European Blackjack

Pull up a chair and see why Blackjack is the most popular table game in casinos all over the world. This simple game of Twenty-One comes in many shapes and sizes, but the goal remains the same: get your score as close to 21 as possible without going over (busting). If your score is closer to 21 than the dealer's, you win.

The European format differs from the American version in that the player makes all his or her moves, including doubling and splitting, before the dealer receives the second card (the hold card). Another subtle difference is the dealer must stand on a soft 17 - whereas the dealer must hit on a soft 17 in the American version.

How To Play European Blackjack

Rules

• The game is played using six decks, which are reshuffled after each hand.
• Play one hand per round.
• Dealer stands on soft 17.
• Double on hard totals of 9 to 11.
• Split up to three hands.
• No surrender.
• Split aces receive only one card.
• No re-splitting of aces.

Betting

• Click on a chip to place a bet.
• Additional clicks on the chip interface will add to the wager.
• To remove a bet, click on the chip in the betting circle.
• Minimum amount to bet is $1 while the maximum is $500.
   

Card Values

• Card suits are irrelevant.
• Cards 2 to 10 have face value.
• Jacks, queens, and kings are worth 10.
• Aces have a value of 1 or 11.

Win or Lose

• The Player wins when achieving a score that is 21 or less, but greater than the Dealer's final total.
• Achieving a score of 21 or less when the Dealer's final score exceeds 21.
• An ace and any ten-value card on the initial deal is called a Blackjack.
• Blackjack pays 3 to 2, providing that the Dealer does not also have Blackjack.
• A Player and Dealer Blackjack on the same hand results in a tie, known as a push.
• If the Player's total is over 21, or if the Dealer achieves a better score, the Player loses.
• Any winning score of 21 after a split is paid 1 to 1.

Button Descriptions

• Bet - To place a bet, the Player must click on the chip value that they wish to wager.
• Deal - Once a wager has been placed, press Deal to begin the game. The Player gets two cards face up and the Dealer gets one card face up. Once the Player is finished all decisions, Dealer gets the remaining cards.
• Hit - Player desires another card to be dealt. The Player may take a hit at any time before standing.
• Stand - Player desires to keep hand dealt. The game will automatically stand when the Player has 21 or after doubling down.
• Split - If the Player's first two cards are of the same value (i.e. 7, 7, or Q, K) they may be split into two separate hands by placing a second wager of equal value. The Player may have up to 3 hands at one time. The Player then proceeds to draw cards as usual, with these exceptions: if a Player splits two aces, only one additional card is dealt for each hand. A hand totaling 21 after splitting aces is considered 21, not Blackjack.
• Double - When a Player has been dealt the first two cards and believes that the third card will give them a position to beat the Dealer's hand, they can double down. The wager is doubled, and one additional card is dealt to the Player. The hand automatically stands, and the Dealer then completes its hand, comparing it to the Players' total. The Player can only double on hard 9-11.
   

Glossary

• Blackjack - Achieved when the first two cards total 21. Blackjack always beats any other hand with a value of 21. If both the Dealer and the Player have Blackjack, this is a push.
• Bust - Achieved when the total value of cards for either the Dealer or Player exceeds 21. If the Player busts, the wager is lost; if the Dealer busts, the Player automatically wins the wager if they have not already busted.
• Push - Achieved when the value of the Dealer's cards (from 17 to 21) and the Player's cards are equal, resulting in neither winning. It also results in the return of the Player's wager.
• Insurance - An option offering you a chance to protect yourself when you believe the Dealer might have Blackjack. If the Dealer's first card is an ace, and the Player believes the Dealer's next card value is 10, the Player may purchase insurance against Dealer Blackjack at the price of half their initial bet. If the Dealer does have Blackjack, the insurance pays 2 to 1, which corresponds to the amount of the initial bet. If the Player has bought insurance and the Dealer does not have Blackjack, the Player loses his insurance. The Player's initial bet is then settled by comparing his cards with the Dealer's. If the Dealer and the Player both have Blackjack, the game results in a push with the Player profiting by the amount won by taking insurance, also called even money.