If you are an avid fan of the classic game of blackjack, you may find Multi-Hand Blackjack quite alluring. However, you need to be a real pro in order to play this variation of blackjack successfully. It takes attention to detail and infallible judgment that only experienced blackjack players possess.
Playing multiple hands at the same time while being able to see only one of the dealer’s cards is quite challenging, so we do not recommend this type of blackjack to beginners. If you are a seasoned blackjack player and want to try your hand at this game, read on for more details on the rules and gameplay of Multi-Hand Blackjack.
Rules
The rules are usually the same as classic blackjack ones. There may be variations based on the provider of the game and the hosting casino website. Most often, the limits are low and so players can bet as little as $1 on a single hand.
Most often, the dealer must hit on soft 17 and stand on hard 17 or anything above. Players can see only one of the dealer’s cards and can play up to 5 hands at the same time. Some variations allow insurance, which pays 2 to 1. Splitting is permitted with different rules depending on the game. There are also different rules for doubling down.
A player can win with every single hand without correlation. This means that if you have 2 winning hands and 1 losing hand, then you win the wager for those two and lose one. Blackjack pays 3 to 2 as is the standard. Some variations include a tie when the dealer has a blackjack as well.
Gameplay
Again, the gameplay largely depends on the software provider of the game you have chosen to play. The start is simple and uniform for all games though, you simply place your bet to begin. You can place a bet on one hand, two, three, and so on. This means that you can play this game with as many as five hands and as little as one.
Then the cards are dealt and players can only see one of the dealer’s cards. Usually, if that card is an ace, players can buy insurance. Then they must decide whether they wish to double down, split, hit, or stand, depending on their initial hand.
Every single hand is played and then the dealer reveals his second card and acts accordingly. In the end, the player may have multiple winning or losing hands and ties are not out of the picture. Players can then choose to rebet or make a new bet.
Insurance
Buying insurance allows players to win even if the dealer has a natural blackjack. This is why it is worth looking into a Multi-Hand Blackjack game that features this option. Some players view insurance as a waste of good money but in reality, it is more often helpful than not, especially if you place your bets accordingly.
Double Down
Doubling down allows players to increase their wager on a good hand or if they think the dealer will bust. This can be a little tricky but for the type of pros that play Multi-Hand Blackjack, it can only be a useful feature. This is why it is worth taking the time to find the right variation of this game.
Splitting
Splitting can be very useful and can turn a single winning hand into two winning hands. Obviously, this is something no player will want to pass up, so software providers most often include this option. This possibility occurs only at certain times and you can usually split hands only a limited number of times. Sometimes there are also other restrictions as to how many times you can hit after a split or whether you can double down.
Payout
The payout for a winning hand is 1 to 1 unless that hand is a blackjack, in which case the win would be paid out 3 to 2. As we already mentioned, insurance pays out 2 to 1 and as you can see, it has the highest payout rate. This is why it is worth looking for that perfect Multi-Hand Blackjack game that includes all the best features of the classic game.