European Blackjack

Rules of European Blackjack

In the card universe, Blackjack does not redesign, reinvent, or otherwise tamper with the Blackjack wheel. If you are already familiar with the classic game of Blackjack - also known as American Blackjack - you are almost ready to start playing. European Blackjack is an intriguing card game, but there are only a handful of details to remember.

Double decks of cards: American Blackjack uses 6 to 8 decks of cards. European Blackjack always uses exactly 2 standard decks of cards. Each deck has 52 cards.

Missing a hole card Another big difference is that the dealer does not have a hole card. Instead of being dealt one card face up and one card face down at the beginning of the game, the dealer is dealt one card face up, and after all the players have placed their bets, the dealer is dealt the card that is face down. This is extremely important in land-based play; now the dealer doesn't have the advantage of being able to look at his card and decide whether to stand or hit. This is extremely important in online Blackjack play because without the hole card, there's no way for the dealer to immediately declare Blackjack and end any further betting.

Split your cards: In American Blackjack, you are allowed to split, but only under stricter conditions. In this variation of the game, you can only split once (as opposed to three times, which is allowed in some other games), and only to make hands of similar value (as opposed to no restrictions on what type of cards can be split). You can only split cards with values from 10 to King (as opposed to any pair of cards).

The Right Strategy: In European Blackjack, you can only double down - that is, you can only double your initial bet - on hands that total 9, 10, or 11, and you cannot double down on split cards. This is much less flexible than American Blackjack, which allows you to double down on any hand, including split hands.

Fold Your Hand In European Blackjack, your only options are to win outright or fold. You cannot win a game where you have to split your option between winning and losing. You either claim the win, take what's yours, or you've effectively lost the game outright and are texting your girlfriend for no damn reason.

Reach 21: Other than these rules, the game is largely unchanged and retains the basic structure and concept of reaching a total of 21, or very close to it, with a hand that beats the dealer's hand.

Odds in European Blackjack

People have a natural affinity for European Blackjack because of its straightforward nature. This is especially true when it comes to the odds, which are always paid at 3-to-2 on a Blackjack win, no matter where you play.

Reducing the House Edge: This game has two elements that help reduce the house edge. One is the use of only two decks in the game, as opposed to the 6-8 decks used in most shoe games (fewer cards = better odds + easier to count cards). The other is that the dealer stands on a soft 17. Unfortunately, these advantages are somewhat offset by your own limited splitting options and the fact that you can't double down on splits.

At the end of the day, all Blackjack games have about the same odds. Some people would say that the American game is easier to win because the rules are a little more lenient, but if that's the case, it's only by a hair.

Variations of European Blackjack

True to its name, European Blackjack can be found in almost every casino in Europe. The same is true for Canadian casinos, where the game is also a regular feature. As for online play, most Internet casinos will have at least a standard version of the European game. For something a little more upscale, games like European Blackjack Gold are available at most Microgaming casinos.

Top 5 European Blackjack Tips

Always remember to keep a few basics in mind for any casino game you play. When it comes to European Blackjack, our recommendations are as follows:

• If you have 17 or less, hit.
• Hold your cards with a total of 18, unless the dealer shows a 9, 10, or Ace.
• If you have 19 or higher, stand.
• Take the opportunity to double down if you're holding a 10 or 11 and the dealer is showing a 9 or lower.
• If you are new to the game, you can start by playing European Blackjack for free at one of our recommended casinos.

Conclusion

Blackjack is extremely popular in Europe, and it's just as popular here in Canada, with many casinos featuring it prominently. European Blackjack is generally played with fewer cards (only two decks), making it a game well suited for those who can count cards. But even if you can't count cards, if you learn the rules and play with a recommended strategy, your chances of coming out on top (or at least not going too far under) are better than with many other casino games.