European style live blackjack

Players at Playtech casinos may have recently noticed a few EU Style blackjack tables popping in their live games lobbies. They’re distinguished by an ‘EU Style’ icon as you can see on Naima’s table above left.

These tables have slightly different rules (standard ‘European’ rules) and deal convention to all the other Playtech tables (general floor and private casino),  which follow a variation on Las Vegas Strip blackjack rules.

The main difference you’ll notice is the deal.

EU Style…

The dealer only gets one face up card (rather than 1 face up, 1 face down) in the initial deal.

All the other tables…

Dealer gets 1 face up, 1 face down card on the initial deal.

Live blackjack tables from other providers also follow this convention.

Dealer Blackjacks

This difference becomes important in the event that the dealer’s first card is an Ace. In EU style blackjack players play out their hands (including insurance choice) before the dealer receives their 2nd card and possibly Blackjack.

In the above (non-EU style) deal scenario, the dealer checks for Blackjack immediately after players are given the chance to take insurance, but before hands are played out. This way you know whether or not the dealer has Blackjack before you play your hand.

As to the other rule differences, we’ll have to wait for the casinos to update their house rules pages. Some don’t yet acknowledge the existence of these new tables. Others are a little vague on the EU Style rules.

Generally speaking, one of the key differences between (standard) European Blackjack rules and the rules employed on Playtech’s (non EU Style) tables, is that European Blackjack only allows players to double down on hands with a value of 9, 10 or 11 (rather than any 2 cards).