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Learn How To Play European Blackjack

A 4-Minute Guide to Teach You How to Play European Blackjack

In Europe, European blackjack is among the most popular variants. However, you can still learn how to play European blackjack, which has a unique set of rules, if you have a general understanding of how to play blackjack. 

The rules guiding European blackjack make it less advantageous than the American variation for those who enjoy challenging games. The game’s objective remains: to beat the dealer’s hand, just like in a regular blackjack online game, by achieving a total of 21, or as close to it as you can.

Everything regarding European Blackjack will be addressed in this blackjack guide. From the rewards and rules on how to play European Blackjack to its differences from the American version. Let’s get to playing!

A 4-Minute Guide to Teach You How to Play European Blackjack

With some slight variations depending on the casino, the rules for how to play European Blackjack are the same as those for the classic game. The following are the basic rules for how to play European blackjack:

  • Six decks of 52 cards minus the joker are used to play the European Blackjack variation. Some casinos use between two and eight decks.
  • The player competes with the dealer rather than the other players.
  • To win at European blackjack, you must have a hand total of exactly 21, or as near to it as possible.
  • If the dealer has blackjack, the player loses everything they staked. A push occurs if both players have a total of 21.
  • Face value is used to determine the worth of cards ranging from 2 to 9.
  • Cards worth 10 points each, from 10 to Ace, are used.
  • Depending on the casino, the Ace card has two values: 1 and 11.
  • Splitting is not allowed with cards worth 4, 5, and 10.
  • Ace cards can be split, but each player can only get one card from each ace.
  • Following a split, the player is allowed to double.
  • A soft 17 always results in the dealer standing.
  • The dealer always draws on 16.
  • Insurance bets are available.
  • It’s prohibited to surrender.
  • It’s not permitted for the dealer to peek for blackjack.

How To Play European Blackjack

If you’ve played traditional blackjack for a while, you’ll have no trouble learning how to play European blackjack. Here’s a peek at how to play European blackjack:

  1. Select a table: Whether you play Blackjack online or at a live casino, you must first secure a European blackjack table. And you must have already decided on a casino to select a table. If you decide to play blackjack online, do your research on which online casinos are legit and reputable.
  1. Make a wager: Once you have picked a table to play at, the first action every player takes is to place the initial bet. Before cards can be dealt out to any player, the player has to indicate their bet using chips. You just have to decide on an amount to bet and click on the chip icon if you’re playing blackjack online.
  1. Deal: The cards are dealt to each player and dealer collectively, beginning on the dealer’s left side. The player is dealt two cards facing up, and the dealer is also dealt two cards, but with only one card facing up.
  1. Score: Once the cards have been dealt, if you get blackjack, you win that hand immediately and receive your payout. But if you don’t and the dealer does have a blackjack, you lose your entire bet. If the player or the dealer goes over 21, that hand will bust immediately.
  1. Make a choice: Now that you know the outcome of your hand, which happens to be lower than blackjack, you would need to make a decision. You have to decide if you will hit, stand, double, split, or even take an insurance bet just to give yourself a better chance of beating the dealer.

  • Stand: To make a “stand” decision is to decide not to take any additional cards and retain the hand’s value.
  • Hit: To make a “hit” decision is to take an additional card to increase the value of your hand. And you can hit as much as you want.
  • Double: Making a “double” means doubling your initial bet and receiving an additional card to improve the hand value.
  • Split: The split action is activated when the initial two cards are pairs of the same value. To split your hand, you’ll receive two extra cards, which will, in turn, create two hands, and an extra bet is placed on the newly created hand. Then you continue playing normally, except that, in this case, you’re playing two hands simultaneously. So you can still hit with each hand.
  • Insurance: The insurance action is one you take when the dealer has an ace as his upcard, and you believe he will draw a card with a value of 10. The insurance bet is half your initial bet, and if you win after placing the bet, you get a 2:1 payout.

Strategy Guide for Playing European Blackjack

Every casino game requires a strategy, be it blackjack or baccarat. This would guide you through the decisions based on the card the dealer holds. So below in this strategy guide, you will find the basic strategy needed to know how to play European Blackjack. Take the following actions as a player when you have:

Hard Hands

A hard hand indicates the absence of an ace.

  • 5-8: Always hit, irrespective of the dealer’s card.
  • 9: If the dealer’s card is between 2 and 6, if possible, double; if not, hit. Always hit every other thing.
  • 10 and 11: If the dealer has two to nine, double or hit on 10 and 11. Hit on every other number.
  • 12: If the dealer has cards of 4, 5, or 6, always stand. Everything else is always a hit.
  • 13, 14, 15, 16: If the dealer has 2 through 6, always stand. Everything else is always a hit.
  • 17, 18, 19, 20, 21: Always stand irrespective of the dealer’s card.

Soft Hands

A soft hand indicates a hand with an ace.

  • 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17: Always hit irrespective of the dealer’s card.
  • 18: If the dealer has 2 through 8, always stand. Everything else is always a hit.
  • 19, 20, 21: Always stand irrespective of the dealer’s card.

Pairs

  • 2, 2: If the dealer has 4, 5, 6, or 7, always split. Hit every other number.
  • 3, 3: The same as 2, 2.
  • 4, 4: Always hit.
  • 5, 5: Always hit if the dealer has a 10 or an ace. For every other number, double if possible; if not, hit.
  • 6,6: If the dealer has two through six, always split. Hit for every other number.
  • 7, 7: Do the same for 6, 6 above, except that you split against the dealer’s 7.
  • 8, 8: Always hit if the dealer has 10 or an ace. Split for every other number.
  • 9, 9: Always stand if the dealer has 6, 10, or an ace. Split for everything else.
  • 10, 10: Irrespective of the dealer’s card, always stand.
  • A, A: Hit if the dealer has an ace. Always split for everything else.

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FAQs | How To Play European Blackjack

What is European Blackjack?

It is the most popularly played variant of blackjack in Europe. However, compared to other variations of blackjack, it has stricter rules.

What is the RTP in European Blackjack?

The European blackjack variant has a whopping 99.34% return to player. For every $100 wagered, each player receives $99.34 back.