Articles    

Understanding Difference Between American and European Blackjack

 

Blackjack variants at online casinos can be divided into two broad groups - American and European. In American blackjack variants the dealer’s first card is dealt face up and the second card is dealt face down before the player makes his first move. The face down card is known as the hole card in online blackjack terminology. In European blackjack variants the dealer’s first card is dealt face up but the second card is not dealt initially. Because of this European blackjack variants are called “no hole” variants. This difference in the dealing of the cards affects both the subsequent game play and the blackjack strategy.

In American blackjack variants if the dealer’s face up card is an ace you can activate the insurance bet. The dealer then peeps at his hole card for blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack then you lose the ante bet but are paid the insurance bet. If the dealer does not have a blackjack then you lose the insurance bet and can proceed with the hand. If the dealer’s face up card is a ten value card then the dealer again checks his hole card for blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack then you lose the ante bet. If the dealer does not have a blackjack then you can proceed with the hand.

In European blackjack variants, the absence of the hole card makes it impossible for the dealer to check for blackjack before the player plays out his hand. If the dealer’s face up card is an ace then you can activate the insurance bet and then proceed with the hand. After you are through with the hand, the second card of the dealer is dealt face up. If the dealer then gets a blackjack the insurance bet is paid out.

In online blackjack you can double down or split on your hands. For this you have to place additional wagers. In American blackjack variants you make the decision of double down or split after ascertaining that the dealer does not have a blackjack. In European blackjack variants you have to make these decisions before knowing whether the dealer has a blackjack or not. In European blackjack variants you can lose the double down and split bets to a dealer blackjack, whereas in American blackjack variants you cannot. Therefore American blackjack variants offer slightly higher returns. In terms of strategy you can be more aggressive in split and double down moves in American blackjack variants. In European blackjack variants you have to adopt a conservative approach in double down and split moves when the dealer’s face up card is an ace or a ten value card.

Comments