Hi Lo 13 European Blackjack Gold – Rules and Gameplay Review
We are always eager to accept a skill challenge. Blackjack tables seem to be the perfect battleground to exercise strategy against the odds. The sky high RTP contributes further to the game’s popularity. Developers strive to offer various rules in their effort to attract more players. This results in a great diversity of blackjack titles in the online casino landscape. Here we pay special attention to Hi Lo 13 European Blackjack Gold. This is an outstanding RNG title by Microgaming. It has a very low house edge, interesting rules, and decent side bet opportunities.
- Excellent RTP
- Outstanding Software
- Side Bets available
- Licensed by:
- UK Gambling Commission
- #45235
- Accepted Payment Methods:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Skrill
- Neteller
This game is simply fascinating. The action is great, the software is flawless, and some of the rules are in great favour of the player. In the upcoming paragraphs we review in detail the rules and features of Hi Lo 13 European Blackjack Gold to show why this is a top choice to UK gamers.
The Rules in a Nutshell
We usually think of blackjack as hole card game. However, in this variant the dealer is initially dealt only one card, meaning there’s no face-down card to peek at. One split per game is allowed, equalling two hands. Your hand must contain two cards with identical denomination in order to be given the option to split. It is not allowed to split unlike 10 value cards. The best thing is that multiple cards can be dealt to a split ace pair. The player is also allowed to double down on hard hands with the value of 9, 10 or 11. Then one card is drawn, and the hand stands automatically. Keep in mind that double downs are not available after a split. You also have the insurance option if the dealer’s first card is an ace. However, surrender is not allowed. A common rule is that after split, a hand of ace plus 10 value card is counted as 21, and not a blackjack.
As you probably have guessed, some of the rules could give the player a decent advantage if used wisely. Nevertheless, each move should be considered carefully, with both the player’s and the dealer’s hand taken into account. Here’s a short summary:
- The no peek rule gives you the chance to complete your hand after rejecting insurance. The dealer cannot beat your hand immediately and must wait for his turn to draw.
- Multiple cards to split aces – in many games ace splits are limited to one additional card per hand, after which both hands stand automatically. In Hi Lo 13 European Blackjack Gold you are allowed to hit both split hands multiple times, until the hand goes bust or reaches 21.
- Insurance is available when the dealer starts with an ace, regardless of the single dealer card and the no peek rule. It pays 2:1 in case the dealer wins with a blackjack
- Double downs are available only on hard hands with value of 9, 10 or 11. However, this is not exactly a bad thing. The chance to bust with the next draw increases if your hand totals 12 or more. If you are at 8 or lower, one additional card won’t be enough to get a good hand.
Some may consider surrender a must have rule, but we are confident you’d survive without it. Just like any other rule, surrender doesn’t work in your favour if you use it too often. Many think of it as a waste of money and prefer to keep playing instead.
Main Features and Gameplay
Hi Lo 13 European Blackjack Gold is played with two regular decks and stands out with RTP of 99.60%. With a house edge of less than one percent, there’s no doubt that the game is among the most popular blackjack variations. After covering the game rules above, it’s time to look at the side bet options. As the name suggests, you can place side bets on one of three possible outcomes:
- Hi stands for high and means a player’s starting hand with value between 14 and 20. The bet is available before the cards are dealt and pays 1:1.
- Lo is short from low and means a starting hand of 12 or lower. Again, you can bet before the cards are dealt, and the payout is 1:1.
- 13 covers all player starting hands with the exact value thirteen, e.g. 9+4. As the probability here is lower, this bet pays at a ratio of 10:1.
The three side bets pay immediately in case of winning outcome and don’t depend on the final outcome of the given game. An important thing to remember is that for bonus bets aces have the value of 1. Keep in mind that insurance is also a sort of a side bet. However, it is available under certain conditions, while the Hi, Lo and 13 bets can be made before every game.
Strategy Hints
When strategy is considered, the best thing to do is use a strategy chart. It indicates optimal decisions for all combinations of player and the dealer hands. Blackjack strategy charts are widely available around the web but differ depending on the number of decks and the game rules. For the variation we are reviewing, you’d need a chart for two decks, dealer stands on all 17, and no double down after pair split. Check the images below for a strategy chart that we prepared considering the game specific rules. It may seem complicated at first due to the high number of combinations. However, in many cases decisions are much easier to make than you’d think. For instance, if you have a hand of 17 or above, always stand, as the chance to go bust outweighs the potential improvement. When starting with a low hand, always hit to increase the score, otherwise the dealer can easily beat it.
While decisions for high and low hands are obvious, when you have a stiff hand, things can get tricky. This is where you should start taking the dealer’s hand into account. As the risk of busting stiff hands is high, you should hit only if the dealer’s hand is 7 of higher. In other words, when the dealer’s chance to beat your hand is high anyway, it’s worth taking the risk. Otherwise, it’s better to stand and let the dealer play. Another type of situation to think of carefully is the pair hand. Splitting pairs is always optimal if you have aces or eights. Never split a pair of tens, as you can hardly make an overall score of 20 any better. In all other situations check what the chart says depending on the dealer’s hand and act accordingly. Double downs should be used carefully too. After a double you are dealt just one card and then you stand automatically, meaning that there’s a chance to end up with a weak hand due to inability to hit further.
Our Conclusion
To summarise, we find Hi Lo 13 European Blackjack Gold a charming and entertaining game. The minuscule house edge is attractive to both novices and experienced players. On top of that, you have a reliable software engine. Also, we eagerly endorse the game for the rules and the potential advantage they give to players. The side betting options are another big plus. If you’ve checked the demo, you’d surely know that the game is definitely worth playing with real money. A good place to stop by for some real action is Gen32red Casino. Apart from having this blackjack version in their game selection, the operator also offers a decent welcome bonus with table games included in the playthrough requirement.