Blackjack - London

By Wagercomms

The Game

The London deal compared to the Peek game (US) is different in the way that the cards are dealt one at a time and the dealer only takes one card in the first round. After the players has decided whether to hit, stay or double the dealer takes its second card. Hence the deal sequence is... One card to dealer, open. Two cards to player, one at a time. Dealer takes its second card, open.

Blackjack using the London deal rules also means that the dealer takes the full bets on split and double, if dealer wins.

How to Play Blackjack

The participants play against the dealer (the bank) independent of other players. The player's goal is to draw cards which together should amount to 21, or as close as possible without exceeding 21. When the player gets 21 with his two first cards, it's a Blackjack.

Ace counts as 1 or 11, dressed cards as 10 and remaining cards according to their value.

If the player's sum of cards is closer to 21 than the dealer's then he wins as much as what was wagered. Except when receiving Blackjack, then the player wins 3 to 2 on the bet, assuming the dealer does not also have Blackjack which in that case results in a push.

If the player's sum of cards is exceeding 21 he loses what was wagered. If the player and the dealer have the same value from 17 and onward, no one wins and the stake goes back to the player in a so-called push. Blackjack beats 21.

Online commonly the deck is shuffled after each hand.

Split

If the player's first two cards are of the same value he may split them and with a new stake of the same value he gets two separate hands. The player draws cards in accordance to regular rules. If the player splits two Aces he only gets one card each on each ace, thereafter the dealer draws. If the player splits two Aces and gets 21 on his respectively hands this is not considered as Blackjack but as 21.

Online it is common that players may not split a split hand.

Double Down

it is possible for the player to double his stake, but then he only receives one more card. The player may double on his two first cards. Double down is done when the player thinks his third card will give him a position where he can win over the dealer.

The Player may only double on first two cards total, 9, 10 or 11 and the player may double down on a split hand.

Insurance

if the dealer's first card is an Ace he is then considered to have good possibilities to get Blackjack. The player can, if he believes the bank's dark card is a 10, insure himself against Blackjack. If you choose to insure yourself you have to pay an amount of half your wager. If the dealer gets Blackjack the insurance will pay 2 to 1, which corresponds, to your original stake. If you have insured yourself and the dealer does not get Blackjack then you loose you're insurance. Your cards against what the bank receives settle your original wager. The insurance is to be seen as a game of its own within the Blackjack and it gives the player a chance to protect himself when he thinks that the dealer will get Blackjack. The player should not insure himself when he has Blackjack. If the dealer gets Blackjack towards your Blackjack a push is obtained.

Hole Card Rule

Hole card rule means that most operators apply the "peek" rule when the dealer sits with an open ace and insurance is taken.

Rules for the Dealer

The dealer must draw cards until he at least has 17 and must stay on 17 or higher. In other words, if the dealer gets 16 he has to draw a card. The dealer has no freedom to draw cards depending on your hand. The dealer works accordingly to valid rules and cannot act on its own. How you as a player should act are guided by two factors, your own cards and the dealer's open card.

Online London Deal

Online and applying standard rules for London deal one do so with the exceptions that the deck is shuffled after each hand and that the player may not split a split hand. This is mainly done in order to prevent card counting, and due to limitations on screen resolution.

Wagers Pay

The following is standard pay on winnings in Blackjack.

Winning Wager              Pay

Winning hand                 1 to 1

Insurance                        2 to 1

Blackjack                         3 to 2

House Edge

Per the definition of standard rules and optimal play the game is most commonly played using an six deck shoe and with the above rules and winning wagers the following house edge applies.

Six deck shoe and optimal play house edge is 0.55%.