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European Blackjack is the most common form of Blackjack played throughout Europe and contains several differences to the standard US version.

The game is played with four standard decks of cards, without jokers, and the object of each round is to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 points without going over. While some casinos may choose to create their own dealer rules, the majority will require that the dealer must stand on soft 17 or higher and hit on 16 or lower.

Blackjack is paid out at the standard 3:2, and if the dealer's face up card is an Ace then the player may purchase insurance prior to the peek. If the player decides to split their hand, insurance will no longer be in effect. And, if the player buys insurance and then decides to double, only the initial wager will be doubled.

The dealer must stand on soft 17 or higher and hit on 16 or lower.

The game begins by selecting an online casino to play at. Most casinos will offer the same payouts and gaming options so it is really much-of-a-muchness in terms of standard winnings. However, if you can find yourself an online casino that allows Multi-hand play, it can greatly increase your winnings on an excellent round. Five-card games of European Online Blackjack are fairly common, and offer a great new challenge for veterans of the game.

An initial betting round will take place before any cards are dealt, and players may use this time to decide how many hands they wish to play for the upcoming round. The minimum and maximum wagers are often the same throughout the more popular online casinos, with $1 being the minimum and $500 the maximum.

After the betting round is over, two cards will be dealt to each active hand. The player's cards will all be facing up, but only one of the dealer's will be visible. If the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, then insurance will be offered. Insurance can be bought in case of dealer Blackjack; if the dealer does not have Blackjack then the insurance bet is lost, however if they do then the player will break even.

If the player has Blackjack then they immediately win and are paid out at 3:2

Next, the total amount of points will be calculated from the player's cards and they will have the option to hit, stand, or possibly double or split. If the player has Blackjack then they immediately win and are paid out at 3:2, unless the dealer also has Blackjack, in which case the wager in pushed. Players may hit as many times as they like without exceeding 21 (busting), and stand when they feel they have enough points to beat the dealer's hand.

The player will continue to play out all of their active hands before the dealer begins their turn. If the initial two cards in a hand are worth 9, 10, or 11 points, the player will be offered the chance to double. Doubling allows the bet to be increased to twice the original amount, and one extra card to be drawn; immediately after that card is drawn, the hand will stand. From the three-card hand, the value must beat the dealer's in order to pay out on the doubled wager.

Splitting is also an option on some hands. If the two initial cards are the same, then players may split, thereby creating two hands in one. The original wager will be doubled – one for each hand – and players may continue to hit until they stand or bust. If the split cards are Aces then each of them will only receive one extra hit; also, a 10 or face card will not make Blackjack on a split hand.

After the player has completed all of their active hands it will be the dealer's turn to play. If the dealer wins, then all losing hands will forfeit their initial stakes as well as any extra bets such as splits or doubles. If the player wins, however, they will be paid out 1 to 1, while a tie will allow all original wagers to be returned.

European Rules is one of the most popular Blackjack variations available at online casinos. Multi-hand offers players that extra element of challenge, as well as plenty of great cash payout opportunities. If you find yourself looking for a different Blackjack experience altogether, why not have a look at Perfect Pairs Blackjack.