Blackjack - Peek

By Wagercomms

The Game

The Peek deal compared to the London deal (Europe) is different in that the dealer takes two cards in the first round, first card face up and second card face down (some casinos do first card face down, second card face up), and should the dealers face up card be of 10 (A) value, the dealer checks for blackjack (peek rule). This is commonly done in the order that players may double or split before the dealer peeks, following insurance. If dealers face up card is an ace, the peek is performed, and if blackjack dealer only takes the initial bet on double and splits. If not holding blackjack the game proceeds accordingly.

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 the deck is commonly 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 double down on any first two cards total (originally double only on first cards total 9, 10, 11) and the player may double down on a split hand. 

If the player doubles and the dealer's first card is of value 10, and the dealer gets blackjack, the player loses only the initial bet.

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 casino 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 his own. How you as a player should act are guided by two factors, your own cards and the dealer's open card.

Online Peek Deal

Online and applying standard rules for Peek 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. Commonly online also means that the dealer only checks for blackjack in case the open card is an ace and if insurance is taken, compared to land based peek rules where the dealer always checks for blackjack on an open 10 value card.

Peek deal and double down and split on dealers first card being of value 10, and the dealer gets blackjack, the player loses only the initial bet.

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 0.46%.