European Blackjack Guide

European Blackjack is often compared to American and is classed as the ‘cousin’ to this variant. Offering stricter rules and significant differences in how the dealer plays their hand, this game provides an interesting twist for players wanting a fresh challenge.

If you’re interested in playing a new variant, this quick guide will introduce you to the basic rules of European Blackjack. Learn what European Blackjack is, how it’s different from the usual American Blackjack rules, and how to play it. My European Blackjack review will also review some pros and cons to help you determine if it’s the right blackjack table.

Europn Blackjack History

The exact origins of blackjack are often disputed, but it’s widely thought that it originated in France somewhere around the 17^th century. Originally, it was a game known as ‘Vingt-en-Un‘, French for the number 21. By the 18^th century, the game was introduced all over Europe and even North America.

The European blackjack game was likely developed from the American version, which is the one that most blackjack players are more familiar with. In fact, most blackjack tables follow the US rules and gameplay steps. The same applies to online casinos in the UK, where American Blackjack is more common than online European Blackjack.

What Are the Rules of European Blackjack?

What is European Blackjack? Well, it can be defined by the unique rules that differentiate it from other online blackjack games. If you’re familiar with the more common American version, you’ll notice some significant contrasts in the game rules.

Here are the essential European Blackjack rules to learn before playing the game.

• European Blackjack is usually played with two decks. However, some variants use more decks (up to eight).
• Players get two face up cards after bets are placed.
• The dealer always stands on a soft 17.
• The dealer doesn’t get a hole card. The second card isn’t dealt until every player at the table has taken their turn.
• The dealer doesn’t peek for blackjack when they have an Ace.
• The insurance bet is still offered if the dealer’s card is an Ace.
• You can only split same-character face card pairs. Splitting can only be done once.
• Doubling down is allowed on hands totalling nine, 10, or 11.

How to Play European Blackjack?

With the specific rules listed above in mind, let’s go over how to play European blackjack online at a casino. The main differences between European and American Blackjack are how the dealer deals their cards and plays their hand, while the player’s part is rather similar.

This is how to play European Blackjack, step by step.

• Place your blackjack bet on the table.
• When the betting time has elapsed, the dealer deals two cards to every player in a clockwise direction. Player cards are dealt face up.
• The dealer deals one card to themselves.
• Each player takes their turn choosing from the usual options. These include hitting, standing, doubling down, or splitting. Early surrender might also be available at this point.
• When every player has finished playing their hand, the dealer gets their second card.
• The dealer plays their hand according to the dealer rules, and the result is determined.
• Any winnings are immediately paid out according to the paytable.

European Blackjack Charts

The best way to play blackjack European games is to follow basic strategy. The same applies to any variant because it will help you choose the move that will give you the best odds of winning for any hand you’re dealt. It’s certainly not a foolproof way of beating the dealer, but it can reduce the house edge if used correctly.

It’s very important to note that if you’re going to use a blackjack strategy chart, it must be the right one for the game variant you’ve chosen. Different charts exist for different blackjack variants; European blackjack requires a specific strategy chart.

Here’s a quick guide that will help you use a European Blackjack strategy chart:

• A European Blackjack strategy chart is based on the specific rules of this game.
• The left column is where you’ll need to find your hand total. Remember to differentiate between soft and hard totals.
• The top row shows the dealer’s upcard.
• To find the right move for your hand, find the cell in common with the dealer’s card and your hand total. This will tell you the best move to make for this card combination.
• If you’re unsure what some of the abbreviations on the chart are, you can refer to the key at the bottom. This will explain what each one stands for and a few additional rules to keep in mind.
• The insurance bet should be avoided according to basic European Blackjack strategy.

European Blackjack Payouts

Two different payouts can be won if you beat the dealer. If your hand’s value is higher than the dealer’s, you win a payout of 1:1. This means you get even money, so if you bet £10, you get your stake back and another £10.

A natural blackjack pays the standard 3:2 payout in European Blackjack, or 1.5x your wager. A blackjack refers to being dealt an Ace and a card with a value of 10 on the initial deal. Unless the dealer also has a blackjack, you win the highest payout in the game. Remember, a three-card hand totalling 21 points doesn’t constitute a blackjack. Here’s a brief summary of the payout rules in European Blackjack:

• Regular wins pay 1:1 (even money).
• Natural blackjack always pays 3:2.
• If you tie with the dealer, the result is a push. In this case, your bet is refunded.
• Insurance bets pay 2:1.

The House Edge in European Blackjack

The house edge is the casino’s advantage in a game, and it’s impossible to eliminate it. Every blackjack table has a house edge, but some games offer a slightly lower house edge, which always works in your favour.

Most European Blackjack games use two decks, slightly lowering the casino advantage. Games with four to eight decks always have a slightly higher house edge. European Blackjack tables boast a low house edge of about 0.42% with perfect basic strategy.

It’s very important to note that without making the right moves in the game by following the strategy charts, the house edge can easily increase to 1% or more.

Top European Blackjack Games You Can Play at Betiton

If you’ve read this far in my European Blackjack guide, you may have realised this variant is not incredibly popular. However, I’ve made sure to include a few titles for players who want to play blackjack with European rules.

Below are the top blackjack tables I recommend if you want to play European Blackjack online at Betiton UK.

🃏 Game Name	💻 Provider	📅 Release Year
European Blackjack	Switch Studios	2020
Blackjack MultiHand VIP	iSoftBet	2017

Advantages and Disadvantages of European Blackjack

Before you play a variant of popular casino games, it’s important to consider the advantages and disadvantages. No game offers the ‘perfect rules’, and the casino always has an edge. Nevertheless, some blackjack variants offer more player-friendly rules than others.

You can compare the pros and cons of European Blackjack in the table below:

➕ Advantages	➖ Disadvantages
✅ Only two decks are used.	❌ Splitting is only allowed on pairs with the same character.
✅ Basic strategy can easily be applied in European Blackjack.	❌ You can’t split your cards more than once.
✅ The dealer must stand on a soft 17.	❌ There’s no late surrender option in European Blackjack, although early surrender is offered.
✅ The house edge is low.	❌ You can only double down on selected hands.
✅ The rules are very straightforward and simple to follow.	❌ Without a hole card, the dealer doesn’t peek for blackjack.

Frequently Asked Questions About European Blackjack