What Is a Push in Blackjack? A Guide for Players

Blackjack is a game filled with strategic tension, but not every round ends with a definitive win or loss. A push occurs when your total and the dealer’s total are exactly the same, returning your original bet and giving you a cost-free chance to play on. While it may feel anticlimactic, a push helps preserve your bankroll by acting like a temporary pause button. Knowing how pushes work lets you stay calm, keep your strategy on track, and focus on the next hand. Ultimately, this neutral outcome underpins the fairness and enduring appeal of Blackjack.

Blackjack is full of suspenseful moments, strategic choices, and the occasional relief of breaking even. One of the most common yet sometimes misunderstood outcomes is a push. If you’ve ever been at a table and heard the dealer say, “Push,” you might have wondered what it means and how it affects your game. Below, we’ll explore exactly what a push is, why it happens, and how it influences your overall Blackjack experience. 

Explaining a Push in Blackjack: What Happens When You Tie 

A push occurs when both the player and the dealer end a round with the same total. In standard Blackjack, totals of 17, 18, 19, 20, or even both having 21 can result in a tie. When it happens: 

• Neither side wins or loses. 

• Your original bet is returned to you with no profit gained. 

Pushes can also occur when both you and the dealer have a natural Blackjack (an Ace plus a 10-value card). In many standard games, Blackjack vs. Blackjack results in a tie. This might seem anticlimactic, but from a bankroll perspective, a push is effectively a neutral outcome—no chips gained, no chips lost. Another possibility is surrender, which leads to a different resolution; learn more in our dedicated blackjack surrender article.

How Does a Push Work, and What Are Its Results? 

When a push is declared at the end of a round: 

• No Win, No Loss

You get back exactly the amount you initially wagered. Think of it as a “reset button.”

• Round Conclusion

The hand ends immediately. The dealer typically collects all losing bets and pays winning bets, but in the case of a push, your chips remain yours. 

• Bet Adjustment

You now decide whether to keep the same bet amount on the table for the next hand or adjust your wager based on your playing strategy and bankroll considerations. 

While a push might feel less exciting than a clear win, it’s better than losing your bet. From a long-term perspective, pushes help maintain the health of your bankroll, giving you a chance to recoup or re-strategize in the following hand. 

Different Scenarios and Exceptions

Push with Blackjack 

• Typical Scenario: You have Blackjack, and the dealer also flips over a Blackjack. The outcome is a tie, and your original bet is returned. 

• Variations: Some games may offer different payouts or rules. In rare cases, the dealer might be awarded the win (though this is generally seen in more obscure or unfavorable variants). Always check the table rules if you’re unsure. 

Push with Double Down or Split Hands 

• Double Down: If you’ve doubled your bet (e.g., doubling an 11) and end up tying with the dealer—say both have 20—you get your entire doubled bet returned. This is a significant point because many players assume they only get the extra portion back, but in reality, the whole double-down bet is treated as a single wager. 

• Split Hands: When you split a pair (such as two 8s), each hand is treated independently. A push on one hand means you get the bet back for that specific hand, while the other hand can still win, lose, or push. You could theoretically push on one split hand and win on the other in the same round. 

Push and the House Edge 

One reason Blackjack maintains a relatively low house edge is the presence of pushes. In many casino games, a tie can result in the house winning automatically, or some other rule that favors the casino. However, Blackjack’s push rule ensures: 

• No Advantage Shift: A tie doesn’t inherently favor either the player or the house. 

• Bankroll Preservation: Since your bet is refunded, you don’t lose money on that particular round, which can help in the long run if you’re following a solid strategy. 

While pushes might feel like missed opportunities for profit, they also prevent unnecessary losses. In a game where every bet matters, preserving your bankroll is key to staying in the action and capitalizing on future winning opportunities. 

Push Rules in Blackjack Variants 

Not all Blackjack games follow the exact same standards for pushes: 

• Spanish 21 or Free Bet Blackjack: These versions often have unique twists, like removing 10-value cards or offering “free” splits/doubles. Such changes can affect how frequently pushes occur or how they’re treated. 

• “Push, Dealer Wins”: A rare but unfavorable variation exists where, in a tie, the dealer is declared the winner. This dramatically shifts the odds against the player. If you see this rule, proceed with caution. 

• Regional Differences: Some casinos in specific locations might offer special side bets or promotions that impact push outcomes (though this is less common). Always check the posted rules or ask the dealer. 

Player Experience and Tips for Dealing with a Push 

Pushes are integral to the Blackjack experience. Understanding them can help you remain calm when your carefully built hand ends in a tie. 

• Stay Composed: It’s easy to feel deflated if you’ve spent time planning your moves only to end with a tie. Remember, you haven’t lost anything—just reset for the next round. 

• Bankroll Management: Keep an eye on your chips. If you’ve had multiple pushes in a row, you still haven’t lost money, which means you can maintain your strategy or adjust your bets more freely. 

• Strategic Decisions: Anticipating the dealer’s likely totals can sometimes help you minimize pushes, especially on borderline hands (like 16 vs. a dealer’s 7). While you can’t control what the dealer draws, solid basic strategy tends to reduce ties in the long run. 

Personal Insight: Early on, I found pushes to be disheartening, feeling like I’d wasted a good hand. But with time, I realized a push is a breather—an opportunity to regroup without depleting my bankroll. In many cases, it’s a welcome alternative to a potential loss. 

Why Push Matters in Blackjack 

In a game where every decision can tilt the odds, a push acts as a sort of safety valve. It: 

• Adds Fairness: If both sides hold the same value, neither gains an advantage. 

• Encourages Ongoing Play: Players keep their money, stay at the table, and get another shot at winning. 

• Balances the House Edge: The possibility of pushes helps ensure Blackjack remains more player-friendly than many other casino games. 

Strategic Impact 

While you can’t control exactly when a push will occur, you can make decisions that minimize the likelihood of ties or at least ensure you’re playing optimally: 

• Basic Strategy: Following a mathematically proven chart for hitting, standing, splitting, and doubling down is your best way to turn close calls into potential wins or pushes, rather than outright losses. 

• Card Counting (Advanced): While pushes are still bound to happen, knowing when the deck is rich in certain cards can reduce scenarios that end in ties—or help you leverage situations where you might avoid a push by making a bold move like a double down. 

Overall, pushes don’t drastically change standard strategy. They’re a natural outcome of two totals aligning. However, keeping a cool head and recognizing their value can prevent emotional reactions that lead to poor decisions in subsequent hands. 

FAQ

1. Does insurance affect a push outcome?

Insurance is a separate side bet on whether the dealer has a natural Blackjack. It’s settled independently of your main hand outcome. If the dealer does have Blackjack, you’re paid on the insurance bet—even if the main hand results in a push. If the dealer doesn’t have Blackjack, you lose the insurance bet; a push can still occur on the main hand if both totals tie.

2. Can I experience a push if I choose to surrender my hand?

No. When you surrender, you forfeit half of your bet right away, and the hand ends immediately. Because you’ve already conceded, there’s no chance for a tie on that round, and thus no possibility of a push.

3. How common are pushes in Blackjack?

The exact frequency can vary based on house rules and the number of decks in play, but pushes typically occur in a modest percentage of hands. In most standard games, you might see a push happen somewhere around 8–10% of the time. While not extremely frequent, they’re common enough to consider as part of your overall strategy and bankroll management.