What is a push in blackjack?
A push is a tie between the player's hand and the dealer's hand in blackjack. The round ends with no winner: the stake is returned to the player in full, and nothing is added or taken. A push is neither a win nor a loss.
Definition
In blackjack, a push is a round in which the player and the dealer finish with the same total. Neither side beats the other, so the bet is settled at its face value: the player keeps the stake and receives no winnings.
Most often it happens when both hands end on the same number, such as 19 and 19. The exact treatment of other ties, for example when both sides hold a natural, is part of the rules of the particular table, and this guide does not assume one version.
A worked case
A player stakes KES 200. Both the player and the dealer finish on 19. The round is a push, and KES 200 is returned. The net result is KES 200 − KES 200 = KES 0.
Compare the same KES 200 stake on a win at 1 to 1: the player receives KES 400 (KES 200 winnings plus the stake), a net of +KES 200. On a loss, the net is −KES 200.
What a push does to the house edge
A push has a net result of zero, so it adds nothing to the expected value of a hand, whether positive or negative. It only takes some rounds out of the "win or lose" count. The margin is set by the other outcomes, as the guide to the blackjack house edge shows.
Rules that change how often hands tie or who wins them, such as the number of decks or the dealer's play on soft 17, are covered in separate guides on deck count and on soft 17.
The rules shown for the table are the reference. Regulation 20(2) of the Conduct of Gambling Operations Regulations, 2026 requires a licensee to display the rules of games, odds, house edge and average return to the player. This guide has not checked a regulator-published blackjack rule set, so it states the general meaning of a push only. Gambling is addictive: play responsibly, 18+ only.
Questions and answers
Does a push count as a win?
No. The player gets back exactly the amount staked, so the result is zero. It is not a win, and it is not a loss either.
Do pushes remove the house edge?
No. Pushes pay nothing in either direction, so they add nothing to the player's side of the average. The edge comes from the other rounds, as explained in the guide to where the blackjack house edge comes from.
Are the push rules the same at every table?
Not necessarily. Rules differ between tables and games. Regulation 20(2) of the Conduct of Gambling Operations Regulations, 2026 requires a licensee to display clearly the rules of games, odds, house edge and average return to the player, so the rules shown for the table are the reference.