Even a creature of leisure like a wombat feels the needs to put on a pair of strides and dress up sometimes, so the Switch Studios and Microgaming table game European Blackjack had me at the first twist!
We’ve got some good looking table games here at Wombat Casino, like 3D Baccarat from Irondog and 20p roulette, and this card game is no wall flower either- it’s quite a looker.
Games Global (ex Microgaming) are one of the big names in casino games and when they launch a new classic table game with one of their partners, I confess that my game radar – or “gamedar” pinged.
For those who are as “relaxed” as me, here’s a little reminder. Blackjack is a game where you play the dealer to try to achieve a card score as close to twenty-one as possible, without exceeding it.
Better still, you land a blackjack which pays out 3:2. This is a game with a low house edge. If you play your cards right, it’s even better than baccarat (head to our baccarat tips page for more info on that game).
Look and Feel
In the online world, where you can now play table games with live hosts overseeing the games in real time, The Switch Studios European Blackjack set up is all about fast game play.
This is a lovely looking game that’s a breeze to use. Try our Switch Studios European Roulette or our American game for more variants from their line-up.
You will find yourself sitting opposite the croupier, who’s just out of sight, the card shoe and gambling chips of different denominations.
Your blackjack game takes place on a classy green baize felt, just like in a land based casino.
This immersive game gives you a taster of the kind of casino experience you’d get when you stroll into a big gaming joint. Except in my case I was still sitting in my striped Pyjamas enjoying a hot mug of tea. My posh pair of strides never saw the light of day.
Game Play
Switch Studios European Blackjack is played with a duo of card decks, each containing 52 cards. In the European version of the game, the numbers cards from 9 down to 2 are worth their face value. Ten and up are each worth 10 points and the Ace is worth 11 or 1.
Remember that you’re trying to reach the number 21 but you mustn’t exceed it. While I like a bust or two, I tend to try and avoid them in blackjack.
To try and kick off your winning streak set your chip denominations and let the cards be dealt. Two cards will be laid down on the marked card spots on the green baize. This is where the fun starts: it’s time to hit that magic number 21 or as close as you can to get to it!
There are a few basics to get to grips with to get you off to a winning start. If you end up with a hand the same value as the dealers then you’ll get your money back in a “push.”
Once you have your cards, you’ll be able to Hit (ask for another card), Stand (keep the cards you’ve been dealt) or Split (where you have two cards of the same value you can play then as two different hands).
Or you can Double Down – double your bet if you start off with an early hand that you reckon is in with a good chance of hitting that golden number.
You can also take out an Insurance Bet if the dealer’s first card is an Ace. You’ll spend half your bet on this insurance to protect yourself. Smart stuff, I really ought to put down the snacks and get my game face on a little more!
Conclusion
Switch Studios European Blackjack offers an easy to play and swish game of online cards.
A novice player can step over the line safely into the world of blackjack and learn the rules in a user friendly game. Just start your bets off low so that you are limiting your risk, or play the demo.
With all the set-up of a land based casino, this game might just tip you into the world of table gaming. And with a pay-out of 99.6%, this game has one of the lowest house edges in the casino. If you play your cards right, of course.