Blackjack 5 Card Rule – What Is The 5 Card Trick & Does It Win?

Blackjack is one of the most popular table games at land-based and online casinos like 666 Casino. Most blackjack rules at physical casinos also apply online. However, you may come across some elusive rules, like the 5 card rule.

The blackjack 5 card trick or the 5 card Charlie rule is used in blackjack at games with family or friends. We’ll explore more about the 5 card trick in our 666 Casino blog post below.

What Is The 5 Card Rule In Blackjack?

The 5 card rule applies when a player keeps hitting and ends up with a hand of 5 cards, but the total remains below 21. In this instance, the player wins, even against higher-scoring hands. 

Remember, the goal in blackjack is to have a hand closest to 21 without going over. However, having a hand of 5 cards without going bust isn’t as easy as it sounds. 

The 5 card trick rewards those daring enough to keep picking another card as long as they don’t go bust.

Note that the blackjack 5 card rule does not exist in most casinos – it’s a more informal rule. You’ll need to check with your preferred online casino if you want to play the 5 card Charlie rule online.

Does Five Card Charlie Beat 21?

Some players mistakenly believe that the 5 card rule offers them an automatic win. You need to hold 5 cards without going bust to qualify, and the rule states that this hand beats other hands of higher values.

However, a 5-card Charlie does not beat a hand with a total of 21.

Why Don’t Five Cards Automatically Win?

Casinos need to profit from the casino and slot games they offer; otherwise, they would need to shut down. In addition, the profits enable them to run their day-to-day operations efficiently.

Blackjack usually has a house edge of around 4% if the player is not using basic strategy. However, blackjack variations that use the 5 card rule have a lower house edge of around 1%.

Therefore, if you play the blackjack 5 card rule at a casino, you have more chance to win against the dealer since there are more winning hands available. With this rule implemented, as long as the dealer doesn’t get 21, there are more chances for the player to win. 

Ultimately, you can see why most casinos do not allow the 5 card Charlie rule.

*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time.