Blackjack rules IX
Monday, September 29th, 2008For hand-held games of blackjack where the players are dealt hole cards as the two initial cards which they can handle by themselves, certain regulations are needed to be followed. This includes the injunction regarding the optional third card in the game which states that if a player decides to draw a third card and it is dealt to him, he must let that card lie on the table and he cannot take the card in his hand.
After the dealer and all the players have received their cards, the gameplay starts with the gambler, seated at the left of the dealer and who is also sometimes referred to as the first base. One by one, all the players indicate to the dealer how they intend to play their hand. This is followed by the dealer completing his own hand and after showdown the winners are accordingly paid or if they have lost, the bets placed by the players are collected.
In an exception to the dealing of the cards in a blackjack game, some casino houses, especially those in Europe, allow the dealer once one face up card until all the participating players have completed their hands with their quota of two or three cards. When each of the player has formed his hand, the dealer deals himself the second card and the optional third card, if he chooses, and makes his own hand complete. This is known as the European No Hole Card rule. The significance of this rule is that it may affect a player’s game tactics in case the dealer has a blackjack and he collects the bets from all the players as the sole winner of the hand. Some casinos specify that if the dealer hits a blackjack after being dealt only a single card initially, the players would be enabled to get refund on their double-down or split wagers. This relaxation of the European No Hole Card rule doesn’t require players to change their optimal playing strategy.

