Blackjack is one of the oldest and best-loved casino games and has been played for hundreds of years. In fact, the first literary reference to it is in "Rinconete y Cortadillo", a short story written by “Don Quixote” author Cervantes in 1602.
Today, Twenty-One is enjoyed in land-based and online casinos around the world and like Roulette, several different variations have developed over time. Among these options is Multi-Hand Blackjack, which many experienced players enjoy when they’re looking for a new challenge.
Multi-Hand Blackjack Basics
Multi-Hand Blackjack involves playing with up to five hands at the same time, all dealt from the same shoe. You can decide how many hands you want, choosing any number from two to five. All hands are dealt at the same time, but the bets are independent of each other. That means you can place different wagers on each active hand.
Most of the usual versions of Twenty-One can be played in the multiple hand format, and when betting at an online casino Singapore players often have several variations available. The rules are the same as in the single-hand formats, and the dealer is still only dealt one set of cards.
Each Hand Affects the Others
Although the hands function independently, they influence each other because they are all dealt from the same shoe. As you increase the number of hands that you’re playing with, and as more cards are dealt to each hand, the odds of getting any particular card in any of your hands will change. Strategy charts are still useful, but they’re not nearly as helpful as they are when you have a single hand.
The great advantage of betting on multiple card sets is that you can split your wager. You bet less on each hand than you would put on a single hand, so you lose less and your bankroll is more stable over time. Your returns are smaller but you have more chances to win something, which also keeps your bankroll fluctuations smaller.
Multi-Hand Blackjack Strategy Advice
When you’re playing with more than one hand the games go on for longer, but the action moves so fast that you might not even notice. For that reason, one of the most important pieces of advice is to pace yourself and, as always, set a budget before your start betting.
You should also consider each hand individually when you’re deciding what you want to wager; put more money on better cards. Finally, since you have up to five hands in front of you, take the opportunity to try out different tactics and see what effect they have.
The type of enjoyment that Multi- and Single-Hand Blackjack games offer you is quite different. When you’re playing with a single hand, you’re likelier to bet, win and lose bigger, and all your attention is focused on one set of cards.
With Multi-Hand games your bets, wins, losses and attention are more evenly distributed. Even though they are so fast-paced, they can feel calmer than their one-hand counterparts. Decide what kind of mood you’re in, and choose how many hands to play accordingly.