bet after getting a blackjack yourself, and the dealer also gets a blackjack, then your main bet would result in a push (and have your stake returned) and your insurance side bet would be a winner.
What are the odds of a push happening?
The odds of a push happening in blackjack are quite low. The probability of it happening depends on the number of decks being used and whether the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17.
If the dealer hits on a soft 17, then the probability of a push is about 9.52%. If the dealer stands on a soft 17, then the probability of a push is about 8.93%.
Blackjack Tie Win Side Bet
The Blackjack Tie Win side bet is a wager that the player will tie the dealer. It usually pays out at 1:2 in the event of a push.
While this side bet does represent an opportunity to make a profit out of an otherwise neutral hand, the payout is not very appealing, and it comes with a significant house edge when compared to playing the main blackjack game using basic strategy.
For this reason, the Blackjack Tie Win side bet is not particularly popular with players and is not commonly found in casinos, or even in online games.
Last Updated on September 22, 2022
- 50+ Common Blackjack Terms Explained - February 6, 2023
- Can Live Blackjack Dealers Hear You? (Your Privacy Matters!) - January 29, 2023
- Why do Blackjack Dealers Swipe the Table? - January 27, 2023