An immediate winning hand: blackjack (Ace + 10) or craps come-out 7 or 11.
A "natural" refers to an immediately winning result. In blackjack, a natural is a two-card hand of 21 (Ace + 10-value card), commonly called a "blackjack." It typically pays 3:2 or 6:5 depending on the table.
In craps, a natural is rolling 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, which is an automatic win for Pass Line bettors. In baccarat, a natural is when either the Player or Banker hand totals 8 or 9 with the first two cards.
The payout difference between 3:2 and 6:5 blackjack naturals significantly affects the house edge. Always seek 3:2 tables — the 6:5 payout increases the house edge by about 1.4%.
At a Venetian blackjack table you are dealt an Ace and a Jack — a natural 21. The dealer shows a 6. Your $50 bet pays 3:2 for $75 profit, assuming the dealer does not also draw a blackjack (in which case it pushes).
Naturals hit roughly 4.8% of hands in a 6-deck game. Avoid 6:5 blackjack tables, common on the Vegas Strip — a $50 natural pays only $60 instead of $75, which jacks the house edge from 0.5% up to 1.9%. A baccarat natural (8 or 9 on the first two cards) ends the hand immediately and wins at even money minus the 5% banker commission. Whether blackjack or baccarat, always confirm the payout posted on the felt before sitting down; the 6:5 trap silently costs recreational players thousands per year.
<p>At a Venetian blackjack table you are dealt an <strong>Ace and a Jack</strong> — a natural 21. The dealer shows a 6. Your $50 bet pays <strong>3:2 for $75 profit</strong>, assuming the dealer does not also draw a blackjack (in which case it pushes).</p><p>Naturals hit roughly <strong>4.8%</strong> of hands in a 6-deck game. Avoid <strong>6:5 blackjack tables</strong>, common on the Vegas Strip — a $50 natural pays only $60 instead of $75, which jacks the house edge from 0.5% up to <strong>1.9%</strong>. A baccarat natural (8 or 9 on the first two cards) ends the hand immediately and wins at even money minus the 5% banker commission. Whether blackjack or baccarat, always confirm the payout posted on the felt before sitting down; the 6:5 trap silently costs recreational players thousands per year.</p>
The mathematically optimal play for every possible hand in blackjack.
The fundamental craps bet — wins on 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, loses on 2, 3, or 12.
The mathematical advantage the casino has over players, expressed as a percentage of each bet.
An immediate winning hand: blackjack (Ace + 10) or craps come-out 7 or 11.
<p>At a Venetian blackjack table you are dealt an <strong>Ace and a Jack</strong> — a natural 21. The dealer shows a 6. Your $50 bet pays <strong>3:2 for $75 profit</strong>, assuming the dealer does not also draw a blackjack (in which case it pushes).</p><p>Naturals hit roughly <strong>4.8%</strong> of hands in a 6-deck game. Avoid <strong>6:5 blackjack tables</strong>, common on the Vegas Strip — a $50 natural pays only $60 instead of $75, which jacks the house edge from 0.5% up to <strong>1.9%</strong>. A baccarat natural (8 or 9 on the first two cards) ends the hand immediately and wins at even money minus the 5% banker commission. Whether blackjack or baccarat, always confirm the payout posted on the felt before sitting down; the 6:5 trap silently costs recreational players thousands per year.</p>
Top-rated platforms reviewed by our editorial team.