European Blackjack: How to Play
In European Blackjack the object of the game is the same as in standard Blackjack, i.e. to beat the dealer by having a hand that totals 21 or is closer to 21 than the dealer's hand. This variation has worldwide popularity; here the dealer receives a second card (or hole card) only after all the player hands have been completed.
Rules
- Dealer stands on soft 17;
- As a rule, 8 decks of cards are used, they are re-shuffled after each round;
- The player can Double Down on 9, 10, 11;
- The player can Double Down on Splits;
- No splitting 4s, 5s, 10-valued cards;
- No re-splits are allowed;
- Early Surrender half of bet on non-dealer ace.
Basic strategy
Basic European Blackjack Strategy Table |
Player's Hand |
Dealer's Up Card |
Hard Totals |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
17 (+) |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
16 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
15 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
14 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
13 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
12 |
H |
H |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
11 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
10 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
9 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
8 (-) |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
Soft Totals |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
Ace & 8 (+) |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
Ace & 7 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
H |
H |
H |
Ace & 6 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
Ace & 5 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
Ace & 4 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
Ace & 3 (-) |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
Pairs |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
A |
Ace & Ace |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
10 & 10 |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
9 & 9 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
S |
SP |
SP |
S |
S |
8 & 8 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
7 & 7 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
6 & 6 |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
5 & 5 |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
D |
H |
H |
4 & 4 |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
3 & 3 |
H |
H |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
2 & 2 |
H |
H |
SP |
SP |
SP |
SP |
H |
H |
H |
H |
European Blackjack Payouts
Winning Wager |
Odds Payuot |
Winning Hand |
1-1 |
Blackjack |
3-2 |
Insurance |
2-1 |
Even Money |
1-1 |