European Blackjack

Another variation of Blackjack is European Blackjack. Both skill and luck play a great role in this game. It can be played with any number of decks, between one and six. They are standard 52 cards decks and all cards will be re-shuffled after each hand.

In order to win the total value of the cards in your hand must be as close to 21 as possible without going over. The player closest to 21 wins the hand. If the dealer goes bust the player also wins the game. You are not allowed to play multiple hands at a time.

You have a Blackjack if you are dealt an Ace and a ten valued card. Blackjack is the best hand and will beat all other hands. You can bet a minimum of $2 and a maximum of $2000 in European Blackjack.

Winning hands will pay according to these ratios:

• Blackjack pays 3-to-2. This means that if your initial bet is 20 credits and you get a Blackjack you will win 30 credits.

• If you win a hand but you do not have a Blackjack or a 21, the house pays 1-to-1. This means that an initial bet of 50 credits will pay 100 credits in case of a normal win.

• If the dealer gets a Blackjack and you have insurance, you will win 2-to-1 on your initial bet. This means that if you have bet 40 credits and have taken insurance, you will win 60 credits.

• Between one and six standard 52 cards decks are used;

• Blackjack is the best and strongest hand and will beat all other hands, including 21;

• Face cards (Jacks. Queens and Kings) are valued at 10;

• Aces are valued either as 1 or 11;

• You are not allowed to draw more than nine cards. If you have been dealt a total of 11 cards and the total value of your cards is still under 21, you must stand and let the dealer play his hand;

• The dealer will always stand if he hits 17 and will always get another card if he hits 16.

Splitting Rules

If you are dealt a pair (not two cards of the same value, such as a King and a Queen) you can split your hand. You will have two hands to play, but will also have to double your initial bet by placing another bet on your second hand. The bet on your second hand must be equal to the bet on your first hand. Getting a ten valued card over a split Ace counts as 21 and not as Blackjack. Getting an Ace over a split ten valued card also counts as 21.

Double Rules

If the total value of your hand is 9, 10 or 11 you have the option of doubling your bet. The value of your Double bet must be the same as the initial bet. If you do double your hand, you will only be dealt one more card and then you must stand.

Insurance Rules

Just as in standard Blackjack, if the dealers face up card is an Ace and you think he'll get a Blackjack, you can use half your initial bet to buy insurance. You can use insurance to protect only one hand. Split hands or double bets are not covered by insurance.