TablesRules

Blackjack dealer peek: checking for blackjack before you act

In most US blackjack games, a dealer showing an ace or a 10-value card checks the hole card for blackjack before players act. If the dealer has it, the hand ends and you lose only your original bet.

Reviewed Oct 14, 2026

Answer first

90s

Rule	When dealer has blackjack	Effect on you
US peek	Hand ends before you act	You lose only the first bet
No hole card (European)	Revealed after you act	Doubles and splits can be lost
OBO variant	Revealed after you act	Only the original bet is lost
Peek with ace only	Checks only on an ace	Small extra cost

Key numbers

Peek in four numbers

Ace or 10Peek upcardsDealer checks the hole card

About 4.8%Dealer blackjack rateOver all hands

About 0.11%Added edge without peekEuropean no-hole-card

31%Blackjack chance with ace upAbout 4 in 13

In short

Key takeaways

Peek protects your doubles and splits from a dealer blackjack.
Without peek, avoid doubling 11 against a 10 or ace and splitting against them.
Insurance is offered before the peek when the dealer shows an ace.
Online games state whether the dealer peeks in the help screen.

On the felt

A peek in action

Dealer upcard
Insurance offered, then peek
Hole card: king
Dealer blackjack — hand ends at once
Hole card: 7
No blackjack — players act

With a peek, you never double or split into a dealer blackjack.

Basic strategy changes in no-peek games

Your hand	Peek game	No-peek game
11 vs 10	Double	Hit
11 vs ace	Double (H17)	Hit
A-A vs ace	Split	Hit
8-8 vs 10	Split	Surrender or hit

No-peek games punish extra money put out against strong upcards.

How the peek works

When the upcard is an ace, the dealer first offers insurance. Then the dealer checks the hole card with a peek device or by lifting the corner. If it is a 10-value card, the hand ends at once.

With a 10 up, the dealer checks for an ace. Because this happens before players act, nobody puts extra money out against a blackjack.

How often the dealer has blackjack

Upcard	Chance of blackjack
Ace	About 31%
10, J, Q, K	About 7.7%
Any other	0%

Six-deck approximations.

Why some games skip it

In many European casinos, the dealer takes the hole card only after players finish. That is called no hole card. It stops hole-card cheating but costs players a little.

Some US games use the same idea but refund doubles and splits if the dealer has blackjack. That variant is called original bets only.

Sequence

Adjusting to the rule

Step 01
Read the felt or placard
It may say "dealer peeks" or "no hole card".
Step 02
Ask the dealer
"Do you check for blackjack?"
Step 03
Peek game
Use normal basic strategy.
Step 04
No-peek game
Avoid doubling and splitting against 10s and aces.

Peek and insurance

Insurance is offered only when the dealer shows an ace. It pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack. Since the hole card is a 10 only about 31% of the time, the bet carries a house edge of about 7% for a basic strategy player.

Declining insurance is correct, peek or no peek.

Floor rules

Peek terms

Know before you sit

Peek: Dealer checks the hole card for blackjack.
Hole card: The dealer’s face-down card.
ENHC: European no hole card.
OBO: Original bets only lost to a dealer blackjack.

Common mistakes

Doubling 11 against a 10 in a no-peek game: You risk losing twice the bet to a hidden blackjack.
Taking insurance because of the peek: The peek does not improve insurance; it is still a poor bet.
Assuming every table peeks: Some games, especially online, use no-hole-card rules.
Forgetting OBO rules: In OBO games, the cost of doubling is refunded, so normal strategy applies.

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After the 90 seconds

Questions before and after you play

A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.

01Basics

What is the dealer peek rule in blackjack?

When the dealer shows an ace or 10-value card, the dealer checks the hole card for blackjack before players act.

Why does the dealer check for blackjack?

To end the hand before players put out extra money on doubles and splits that would lose to a dealer blackjack.

Do all casinos peek?

Most US casinos do. Many European games and some online games use no hole card instead.

02Odds

How much does no-peek cost?

About 0.11% in house edge with basic strategy adjusted for the rule. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

How often does the dealer have blackjack with an ace up?

About 31% of the time, roughly four times in thirteen. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

What is original bets only?

A rule where you lose only your first bet to a dealer blackjack, even in a no-peek game.

03Strategy

Should I change strategy in no-peek games?

Yes. Hit 11 against a 10 or ace, and avoid splitting against them. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

Does peek change insurance?

No. Insurance is still offered before the peek and is still a poor bet for basic strategy players.

Is online blackjack peek or no-peek?

It varies by game. The rules screen shows whether the dealer checks for blackjack.

Sources

Wizard of Odds — Blackjack rules Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
Wizard of Odds — Blackjack Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 14, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER