You are already familiar with the fact that there are a plethora of Blackjack variants you can play online. However, most of them use the basics of the two main games variations – European and American Blackjack. Although at first, they may seem somewhat similar, there are slight differences you should take into consideration when choosing which one you will play. Since these differences in rules affect the gameplay, you should be aware of them to select the optimal playing strategy.
The Hole Card: European Blackjack Rules Versus American Gameplay. In American blackjack, the dealer is provided with two cards. The one facing down is the hole card. Assuming that he or she may have the possibility to create a blackjack (if the card facing up is an ace), it is permitted to briefly view the hold card. If the hole card provides. This article covers the European Blackjack version and includes details on how this differs from the American version. The Basics European Of Blackjack. As previously mentioned, in all variants of Blackjack, the aim of the game is simple – get nearer than the Dealer to 21 without going over. Australian online casinos offer both American and European versions of blackjack. There are a few different American online blackjack variants like Vegas Strip Blackjack and Atlantic City Blackjack. European Blackjack is a standard version. The main difference between the American and European is the way that the dealer’s cards are dealt.
Basic Rules Compared
While the main goal of European and American Blackjack is the same – to beat the dealer with a hand of 21 or the closest to it without going over, the basic rules they use are different.
How To Play Blackjack
– Hole Card
In American Blackjack, the dealer receives two cards with one of them being dealt face-up. Another card is called the hole card, and the dealer can peek at it if the face-up card is an Ace. The dealer will check the hole card on their own, so the player cannot see it. Yet, if they have a Blackjack, the round instantly ends, and the dealer wins. In this case, the player cannot make any further moves.
As for European Blackjack, there is no option for the dealer to check their second card. They receive the second card after the player completes their hand. This simply means that the player can make their moves without knowing if the dealer has a Blackjack. When compared, the American version of the game is more favourable to the player as it prevents any further losses when the dealer has a natural.
– Decks in Play
The European version of the game uses two standard 52-card decks while in American Blackjack, between 6 and 8 decks of cards are in play. European Blackjack wins with this one since the number of cards in play affects the house edge. In practice, two decks in play lower the house edge by 0.19% while 6 and 8 decks increase it by 0.64% and 0.65% respectively.
Gameplay Differences
Now that you know the differences in the games’ basics let’s move on to the gameplay. These differences can tell you more about the strategy you should apply when playing one of these two game variants.
– Doubling Down
European Blackjack allows players to double down only on the hands worth 9, 10 or 11. On the other hand, American Blackjack offers the double down option on any total. What’s more, the latter allows you to double down after splitting.
– Splitting
The European version of the game enables you to split a hand only once when you have two cards of the same ranking such as 10s, Js, Qs or Ks. As for American Blackjack, it allows you to split your hand three times and make a total of four hands. Any pair of cards can be split including As that can be split only once.
– Late Surrender
You can quit the game after you have received your initial two cards and lose 50% of your stake when you believe that your hand cannot beat the dealer’s in American Blackjack. This option is available at any time in this version of the game. However, European Blackjack does not offer surrender as an option at all.
American Blackjack vs. European Blackjack: Which One to Play?
These are the fundamental rules that make these two games different. Yet, they are not the only ones you should pay attention to. For instance, one of the rules that also affect the house edge is whether the dealer stands or hits on a soft 17. In American Blackjack, the dealer always hits on a soft 17, which increases the house edge. The opposite applies to European Blackjack.
All Blackjack games have rules that balance the house edge in favour of the casino. What you should do is to use the proper strategy and try to lower it as much as possible. When playing American Blackjack, you can make use of the rules that are more liberal than in the European counterpart. Yet, make sure not to use all the possible options recklessly as it can drain your bankroll. Visit the best online Blackjack casinos and give European and American Blackjack a try!