If you’re a regular player at Michigan online casinos, you must know about the Blackjack game. American Blackjack is unarguably the most popular casino card game in the world. Also called twenty-one, the game is a classic one mainly based on luck. Nevertheless, with some skills and betting strategies, you can enjoy playing the game better.
Blackjack is one of the longest-standing casino games in casino history. Yet, the game is still popular and well-played in today’s world. It even has so many variants around the world. You’ll find many of these variants online at many Michigan online gambling sites.
This review will cover blackjack’s two most popular variants – the American and European versions.
About Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game played with the standard 52-card pack. If you’ve been playing the game regularly on Michigan casino apps, you’ll notice that several card decks are used. The game of blackjack is played at the casino against the dealer.
Whether American or European Blackjack, the game’s main aim is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21, each player is dealt with two cards at the beginning. But then players can ask for another card or stand. The person who gets 21 or a card value closest to 21 wins the game. But when a player gets a card value more than 21, such a person’ busts’ and loses.
Aces in the game of blackjack are worth 1 or 11. The holder gets to choose the value it represents.
Blackjack History
The game is believed to have a Spanish origin. It is traced to have begun sometime around the early seventeenth century. The first record of the game was in France around 1768 and in Britain two years after. Blackjack was introduced into the United States in the early nineteenth century.
However, the game’s popularity began to increase during the twentieth century, and it quickly spread around the world. That’s why you’ll find it in almost all the best Michigan casinos, whether online or offline.
American Blackjack Rules
This variant of the game was founded in America many years ago. Today, there are many versions of online blackjack based on the American variant. However, all the versions are based on the same rules. You can find the rules below.
- Either six or eight card decks with a shoe are used
- There is a hole card that permits the dealer to peek for Blackjack on Ace and Ten upwards
- The dealer stands on soft 17
- Card value of 21 gotten on split Aces does not count as player’s blackjack.
- A player can double down on the total of any hand
- A player can split your hands about three times
- Players are allowed to double down after a split
- You can split Aces only once
- You can split 10s, even different ones
- Players are allowed to surrender late
European Blackjack Rules
The European version is also online in America. You can find in it many of the best Michigan casino sites. It is mainly referred to as Classic Blackjack on many Michigan casino websites. The rules of European blackjack are a bit different from the American game. Here are the rules of European Blackjack
- The game is played with two card decks.
- If the player and dealer get a Blackjack hand, it is a ‘Push.’ The stakes are returned when it happens.
- No hole card – thus, the dealer does not peek for blackjack
- The payout for blackjack is at odds of 3 to 2
- Dealer’s blackjack wins any other hands of 21
- The dealer must stand on soft 17
- Double down is done only on hands of 9, 10, or 11
- A pair can only be split once
- You cannot double if you split your hand
- You cannot surrender when the dealer’s face card is an Ace
American vs. European Blackjack – Game Differences
The significant differences in the features of both variants are explained in detail below.
Card Decks in Play
Card decks are one of the major differences between the game variants. While the European version is played with only two decks of cards, the American game is played with six or eight decks. Since there are fewer decks in the European game, it is easier to monitor the remaining cards.
Hole/Face-Down Card
In the American Blackjack, the dealer gets 2 cards, one dealt face up, and the other will be dealt face down, where the latter is known as the hole card. The dealer can decide to peek at the hole card to see how possible it is to get a Blackjack. It means after the cards are dealt, the dealer looks secretly at the hole card. Once the hole card is favorable to the dealer, the game will end, and the dealer collects all players’ bets.
The European game does not feature the hole card. A single face-up card is given to the dealer first, and the second card comes after the players’ hands are complete. This ensures the dealer cannot peek at the hole card before the players finish their hands. The lack of hole cards gives players the opportunity to it blackjack before the dealer. However, it can also make them incur more losses.
Doubling Down Rules
Doubling down is a strategy players use to increase potential winnings when confident of their card hand. Double down means doubling the amount you wagered initially. In American Blackjack, a player can double down on any card hand. But in the European, you can only double down on 9, 10, or 11.
Splitting in European and American Blackjack
When you split, you make your first two cards, two separate hands, and double your bet. In American Blackjack, you can split multiple times. But in the European game, you can only split once.
Late Surrender
The American version of the game gives the player the chance to surrender after getting the first two cards. This is helpful when you know you have little chance of winning. When you surrender, you get back 50% of your wins. The European Blackjack does not have the late surrender feature.
Insurance
You can make an insurance bet only when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace. In the American version, the dealer can check the hole card if the player goes for insurance. If the dealer strikes a blackjack, the player loses the main game but wins from the insurance. If the dealer does not, they will continue playing the game. It does not exist in European Blackjack since the dealer cannot check any hole card.
American vs. European Blackjack: House Edge and Odds
The different features in both variants affect their house edges and odds in different ways. Generally, the larger number of cards used in the American version increases the house edge. And the larger the number of card decks, the higher the house edge. Suppose the house edge is lower when six decks are used and higher when 8 decks are used. Thus, the European Blackjack, which uses only two decks of cards, offers the casino a lower house edge.
However, the American game comes with a lot of player-friendly rules and features. This helps to counter the unfavorable sides to players. Similarly, the rules in the European game seem to favor the casino better. Thus, the European rules increase the house edge in the game.
Rules like late surrender decrease the casino’s edge by 0.08%, which is not available in the European game. Also, the ability to double down on any total in the American reduces the house edge again by 0.23%. In the European version, you can double down on only 9,10, or 100; this increases the house edge by 0.14%.
Game Payouts
The payout for Blackjack in American Blackjack is 3 to 2. However, it is set as 6 to 5 in many American land-based casinos and even in Michigan betting apps. The other winnings hands are paid out at 1 to 1. Only a winning insurance bet pays at 2 to 1.
In the European game, the standard payout is 3 to 2. It makes it quite good since there are already many rules that do not favor the players.
Conclusion – which game is better?
The availability of many favorable features in the American Blackjacks makes it more attractive to players. These features automatically increase the players’ return rate when they are used. The lack of favorable features on the European game makes it less attractive to many players.
However, the hole card and the number of cards are the most significant features of the game. In the American version, the hole card can save you from losing much more money while playing.
Both games are great, and it all comes down to what you love. All you need to do is recognize the differences in both variants and focus your strategies on the favorable features. Nevertheless, the American versions offer a lot more winning potential.
Why not play online?
Now that it is legal to use Michigan casino apps and gambling sites, you can play blackjack online freely. You don’t have to live in Michigan; you only have to be there when you want to play. However, make sure you’re 21 years or more before visiting a casino site. And always gamble responsibly.
