Strange Blackjack Games: How to Play European Blackjack Redeal
I’ve seen some pretty interesting blackjack games and rule variations in my day. One of the strangest is a game called European Blackjack Redeal. It’s developed by Microgaming, and gives players some very unique options.
The base game is played the same as any traditional blackjack variant. The object is to achieve a higher hand than the dealer, without busting (going over 21). But player’s will have a few extra chances to make that happen in this online blackjack game.
How to Play European Blackjack Redeal
Microgaming released this unique blackjack variant a few years ago. It’s played with two decks of cards, and has pretty basic rules. Player can split once, and double on 9, 10, or 11. The dealer stands on all 17s, and won’t peek for blackjack. There’s no surrender option or no insurance bets, either.
As the name implies, players are capable of requesting a redeal of various cards after the start of a hand. There are three different ways to do it.
The player can request a redeal of their original hand (first two cards), the last card dealt to their hand, or the dealer’s hand.
Of course, as advantageous as this option is to players, it will come at a price. You won’t have to sacrifice any good rules or payouts. The price is an actual, monetary cost. The game will list the fee for each type of eligible redeal at all times. It’s not a static fee, either. The cost varies depending on the quality of the redeal.
In some cases, dealing a new card can actually be free. Chances are, though, it won’t be a card, or cards, you want to get rid of. For example, if you’ve been dealt a 20 to start, you can probably have that dealt again for free – but why would you want to?
Perhaps the most beneficial way to use the redeal is to go back in time after busting, or when you believe a bust is imminent. Maybe you have 12 showing, and the dealer has a high card, like an 8 or 9. You want to hit, but you’re afraid. You could toss the entire hand and pay for a new one, or you could take the hit and – if that dastardly 10 shows up – pay to rewind time and get a new card in its place.
Players can use the Redeal option up to five times per hand. But be careful that you’re not spending more than you’re winning to achieve that victory!
Other Strange Blackjack Games
Blackjack Redeal is just one of several strange blackjack variants available online. Blackjack Switch and Double Exposure also give player’s a highly unique advantage.
In Blackjack Switch, players are conducting (and betting on) two hands at once. If you don’t like the way the hands were dealt, you can switch the second cards dealt to each hand – a fair trade, so to speak. For instance, 10/5 and 6/9 would look a lot better as 10/9 and 5/6!
Double Exposure Blackjack has one simple rule change. The player is able to see both of the dealer’s cards at all times. However, both Blackjack Switch and Double Exposure games have special rules to turn the house edge back into the casino’s favor.
As always, it’s best to know the rules before you play European Blackjack Redeal or any other variation of the game! You can play the free demo mode anytime at Jackpot City and other Microgaming-powered online casinos.
Update: September 2024
Since the original article was written, several new and interesting blackjack variants have gained popularity:
- Quantum Blackjack: Developed by Playtech, this variant introduces random multiplier cards (3x, 5x, or 10x) that can significantly increase winnings. The multipliers only apply to the main bet, not side bets.
- Infinite Blackjack: This Evolution Gaming creation allows unlimited players to join simultaneously. It features the Six Card Charlie rule and popular side bets like Any Pair, 21+3, Hot 3, and Bust It.
- Power Blackjack: This variant removes 9s and 10s from the deck and allows players to double, triple, or quadruple down on their first two cards, even after a split.
- Speed Blackjack: As the name suggests, this is a faster-paced version where the quickest players to make decisions act first on their hands.
- Free Bet Blackjack: In this game, the casino covers bets for doubling down and splitting pairs (except 10-value cards), reducing player risk while maintaining win potential.
These new variants are available at various online casinos including Cadtree Brands, with some also appearing in land-based establishments.
