European vs American Blackjack

Published on: February 18, 2016 

When players enter an online casino and are looking for blackjack games, they will immediately see that there are different variations of the game that can be played. American and European gamblers have different preferences when it comes to blackjack, which is why most online casinos will offer a choice between European and American blackjack games. Just about any player that has played online blackjack will already be aware of the Rule of No Hole Card when playing European blackjack, which is the major difference between the two types of games.

With European blackjack, the dealer will never check for a blackjack when they are dealt an Ace. The second dealer card will only be revealed after players have made all of their betting choices. If the dealer does have a Blackjack, players will immediately lose their bets. European blackjack is one of the most commonly played blackjack games around the world and with this version, the dealer will always stand on a Soft 17 hand and players cannot double any hands that have been split. There is also no option of surrendering with this variation. All blackjack hands will be paid at 3:2 and other hands that win will receive even money payouts. Any insurance bet that wins will receive a 2:1 payout.

When playing American blackjack, the dealer receives a face up and a face down card. If there is an Ace showing, the dealer will peek at this hole card to check for a blackjack. If that hole card is a 10 valued card, all players lose their bets and the game ends. There is a benefit to this. Since the dealer will check for blackjack, players will not lose additional money by doubling down or splitting. Players will also be able to place insurance bets should that initial card be an Ace. These games are played with 6 to 8 decks, as opposed to the 2 decks used in European blackjack. The blackjack payouts can either be 3:2 or 6:5 and players can split as many as three times. There is also a surrender option.

European blackjack is often preferred because of the fewer decks being used and eh lower house edge, but for those that wish to preserve their bankroll and save money on side bets, doubling down or splitting, the American version may be a better choice.

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