What are the American & European Blackjack Variants? - American vs European Blackjack

Blackjack is immensely popular, and there are plenty of variants, including American and European blackjack.
This how-to guide will reveal how to play blackjack at Miracle.casino. We will explore strategies and discuss the differences between the American and European version.

What are American Blackjack & Game Rules?

American blackjack is the classic game found traditionally in land-based casinos, and now is widely popular online at Miracle Casino. It broadly resembles a standard blackjack game, whereby players should aim to hit 21 and beat the dealer without going bust.
There are a few minor differences compared to other blackjack games. You can read our full guide to playing blackjack online, but these are the basic rules:

• American blackjack uses a 6-8 deck of cards.
• All players are dealt 2 cards, face up.
• The dealer also receives 2 cards, one face down and one face up.

American blackjack is the classic game found traditionally in land-based casinos, and now is widely popular online at Miracle Casino. It broadly resembles a standard blackjack game, whereby players should aim to hit 21 and beat the dealer without going bust.
There are a few minor differences compared to other blackjack games. You can read our full guide to playing blackjack online, but these are the basic rules:

• American blackjack uses a 6-8 deck of cards.
• All players are dealt 2 cards, face up.
• The dealer also receives 2 cards, one face down and one face up.
• The dealer can hit on a soft 17 (a hand with an Ace that can be counted as 1 or 11 and totals 17). The casino house edge is slightly stronger.
• Insurance can be offered when the dealer’s up card is an Ace.
• Players can make an Insurance bet (a side bet) which will pay out if the dealer has a blackjack.
  A double down can only be applied if you’re dealt a total of 9, 10, or 11. It can be a risky strategy but rewarding too.
  Splitting pairs will take a paired hand and split into 2 separate hands, doubling your wager. Players will get an additional card on each at the blackjack table.

What is European Blackjack & Rules?

European blackjack also revolves around trying to hit 21 without exceeding that target. Let’s now dissect some of the key game rules for this variant:

• Dealers won’t check for blackjack when they’re showing an Ace or 10.
• The dealer can stand on soft 17 like other blackjack games, but they will always draw on 16.
• Players will lose their total bet if the dealer is holding blackjack.
• There is no surrender option.
• Players can double down after splitting.
• Aces can be split, but players will only receive an additional card for each Ace.
• It’s possible to take insurance for a bet.
• Blackjack payouts are set at 1:1 in the event of a tie.