{"id":14613,"date":"2025-12-16T09:38:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T09:38:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.com\/blog\/?p=14613"},"modified":"2025-12-16T09:38:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T09:38:50","slug":"what-is-european-blackjack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/16\/what-is-european-blackjack\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is European Blackjack?"},"content":{"rendered":"
European blackjack is one of the most popular versions of blackjack you\u2019ll find in casinos, especially in Europe and online. It follows simple rules, is easy to learn, and offers good odds for players who use basic strategy.<\/p>\n
If you already know how blackjack works, European blackjack will feel very familiar. The main differences are in how the dealer plays and when cards are dealt.<\/p>\n
The goal of European blackjack is the same as in all blackjack games: beat the dealer by getting a hand as close to 21 as possible without going over.<\/p>\n
Number cards count as their face value. Face cards count as 10. Aces count as 1 or 11.<\/p>\n
Players are dealt two cards. The dealer also gets two cards, but only one of the dealer\u2019s cards is shown at first.<\/p>\n
European blackjack has a few important rules that make it different from American blackjack.<\/p>\n
The dealer receives only one card face up at the start. The second dealer card is dealt only after all players finish their hands.<\/p>\n
The dealer must stand on 17, including soft 17 in most games.<\/p>\n
Blackjack usually pays 3:2.<\/p>\n
Doubling down is usually allowed on hands of 9, 10, or 11.<\/p>\n
Splitting pairs is allowed, but re-splitting may be limited depending on the casino.<\/p>\n
The biggest difference in European blackjack is the \u201cno hole card\u201d rule.<\/p>\n
In American blackjack, the dealer gets two cards at the start, including a hidden hole card. In European blackjack, the dealer does not get that second card until the end of the round.<\/p>\n
This rule slightly increases the house edge because players can lose extra bets if the dealer later gets blackjack.<\/p>\n
Players can usually double down after receiving their first two cards. This means you double your bet, take one more card, and then stand.<\/p>\n
Splitting allows you to split two cards of the same value into two separate hands. Each hand gets its own bet.<\/p>\n
Because of the no hole card rule, if you double or split and the dealer later gets blackjack, you may lose all your bets. Some casinos offer a rule called \u201cEuropean No Hole Card with Protection,\u201d which reduces this risk.<\/p>\n
Insurance is sometimes offered when the dealer\u2019s face-up card is an Ace.<\/p>\n
If the dealer later gets blackjack, the insurance bet pays out. In most cases, insurance is not a good bet for players and increases the house edge.<\/p>\n
European blackjack usually has a low house edge, especially when you play with correct basic strategy.<\/p>\n
With standard rules, the house edge is often around 0.4% to 0.6%. This makes European blackjack one of the better table games in the casino.<\/p>\n
Rule variations, such as fewer decks or better doubling options, can improve or worsen the odds.<\/p>\n
European blackjack and American blackjack are very similar, but there are key differences.<\/p>\n
European blackjack uses the no hole card rule. American blackjack gives the dealer a hole card at the start.<\/p>\n
European blackjack usually does not allow surrender. American blackjack sometimes does.<\/p>\n
Both versions typically pay 3:2 on blackjack, but always check the table rules.<\/p>\n
Yes, European blackjack is a good choice for players who want simple rules and solid odds.<\/p>\n
It is widely available in online casinos and live dealer games. If you understand the no hole card rule and use basic strategy, European blackjack can be a smart and enjoyable game to play.<\/p>\n
European blackjack is a classic version of the game with easy rules and strong player odds.<\/p>\n
The main thing to remember is that the dealer only receives one card at the start. Once you understand this difference, the game is simple to follow and fun to play.<\/p>\n
European blackjack is different mainly because of the no hole card rule<\/strong>. The dealer is dealt only one card face up at the start. The second dealer card is not given until all players have finished their hands.<\/p>\n This means players cannot see if the dealer has a blackjack right away, which slightly increases the house edge. Other rules, like doubling down and splitting, are similar to standard blackjack.<\/p>\n Spanish 21 is a special version of blackjack with these main differences:<\/p>\n All the 10 cards are removed from the deck (only 48 cards per deck).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Players have extra bonus rules, like automatic wins for certain hands.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n More flexible doubling and splitting options.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Usually offers better payouts for special hands.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n These rule changes make Spanish 21 more exciting, but the house edge can be higher if you don\u2019t use the right strategy.<\/p>\n The key difference is the dealer\u2019s hole card<\/strong>:<\/p>\n American blackjack:<\/strong> The dealer is dealt two cards at the start, one face up and one face down. If the dealer has blackjack, the hand ends immediately.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n European blackjack:<\/strong> The dealer gets only one card initially. The second card is dealt after players finish their hands.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Other differences can include rules for surrender, doubling, and splitting, depending on the casino.<\/p>\n European no hole card blackjack is just another name for European blackjack<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cNo hole card\u201d means the dealer does not receive a second card (the hole card) until all players have played their hands<\/strong>. This rule changes how players approach doubling and splitting because they might lose more if the dealer later gets blackjack.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" European blackjack is one of the most popular versions of blackjack you\u2019ll find in casinos, especially in Europe and online. It follows simple rules, is easy to learn, and offers good odds for players who use basic strategy. If you already know how blackjack works, European blackjack will feel very familiar. The main differences are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":11631,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guide"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow is Spanish 21 different from regular blackjack?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What is the difference between American and European blackjack?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What is European no hole card blackjack?<\/strong><\/h3>\n