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No-Hole-Card Rule In Blackjack From Around The World /

No-Hole-Card Rule In Blackjack From Around The World

If you're playing blackjack in a US brick and mortar casino, then what you're experiencing might be very different than if you were playing blackjack in a European setting. And then playing online may be another totally different kettle of fish. There are a couple of rules which make these blackjack versions so different. These are the early and late surrender rules, as well as the no-hole-card rule. We suggest that you learn all these different rules as you never know when they might be useful.

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Playing Blackjack Around the World

As you’re probably well aware, your sole objective in the game of blackjack is to beat the dealer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing in a land-based casino or blackjack online. The rule is exactly the same, whether you’re playing in Europe or Asia, the US or any other country. The same follows for all the different variations of blackjack. They all share the same goal. But you may well find some small rules, like the no-hole-card rule, that differentiate it from the traditional game you might find in a US land-based casino. So let’s have a look at some of these key blackjack playing differences from casinos around the world.

The No-Hole-Card Rule

If you’re playing in a brick and mortar casino in the US, then you’ll find the no-hole-card rule in play. This dictates that the dealer cannot reveal their second card until all the other players have acted on their hands. There’s a basic mistake, in that many gamblers think that this gives the house a bigger advantage. This is because the odds of the dealer busting their hand is going to be lower when the cards are dealt with consecutively. But even a basic understanding of mathematics will tell you that the odds don’t change. It really doesn’t matter if the dealer does or doesn’t take their second card after the other players have all played their hands.

The No-Hole-Card Rule in Europe

Now the odds will be affected in a no-hole-card game only when the player loses to splitting a doubling down on their hand. And this is only when the dealer’s second card gives him a blackjack. So when a game is played with the European no-hole-card rule, then there’s a bigger possibility of this scenario panning out. This will cause an increase in the house edge by approximately 0.11%. Yes, it’s not a massive amount. But for some players who are interested in long-term strategy, it can help increase their jackpot winning chances. If you want to enjoy one of the best blackjack gaming experiences, then we suggest that you make your way over to 22Bet Casino. Not only do they have a huge number of different blackjack games, but they also offer all new players a great welcome bonus of 122% up to €300!

Below we’ve listed the strategic moves that you should take if you’re using the European no-hole-card rule. Especially in a multi-deck game. An example of this would be if the dealer hits a soft 17 and you then double after splitting a pair. We’ve also listed beside these strategies the ones you should take if you are playing an American game. Keep in mind, that the strategy would change according to whether the dealer reveals a 10 on Ace. And the game needs to be subject to the following hitting criteria:

Hard 11 against a dealer’s 10
A pair of Aces against the dealer’s Ace
Pair of eights against a dealer’s 10 and Ace

American No-Hole-Card Rule

Dealer’s Face-Up Card/Player Hand 10 and Ace

Hard 11 Double Hit

Ace and Ace Split Split

8 and 8 Split Split

European No-Hole-Card Rule

Dealer’s Face-Up Card/Player Hand 10 and Ace

Hard 11 Hit Hit

Ace and Ace Split Hit

8 and 8 Hit Hit

But keep in mind that the European rule in blackjack jackpot winning strategies is based on the fact there must be no surrender option.

To explain what surrender means: Once you’ve compared your first two cards against the dealer’s upcard, then you can choose to give up half of your wager if your hand is weak, to begin with. In this way, you will not finish the round with zero money, having lost your complete wager. In truth, you will not find this option offered with online games. Keep in mind that if you’re playing at a brick-and-mortar casino, then you’ll be required to verbally alert the dealer along with the other players if you want to surrender.

In the game of blackjack there are two types of surrender:

Late Surrender

Late surrender gives you the possibility of surrendering your hand. Providing the dealer’s face-up card is either an ace or a 10. But only after the dealer has checked his hole card to see if they have a blackjack. Now, if the dealer does have a blackjack, then your surrender option no longer exists. According to the no-hole-card rule, you will use the entire bet. In US casinos, when blackjack is played with multiple decks, there are two important rules that apply when the dealer stands on a soft 17:

A surrender at 16 (not soft; 8-8) against the dealers 9, 10 or Ace face-up card.
Surrender hard 15 (only 8-7 if using 8 plus decks) against the dealer’s 10 face-up cards.

If you use the surrender option correctly, then you can bring the house edge down to around 0.07% in a multi-deck game. Once again, this might not seem like a lot. But keep in mind that any reduction in the house edge is going to prove advantageous. Particularly in the long term

Early Surrender

You’ll find that early surrender is an option that’s going to be much more common in all casinos outside of the US. You’ll see this more clearly if you visit casinos to win the jackpot in Asia and Europe. The dealer does not reveal a hole card until all the players have completed their hands. And that’s why it’s called the “European no-hole-card rule.” With early surrender, the player has the option to give up their hand if the dealer has an Ace card or a 10 value face-up card before he will check to see if he has a blackjack.

They’ll find out the early surrender is going to be more favourable to the player than if he were to wait for the late surrender rule. With the early surrender, the player will gain an edge of 0.39%, providing the game is played with six-packs. Also, the dealer will need to have an Ace and if the face-up card is 8 and above. Now if you happen to be playing a European multi-deck game then the basic strategy for early surrender is going to be slightly different from that used in late surrender.

Early Surrender Options

With early surrender we recommend the following options:

Surrender hard 5, 6, and 7 (as well as 3s), and 12 to 17 (including 6s, 7s, and 8s) against a dealer’s Ace.
A 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.

Keep in mind that surrendering on a dealer’s Ace is not an option in most European and Asian casinos. There you can only surrender against the dealer’s 10 face-up cards. You can find good examples at 22Bet Casino. They have 163 live blackjack tables for you to discover some profits.

If counting blackjack cards is your thing, then you’ll find the early surrender can definitely help your strategy apart from simply reducing the house edge. In some ways, the no-hole-card rule can help stabilize your bankroll and also rebalance your losses. This is particularly true if you realise you have zero chance against the dealer’s existing no-hole-card.

Know Your No-Hole-Card Rules

There are two rules that are going to differentiate blackjack games from different parts of the world. These are the option to surrender and the no-hole-card rules. Nevertheless, all variations in blackjack are great fun to play. And the game continues to represent one of the best possibilities of winning cash from the casino. If you love games where there’s no surrender option, then it’s easy to see how this is a great gameplay technique to avoid those massive fluctuations that can happen to a gambler’s bankroll.

So if you decide to venture abroad, either outside of Europe or outside of the US, it’s probably a good idea to learn the new surrender rules. This will help fill your repertoire of jackpot winning tips and tricks. This way you’ll be able to compare your gameplay abroad with that at home. And you’ll see which one gives you the best chances of winning.