European Blackjack

Game Name:: European Blackjack
Decks:: 8
Blackjack pays:: 3 to 2
Insurance pays:: 2 to 1
Winning Hand:: 1 to 1
Surrender pays:: 1 to 2
Double Down:: On 9, 10, 11
Double Down after split:: Yes
Re-Splits:: No
Split Aces:: Yes, one card on each
Dealer draws to:: 16
Dealer stands on:: All 17's
Surrender:: Yes
Software Producer:: Chartwell

In Chartwell's European Blackjack, the object of the game is to beat the dealer by having a hand that totals 21 (without going over) or is closer to 21 than the dealer's hand.

How to play European Blackjack

Player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer is dealt one card face up. The "No Peek" rule in European Blackjack means that the dealer cannot check to see if he has blackjack until the second dealer card is dealt, after you have finished your hand. Therefore, if the dealer does end up with blackjack, you will lose any additional bets made. Of course, the dealer can only get blackjack on the hand if the first dealer card is a 10-value card or an Ace.

Depending upon the dealer's upcard the dealer will offer either Surrender, Insurance or Even Money.

Players without blackjack are offered Surrender. Players accepting surrender lose half of their original bet, and the hand is concluded.

When the dealer's up card is an ace, and the player does not have blackjack, the player is offered "insurance". Taking insurance means the player makes a second bet (value is half the original bet) that the dealer has Blackjack. If this is the case, the player loses their initial bet but is paid 2 to 1 on the insurance bet. If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the insurance bet is lost.

Once a player has selected insurance, the hand is played out. If the player busts, their original bet is lost but the insurance bet stays up until the dealer's hand is resolved.

If the dealer's up card is an Ace and the player has a Blackjack, the player is offered 'even money'. Taking even money means the player believes the dealer also has Blackjack.

When taking even money, player is instantly paid 1:1 by doubling the player's chip amount in the bet circle.

For hands that continue after the dealer actions, any of the following conditions may apply for the player:

1. Hit and Stand - On any hands where the player doesn't have a Blackjack, the player may "stand" (refuse any further cards), or "hit" (accept another card). A player can hit as often as desired until they select "stand" or they "bust" (exceeds 21). When you bust, you immediately lose your bet regardless of the dealer's hand result.

2. Double Down (player hands only) - You are betting that your hand can be won with one more card.

Players can double down if their two first card's hard totals, on both original or split hands, add up to 9, 10, or 11.

Double downs cannot be applied to a Blackjack hand.

When a player doubles down, the original bet is automatically doubled (a second chip appears) and the player receives one more card.

When a hand is split, each card forms a new hand and is then played separately. The original bet amount is applied to the second hand automatically by doubling the chip amount in the bet circle.

Players may double down on any split hand if the first two cards are 9, 10, or 11.

A hand can only be split once. If your third card was the same as the first two, it could not be used to create a third hand.

A two card 21 total on a split is not a natural blackjack. If the hand does not push it will pay even money.

Rules

8 decks of cards, re-shuffled after each round.
Dealer must draw to 16
Dealer stands on soft 17
Blackjack pays 3:2
Insurance pays 2:1
Even Money pays 1:1
Double Down on 9, 10, 11
Double Down on Splits
No splitting 4s, 5s, 10-valued cards
No re-splits
Split Aces, 1 extra card - If you split two Aces, only one more card will be dealt to each hand.
Early Surrender half of bet on non-dealer ace
No Peek - Player loses total bet on Dealer BJ, including splits and double downs.