Quick Facts
| Type | Rank match against dealer upcard |
| Cards compared | Player's first 2 cards vs. dealer's upcard |
| Top payout | Two Suited Matches (6+ deck) → 22:1 |
| House edge range | 3.31% – 4.84% |
| Best deck count | 2 decks (3.31%) |
| Worst deck count | 4 decks (4.84%) |
| Verdict | Mid-range; double-deck variant is the best version |
What it is
Match the Dealer compares each of your first two cards to the dealer's upcard. Each match pays out separately. A "suited" match means same rank AND same suit (e.g., your 7♥ against dealer's 7♥). An "unsuited" match means same rank, different suit (e.g., your 7♣ against dealer's 7♥).
Two paytable structures exist depending on deck count. Single- and double-deck shoes use a 2-tier paytable (suited/unsuited). Six- and eight-deck shoes use a 5-tier paytable that explicitly enumerates double matches and the mixed (one suited + one unsuited) tier.
Paytable
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Two Suited Matches | 22:1 |
| One Suited + One Unsuited Match | 15:1 |
| One Suited Match | 11:1 |
| Two Unsuited Matches | 8:1 |
| One Unsuited Match | 4:1 |
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Suited Match | 11:1 |
| Unsuited Match | 4:1 |
House edge by deck count
| Decks | House Edge |
|---|---|
| 1 deck | 3.50% |
| 2 decks | 3.31% |
| 4 decks | 4.84% |
| 5 decks | 4.76% |
| 6 decks | 4.06% |
| 8 decks | 3.67% |
Verdict
Match the Dealer's edge varies more than most side bets — from 3.31% on double-deck to 4.84% on four-deck. The double-deck version is the best, but few casinos offer Match the Dealer at double-deck tables; six- and eight-deck shoes are more common, putting the practical edge in the 3.7%–4.1% range.
Compared to the main blackjack game (~0.5% with basic strategy), Match the Dealer at typical 6-deck conditions is roughly 8× worse. Reasonable for entertainment if you enjoy the mechanic, but it's nobody's first pick when better-edge alternatives exist.
Practice in BJNP
Match the Dealer is unlocked in the premium tier of Blackjack Navigator Pro. The app uses the correct paytable for your selected deck count automatically and shows live house edge as you play.
See also