The key difference: the hole card
| American (hole card) | European (no hole card) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer's starting cards | one up, one down | one, face up |
| Blackjack check | right away, with an ace or 10 | after the players act |
| If he makes blackjack | you only lose your original bet | you also lose doubled and split bets |
| Surrender | often allowed (late) | rare |
Some European casinos use "original bets only" (OBO): you only lose your first bet to a dealer blackjack. Then the strategy is the same as American blackjack.
The effect on the house edge
With no hole card, the house edge goes up by about 0.1% with otherwise equal rules. That's small, as long as you adjust the few plays below. Other rules (number of decks, H17 or S17, 3:2 or 6:5) often matter more.
Plays that change
Against a dealer 10 or ace, avoid putting more money on the table:
- 11 vs 10 or ace: hit (instead of doubling against 10).
- 10 vs 10 or ace: hit (same as American).
- A,A vs ace: hit instead of splitting.
- 8,8 vs 10 or ace: hit instead of splitting.
The rest of the chart stays the same. In Blackjack Play, pick the French casino preset: the coach's chart updates automatically.
Play European rules and let the coach correct you.
Play with the coachFAQ
Which version do European casinos deal?
Most often the no-hole-card version with 6 decks. Exact rules vary: check the table sign.
Should you double 11 vs 10 with no hole card?
No, just hit: a dealer blackjack would take the doubled bet.
Does card counting work in European blackjack?
Yes, the principle is the same. Only a few deviation indexes change.