Your main purpose in each game of blackjack is to achieve a victory over the dealer. This applies to blackjack games, whether played online or in brick-and-mortar casinos across various regions including the U.S., Europe, Asia, and other countries. The classic blackjack games that are played in the United States are not the same as the games that are provided at land-based casinos located in other countries, despite the fact that all varieties of blackjack have the same objective. This post provides a concise overview of the various differences in blackjack variations across different countries.
The No-Hole-Card Rule in the US
Under the no-hole-card rule, the dealer is not allowed to disclose their second card until all of the other players have acted on their hands. This rule applies to blackjack games played in the United States. As a result of the fact that the chances of the dealer blowing their hand are lower when the cards are delivered consecutively, many gamblers have the false assumption that this provides the house a greater advantage. At the end of the game, when all of the other players have finished their hands, the odds do not alter statistically regardless of whether the dealer takes their second card or not.
The No-Hole-Card Rule in Europe
In no-hole-card games, the fact that a player loses to splitting and doubling down on their hand when the dealer’s second card delivers him or her a blackjack is something that does have an effect on your playing strategy and the odds. By adhering to the European no hole card rule, this is a situation that is quite likely to occur. Depending on the particular regulation, it may boost the advantage that the house has by around 0.11%.
In a game with several decks, the following analysis will shed light on the strategic maneuvers that may be executed by using the European no hole card rule. As an example, when the dealer lands a soft 17, you have the ability to double your bet after splitting a pair. The same goes for how they compare to the same movements in a game played in the United States. The strategy would shift depending on whether the dealer came out with a ten or an ace, and the game is subject to the following conditions:
- Hitting a hard 11 against a dealer’s 10
- Hitting a pair of Aces against the dealer’s Ace
- Hitting a pair of eights against a dealer’s 10 and Ace
We would like to bring to your attention that the strategy for the European rule in blackjack is based on the fact that there is no surrender option available in the game.
For the benefit of those who may not be familiar with the term “surrender,” after you have compared your first two cards to the up-card that the dealer has, you have the option to choose to forfeit half of your stake if your hand is weak and weak to begin with. This indicates that you will not end the round without any prizes. It is significantly less common to see this choice in blackjack games played online. On the other hand, if you wish to surrender, you are required to verbally inform the other players and the dealer in the majority of traditional casinos. There are two different ways in which one might resign while playing blackjack:
Late Surrender
If the dealer’s face-up card happens to be an Ace or a ten, you have the option to surrender your hand with a late surrender. However, this occurs only once the dealer has examined their hidden card to ascertain whether they possess blackjack. If the dealer happens to have blackjack, unfortunately, the surrender option becomes invalid, resulting in the loss of your entire bet. Unless, of course, you also have a blackjack in your hand.
There are two strategic principles that apply to a late surrender when the dealer stands on soft 17 in the majority of casinos in the United States that play multi-deck blackjack.
- Surrender hard 16 (not soft; 8-8) against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace face-up card.
- Surrender hard 15 (only 8-7 if using 8+ decks) against the dealer’s 10 face-up card.
In blackjack games with several decks, a late surrender, when employed appropriately, may reduce the house advantage by around 0.07%. On the surface, it may not seem to be a significant amount; nonetheless, any decrease in the house edge is beneficial, even if it is just a little amount.
Early Surrender
Early surrender is an option that is more prevalent in casinos located outside of the United States, namely in Europe and Asia. Therefore, it is something that you would anticipate. Until all of the players have finished their hands, the dealers in these blackjack games do not disclose a hole card. This was noted before. As a result, the “European no-hole-card” rule was established.
Through the use of an early surrender, the player is provided with the opportunity to give up their hand to a dealer’s Ace card or ten-value up-card before the dealer has checked to see whether or not their hand contains a blackjack. The opportunity to surrender early is often more advantageous for players than the regulation that requires them to surrender late. When playing games with six decks when the dealer has an Ace, the player has a 0.39% advantage over the dealer, and the player has a 24% advantage when the face-up card is a ten.
Both the early surrender strategy and the late surrender approach are used in European multi-deck blackjack games; however, the early surrender strategy is somewhat different from the late surrender method. It is recommended that you give up the following hands if you have the choice to quickly surrender:
- Surrender hard 5, 6, and 7 (as well as 3s), and 12 to 17 (including 6s, 7s, and 8s) against a dealer’s Ace.
- Surrender hard 14, 15, and 16, including 7s and 8s against a dealer’s ten.
- Surrender hard 10-6 and 9-7 (not 8s) against a dealer’s 9.
Within the majority of European and Asian casinos, you are only able to surrender against a dealer’s ten face-up card. This is an important fact to keep in mind. There is no way to choose Aces.
If you are a math wiz and have ever attempted counting cards, the surrender option is absolutely something you should consider including into your approach. This is in addition to the fact that surrender may help minimize the number of cards that the house has an advantage over. Assuming that you have no chance of winning against the dealer’s hold card, it may be an excellent way to stabilize your bankroll and assist you in rebalancing your losses.
As Has Been Shown
Two rules set apart various blackjack games across the globe: hole cards and the ability to surrender. Each and every one of them, however, is still incredibly enjoyable to play. They also provide players with a convenient and straightforward method to earn some money without overly complicated rules or gameplay. Playing blackjack with surrender is the greatest approach to save your bankroll from experiencing too many changes as compared to games in which the option is not available. It is highly recommended that you give this advice a go for yourself if you want to play blackjack at casinos located outside of your country.
