Blackjack is a popular casino game that has been played worldwide for centuries. It is a card game where the objective is to beat the dealer by having a hand that is worth more points than the dealer’s hand, without going over 21.
There are many variations of blackjack, but two of the most common versions are American Blackjack and European Blackjack. In this article, we will explore the differences between these two popular versions of the game.
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American Blackjack
American Blackjack is also known as Vegas Strip Blackjack because it originated in Las Vegas. The game is played with six to eight decks of cards and follows the standard rules of blackjack.
The dealer stands on a soft 17, and players can split their hands up to three times. Players can also double down on any two cards, including after splitting.
One significant difference between American Blackjack and European Blackjack is that in American Blackjack, the dealer checks for blackjack if they have an Ace or a ten-value card face up before players make any decisions. If the dealer has blackjack, players lose their bets immediately, even if they also have blackjack.
Another difference between American Blackjack and European Blackjack is the payout for blackjack. In American Blackjack, a natural blackjack pays 3:2 while other winning hands pay 1:1.
This means that if you bet $10 and get a blackjack, you will win $15 (your bet plus $5). However, some casinos offer different payouts such as 6:5 or even money payouts for natural blackjacks which reduces your winnings significantly.
European Blackjack
European Blackjack is played with two decks of cards instead of six to eight decks in American version. The rules are slightly different from those in American Blackjack.
In European blackjack, after dealing out each player’s initial two cards and one face-up card for the dealer’s hand; Dealer does not check for blackjack before players make their decisions like in American version. The dealer also stands on a soft 17.
Additionally, in European blackjack, players can only split their hands once, and they can only double down on a hand worth 9, 10, or 11. This may limit the strategy of players who want to split and double down more often.
However, European Blackjack offers better odds for players as there is no hole card which means that if the dealer has a natural blackjack, they do not immediately take all the player’s bets. Instead, they only take the bets that are on the original hand.
Finally, in European Blackjack winning hands pay out at a rate of 3:2 like American version.
Conclusion
In conclusion, American Blackjack and European Blackjack differ in certain rules such as number of decks used , when the dealer checks for blackjack , splitting and doubling down restrictions and payout rates for blackjack . While American Blackjack may offer players more opportunities to split or double down with varying payouts for natural blackjacks , European Blackjack offers better odds for players as dealers do not check for blackjack before making decisions . Ultimately it comes down to personal preference which version you prefer to play.
