Blackjack fans know that there are different game versions at casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City in the United States. We mean not some minor features but fundamental distinctions you can recognize at first glance.
But in Las Vegas clubs, there are also different blackjack rules. Some are from the casinos located on the Las Vegas Strip, and others are in Las Vegas downtown.
Therefore, we can say that there are three main versions of American blackjack. Let's understand what they have in common and how they differ from the European version. And then, let's talk about the features of each blackjack mentioned.
Standard Rules of American Blackjack
The distinctive feature of American blackjack is the Hole Card rule:
The dealer gets two cards at the beginning of the round. One of them is face-up. If it is an ace or a ten, the croupier peeks at the face-down card to check for the natural blackjack.
This differs from the European version, where the dealer gets one face-up card and takes the rest after players make decisions on their hands.
The game goal, card values, and other basics are the same in all blackjack types. You need to score more points than the dealer without busting twenty-one. Ace can be equal to one or eleven, face cards give ten points, and the remaining cards are valued at their numbers. Payouts are the same.
You can quickly master any blackjack version if you know the standard rules. However, choosing the proper basic strategy is not easy. You must consider the differences and adjust the basic strategy.
Now, let's discuss the main types of American blackjacks.
Las Vegas Strip Blackjack
The basic blackjack rules in casinos on the Las Vegas Strip are as follows.
- The game is with four decks.
- The dealer stands on any 17.
- If the face-up card is an ace or ten, the dealer peeks at his hole card to check for blackjack.
- You may split any cards of the same value.
- Aces are split only once.
- Only one card is dealt to split aces.
- There is no natural blackjack after splitting.
- You may double down on any two cards.
- There is blackjack insurance.
- Surrender is not allowed.
In some casinos, doubling down after splitting cards is allowed; in others, it is forbidden: some allow you to do it only after splitting aces. Also, you can meet other deviations from standard rules, like split aces only, mandatory double after splitting aces, etc.
Vegas Downtown Blackjack
In blackjack of downtown Las Vegas, rules are almost identical to those on the Las Vegas Strip.
The main difference is that the dealer must hit on a "soft" 17 points. This increases the house edge by about 0.2%.
The game uses only two decks.
Of course, in some casinos (especially online), there are deviations from these rules.
Atlantic City Blackjack
Blackjack from Atlantic City differs from the one in Las Vegas with the following rules:
- The game is played with eight decks.
- Surrender is allowed.
In some Atlantic City casinos, the dealer does not check the hole card for blackjack. But if there is one, the player loses only the basic bet and gets back the money from the splits and doubles.
Also, there are differences in the rules regarding repeated splits, doubles after splitting, surrender, and other aspects of the game.
American Blackjack at Online Casinos
All three varieties of American blackjack and other kinds of this game can be found in the best online casinos on the Microgaming platform. Moreover, they offer several versions, different in the number of allowed boxes and decorations.
Casinoz recommends blackjack by Microgaming Series Gold. They have an excellent, user-friendly interface, realistic graphics, pleasant sound, settings, and numerous other advantages.
Cryptologic, Playtech, and other manufacturers also offer various American blackjack games. But do not forget to learn all nuances of the rules because they can have their features.
