Before beginning your journey into the world of online Blackjack, it’s a good idea to become well versed in the variations of the classic casino game, as you never know what you might find whilst scrolling through the online catalogues. The main two types of Blackjack that you’ll find, whether that is at land-based casino or your favourite online site, are American and European, or the rest of the world.
Read on to find out more.
The number of decks
When you play in the US, you’ll mostly find games that use six decks, along with some single and double deck games. Play Blackjack in Europe and you’ll also find six deck games; however, the single and double variations will be a lot more unlikely to be played.
In America, you can find many variations of the game such as: Spanish 21, Blackjack Switch and Free Bet Blackjack, whilst casinos tend to pay out just 1.2x your bet when you get Blackjack. Moving onto European casinos, the style of the Blackjack tables are more likely to be traditional, offering out a slightly more generous payout of 1.5x your bet for an untied Blackjack, whilst there are a lot less side bets and variations to choose from.
The Dealer’s down card
In all games of Blackjack, the dealer will have one hidden card and another that is revealed, the former being referred to as the down card. In an American casino, the dealer will take a look at their down card before the other players get to act on their hands, whereas in the rest of the world, the deal won’t make their move until after the players have had their turn.
The non-American way of doing things leads onto the “European No-Hole-Card Rule” which is applied when a player doubles down or splits a pair, and as a result loses to an eventual dealer Blackjack. This rule gives you the chance to make a move before you find out if the dealer has beaten you, rather than in the US version, where they can end the game immediately, if their down card goes on to give them Blackjack.
The Surrender strategy
The Surrender strategy can be extremely beneficial if used correctly, as it gives you the chance to get a little bit back, even when you lose. At an American brick-and-mortar casino, this technique is known as the late surrender, where you only get the opportunity to surrender your hand and win back half your wager, after the dealer has checked their cards and determines whether or not they have Blackjack. If they don’t have it, then you’ll receive your reward. A lot of casinos in Europe and Asia, along with some online variants, will allow you to place an early surrender, before the dealer has revealed whether they have Blackjack. Being able to surrender early is undoubtedly a bonus for players, as your choice will be somewhat unaffected by the dealer’s hand, lowering the house edge in your favour.
Whilst there are a lot more differences between the two versions of the classic game, it’s still clear to see that there are quite a few advantages to playing the European version of Blackjack, over the American one. Well, luckily for you, online casinos tend to offer you a whole host of variants to choose from – so the choice is all yours!
