Quick Facts
| Type | Rank match against dealer upcard |
| Cards compared | Player's first 2 cards vs. dealer's upcard |
| Top payout | Two Suited Matches (8-deck) → 28:1 |
| 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. Double-deck tables 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 |
|---|---|
| Two Suited Matches | 28:1 |
| One Suited + One Unsuited Match | 17:1 |
| One Suited Match | 14:1 |
| Two Unsuited Matches | 6:1 |
| One Unsuited Match | 3:1 |
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Suited Match | 19:1 |
| Unsuited Match | 4:1 |
House edge by deck count
| Decks | House Edge |
|---|---|
| 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 Blackjack Navigator
Match the Dealer is unlocked with the one-time Pro upgrade in Blackjack Navigator. The app uses the correct paytable for your selected deck count automatically and shows live house edge as you play.
See also