Multi-Hand Blackjack: How To Play And Win
Multi-hand Blackjack is a game with rapidly growing popularity. Some brick-and-mortar casinos offer multi-hand blackjack, but it is far more prevalent in online casinos. You will know how to play this fun blackjack variant and know how to beat the game by the time you finish reading this article.
What Is Multi-Hand Blackjack?
Multi-hand blackjack is exactly what it sounds like, blackjack played with multiple hands. Traditional blackjack games see you take on the deal with a single hand. Multi-hand blackjack sees you play between one and five hands at once, each independent of the other.
The rules are the same for both versions, although some casinos have slight variations. For example, some casinos pay 3/2 for blackjack and others 6/5. Never play a game that pays out 6/5 because this massively increases the house edge.
This action-packed game is more common in online casinos where there are no time constraints. Live casinos want and need the action to be fast-flowing. Online casinos not so much.
How To Play Multi-Hand Blackjack
Getting involved in a game of multi-hand blackjack is super easy. We suggest playing only two hands when you first try it out. This is because you want to ensure you still follow basic blackjack strategy, and not become overwhelmed.
Remember each hand is independent of the other. This means you can play for $1 per hand with one hand, and $5 per hand on the other, for example. What you need to learn, however, is how you play one hand can influence the other.
A multi-hand blackjack game starts like any other. The dealer deals the cards before putting the action on Hand #1. You complete this turn, which puts the action onto Hand #2. The dealer reveals their hand once all hands are completed.
There are a few possible outcomes, as you can imagine. Wins often rack up quickly, but the same is said for losses. It is a great feeling to hit blackjack with both hands, even if that is a rarity.
Some Tips To Remember
Print off a “cheat sheet” or have one on your screen when you play multi-hand blackjack. The basic blackjack strategy is freely available online and following it keeps the house edge super-low.
Secondly, try to find an online casino that has the most liberal rules. Some of the best rules to boost your chances of winning include:
- Using a single or two decks
- Paying 2/1 or 3/2 on blackjack
- Allowing you to double down on any two cards
- Dealer has to stand on soft 17
- Allowing you to re-split pairs and aces
You will not find a casino that has all of the above. They usually play with six-to-eight decks at once and do not allow the re-splitting of pairs and aces. Always be aware of the rules before you part company with any of your funds.
There is nothing worse for a gambler than going broke. This is why bankroll management is the key to longevity. Say you have $100 to play with, there is no point playing $25 per hand because you will go broke. Play smaller stakes, even $0.50 or $1 per hand, so you stay in the game longer. You will not win as much, but you can play for far longer.
Splitting Pairs and Aces
Talk to any multi-hand blackjack player about splitting pairs and aces and they all have a different strategy. It is the wrong strategy, probably.
Never split a pair of five and never split a pair of tens. The reasons for this are obvious!
Always split eights and always split aces. Splitting eights makes it more likely you reach 18, which is a solid total. Splitting aces gives you two chances of hitting blackjack.
The rest of the pairs depend on what the dealer’s upcard is. We suggest reading about splitting pairs in the link above to get up to speed with the best strategy.
