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Lesson 3.1 Game types
European blackjack: what changes when there is no hole card
After this lesson you will know how a no-hole-card game deals the dealer's second card and why a dealer blackjack can take your extra bets. You will also learn one chart change for this game: when to hit 11 instead of doubling.
The dealer gets one card until you finish
In a standard online game, the dealer gets two cards. The second one is the hole card – the card dealt face down.
When the dealer's up card is an ace or a 10, the dealer checks the hole card for blackjack. If it is blackjack, the hand ends before you play.
| Standard game (dealer checks) | No hole card | |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer cards at the start | 2 (one face down) | 1 |
| When a dealer blackjack shows up | Before you play | After you play |
| Bets you lose to a dealer blackjack | Your first bet | Usually every bet on your hand, including doubles and splits. Some tables return the extra bets – check the rules screen. |
This is how European blackjack is usually dealt. The dealer takes the second card only after every player has finished.
A dealer blackjack takes your doubles and splits
You have 11. The dealer shows a 10.
You double down – you add a second bet equal to the first and take one more card. Then the dealer draws an ace.
The dealer has blackjack. You lose your first bet and your double bet.
The same happens to every extra bet you placed when you split.
Read the rules screen before you sit down. If it says the dealer has no hole card and extra bets are not returned, every extra bet against a 10 or an ace is at risk.
The chart change: 11 against a 10 or an ace
The standard basic strategy chart doubles 11 against every dealer up card.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
In a no-hole-card game, the dealer can still make blackjack against your double. So you hit 11 against a 10 or an ace instead.
- 11 against 2–9: double.
- 11 against 10, J, Q or K: hit.
- 11 against an ace: hit.
Here you hit. You take one card and keep only your first bet on the table.
Other changes (pairs of 8s and aces) are on the European blackjack page.
What a no-hole-card game costs you
With correct play, the house keeps about 0.52% of each bet in this game. That figure is for 6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17 and double after split.
| Game (6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17) | House edge |
|---|---|
| Dealer checks the hole card | 0.40% |
| No hole card | 0.52% |
You can compare other rule sets in the house edge calculator. Then practice the 11 hands in the trainer below.
Basic strategy lowers the house edge. It does not remove it, so set your session budget before you play.
Practise: 25 hands
Only hands from this lesson. Your first answer counts.
The lesson on one card
- No hole card: the dealer takes the second card after you finish.
- A dealer blackjack then usually takes every bet, including doubles and splits.
- Some tables return the extra bets – check the rules screen.
- Hit 11 against a 10 or an ace; double 11 against 2–9.
- Other changes for pairs of 8s and aces are on the European blackjack page.
- House edge with correct play: about 0.52%.
Check yourself
1. In a no-hole-card game, when does the dealer take the second card?
Before you make any move.
Not quite. That is the standard game, where the dealer gets a face-down card at the start. In a no-hole-card game, the dealer starts with one card.
After every player has finished playing.
Right. Right. The dealer has only the up card while you play, and draws the second card at the end.
Only when the up card is an ace.
Not quite. The up card does not change when the second card comes. In a no-hole-card game, the dealer always draws it after the players finish.
2. No-hole-card table where extra bets are not returned. You double 11 and the dealer then makes blackjack. What do you lose?
Only your first bet.
Not quite. That happens in a game where the dealer checks for blackjack first. Here the double bet is already on the table, so it is lost too.
Your first bet and your double bet.
Right. Right. On this table, a dealer blackjack takes every bet on your hand, including doubles.
Nothing – the hand is a push.
Not quite. A push happens only when you also have blackjack. Your 11 plus one card is not blackjack, so you lose.
3. No-hole-card table. You have an 8 and a 3, and the dealer shows a king. What do you do?
Double.
Not quite. Doubling is the standard chart move. In a no-hole-card game, the dealer can still make blackjack, so you do not double 11 against a 10-value card.
Hit.
Right. Right. A king counts as 10, and in a no-hole-card game you hit 11 against a 10 or an ace.
Stand.
Not quite. A total of 11 cannot bust with one more card. Standing on 11 gives away a hand that can still improve.