Player and Dealer Both Have Blackjack: What Happens?
Blackjack is a card game that many people come across when visiting a UK casino site or betting platform for the first time. If you’re just getting familiar with the basics, you may be wondering what happens in specific hands—especially when both you and the dealer receive a blackjack right at the start.
This article explains that situation in clear, easy-to-understand terms. If you’re unsure what the outcome is, or what happens to your money in that round, this guide will help.
You’ll learn how your bet is handled, what the term “push” means in this context, and why this situation is very rare. We’ll focus on standard blackjack games that follow common UK rules, usually found in online casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). These games are typically played with six to eight decks of cards.
Blackjack involves elements of chance, and no outcome is certain. But understanding the rules can help you feel more confident when you’re just starting out.
What Happens If a Dealer and Player Both Have Blackjack?
In a regular game of UK blackjack, a blackjack hand means your first two cards add up to exactly 21. This happens when you receive an Ace (worth 1 or 11) and any card with a value of 10 (this includes the 10 itself, or any face card—Jack, Queen, or King).
Now, imagine the game starts and you’re dealt a blackjack. At first, that might seem like an automatic win. But if the dealer also has a blackjack in their initial hand, the game doesn’t end with a win or a loss. Instead, the round is called a push—this is a betting term meaning a draw. In this case, your original stake is returned to you. For example, if you bet £5 and the hand ends in a push, your £5 is returned. There’s no profit, but there’s no loss either.
This outcome applies only when both hands are dealt blackjack in the first two cards. Other situations—like reaching 21 with more than two cards—are treated differently in many games, so it may be worth reading the rules of the specific version you’re playing.
Rules can vary slightly between different online casinos or game providers. While most UKGC-licensed platforms treat this as a push, it’s still a good idea to check the “paytable” before playing. This is usually a small table or menu that explains how the game pays out for each type of hand.
Blackjack Push Rules: Do You Get Your Money Back?
In blackjack, a push means both the player and the dealer have ended the round with hands of the same value. When this value is 21 made from a blackjack (Ace and 10-point card in the first deal), it’s still treated the same way: your original bet is returned. There is no extra payout, and you do not lose anything either.
Most UK blackjack tables follow this rule, including online games regulated by the UKGC. For example, if you placed a £10 wager before the deal and both you and the dealer are dealt blackjack, that £10 would be refunded at the end of the round.
It’s worth pointing out that when only the player has blackjack, a common payout is 3:2—meaning a £10 stake would return £15 profit, plus your £10 bet. But in a push, even with blackjack, there is no profit. It’s simply a draw. If you’re unfamiliar with terms like “3:2”, this just means you win £3 for every £2 bet, which is a standard way some card games display potential returns.
The layout and exact wording of these rules might look different depending on the game provider, but they all aim to show clearly how each possible hand is treated.
Odds of Both Dealer and Player Getting Blackjack
You may wonder how often both the player and the dealer receive blackjack at the same time. The answer is—not very often. It’s one of the rarest outcomes in the game.
Here’s how it works:
- In a standard six-deck game (which is common in UK online casinos), the chance of being dealt blackjack as a player is about 4.75%.
- If that happens, the chance that the dealer also gets blackjack on the same hand is roughly 0.24%. That’s around 1 in 417 hands.
This figure may vary slightly depending on the number of decks in play. Some versions of the game use one, four, six or eight decks. As more decks are added, the odds shift slightly, but this outcome remains uncommon in any format.
Games with a single deck increase your chance of getting blackjack slightly, but they also increase the chance that your opponent—whether dealer or another player—will too. However, single-deck games are rare in the UK and are more often found in traditional land-based casinos than online.
Play Blackjack For Real Money Online
Ivy Casino offers a choice of popular slot and table games, including blackjack and roulette. When you play for real money, you are betting your own funds for a chance at actual winnings.
To take part, you can log in or sign up at Ivy Casino’s secure UK site, where you’ll find rules and paytables for every game.
Ivy Casino operates with a UK licence, ensuring fair gameplay and clear outcomes for every hand. If you decide to give online blackjack a try, remember you have access to spending controls and support tools right on the platform.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.