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Casinos for you
Multihand Blackjack
Overview
Blackjack is a game that has been popular throughout the centuries and from the looks of it the hype around this card game won’t fade any time soon. Whether you love it or hate it, if you enter a casino land based or online you will come across it.
Its success is in large part due to the fact that you can employ strategies and develop the skills required to become a winner player. To keep players interested, and on their toes, many variants have sprung up to test these skilled pros!
For the most part it seems that the rules have stayed fairly close to the originals, just with a minor embellishments. There are however some variants that might leave you confused and often unsure of what to do or how to play such as Multi-hand Blackjack.
Never fear when GamblersPick is near! To ensure you understand the logistics behind the game and know everything necessary to have the best experience possible when playing this blackjack variant we’ve created a quick how to guide.
Multi Hand: Keeping it Interesting
Before we get in to the details of the game it would be easier to start with what makes Multi Hand Blackjack different from normal blackjack. In knowing this you can attempt to understand if it is more complex and why you should play it.
Multi hand Blackjack has actually been around for years and this blackjack variant has grown extremely popular among serious blackjack players because as the name suggests it allows you to play multiple hands during one game. Not only does this make for a more enticing game but it also provides you with bigger chances of cashing in on a winning hand with each round.
The game is ideal for the more adventurous gamblers who love the classics but want something a little more interesting and complex to keep them busy. Blackjack in itself is already a challenging game as it requires strategy and skill but add multiple hands to the mix and it can be a lethal combination.
Multi hand Blackjack can be played in brick and mortar casinos and online but most players prefer to take on this blackjack variant online. The reasoning in this is because it’s definitely less stressful to play as you need time to make your moves. When playing in a brick and mortar casino players can often feel rushed to make a move and therefore choose the wrong action. Playing Multi Hand Blackjack online allows you to take your time in making a choice and removes the stress that comes with playing in a casino where actual humans are watching your every move with the possibility of them growing impatient if you take your time.
Self-Control Can Win The Day!
Don’t stress, this is not the part where you learn a whole new set of rules and find that the game is ten times more intricate than classic blackjack. In fact, Multi Hand Blackjack follows most of the same rules as classic Blackjack meaning if you’ve played the latter you’ll be able to get into this game variant with ease.
Refresh my memory: The aim of the game is to get a total as close to twenty one as possible without going bust. The challenge lies in doing this before the dealer has the opportunity to do so.
In this game variant like most blackjack games you play against the dealer and your decisions are based solely on what value is show on the dealer’s up card and the cards in your hand.
The difference comes in with the total hands in this game. Instead of making decisions just for one hand you have to make decisions on what moves you want to make on all hands. You have the opportunity to play between 1 and 5 hands in this variation and again the number of hands you play is determined by you.
It is important to remember that all hands are played individually and you don’t have to place equal bets on each hand which gives you a little bit of leeway and breathing room especially when it comes to your bankroll. When playing multiple hands you should always take into consideration that these hands won’t deliver the same outcome and think of it as making decisions for a set of different players with each individual hand.
In most Multi Hand Blackjack variants players will have the opportunity to take out insurance against the dealer’s ace but they will not be given the option to surrender. The game is generally played with two decks of playing cards and a blackjack pay-out of 3:2 is awarded. Unlike with other variants, the dealer has to hit on a soft 17 and should also check for blackjack. Players are allowed to double down on any hand but can only split up to three times. These are the most common rules amongst Multi Hand Blackjack variants but can differ from game to game.
But Why Should I?
Before you get into a game it’s always good to weight the pros and cons against one another. In doing so you can become fully aware of what you are risking in the game and if the benefits make up for those risks. In Multi Hand blackjack there are several pros and cons that could determine whether or not you decide to give it a go.
Play the Pros
- You have the opportunity to make a bigger profit
- Double down is allowed which makes results more beneficial for you as a player
- You can play multiple hands and take you time while doing so
- You can play whenever you feel like it
- It’s a great way to test out different strategies on different hands simultaneously
- Less chances of losing
- Wins and losses can even out when player four or more hands
As with all upsides there are some downsides to playing this specific game variant. Here are some we’ve found.
Take Note of the Cons
- Card counting is not possible as the cards are shuffled after every hand played
- While playing multiple hands in each game can lead to bigger profit it could also result in bigger losses
- To play the game requires learning a new strategy with multiple hands
- It can be confusing and you can lose track of which moves to make on which hands
At the end of the day Multi Hand Blackjack can either work in your favour or it can lead to bigger losses and frustrations. The game is ideal for those who want to become more skilled and find more strategies that work for them. It’s also for the adventurous gamblers who like to take a walk on the wild side by keeping things interesting in a fast paced environment.
A word of advice… Before you jump into any variant of Multi Hand Blackjack offered online always read the rules first. Some casinos do add additional charges for playing multiple hands and you don’t want to find that out the hard way.
Play to Win, Play like A Pro
Whenever you play a game that allows you to make multiple bets at the same time you need to keep in mind that while you might win more, you also stand a chance of losing more. The ideal way to get the best out of your game would be to create a Blackjack strategy fit for a multi hand blackjack game.
The game tends to go very quickly and this might cause you to feel pressured or even to make a few impulsive moves. It might seem like a good idea at the time but you’ll definitely end up regretting it by the end of the round.
The advantage of playing up to five blackjack hands per game allows you to try out different blackjack strategies for each hand. This could help you perfect your strategies and even up your skill level. When taking on a Multi Hand Blackjack game you should consider using the basic blackjack strategy with some additional improvements and changes added to benefit your game.
The reason many recommend this blackjack variant to adventurous players is because if you are able to keep focus you could ensure a very exciting gameplay for yourself. This can be done through using a different approach in strategy with each hand. For instance, you could opt to play it cool with one hand and more aggressively with another.
The key thing to remember is that the dealer keeps drawing cards until they hit 17 despite your decisions. This is not a rebellious act but rather a rule implemented into the game, if you missed that part you might want to go take a quick look at the rules again.
Listen Closely Young Jedi: When playing Multi hand blackjack and having a pair of face cards in two hands the best move would be to split the one pair and keep the other hand as a 20. This will most definitely turn the odds in your favour.
Top 4 Multi Hand Blackjack Variants to play
1. Classic Blackjack Multi Hand
This game variant remains the preferred variant as it has standard rules and is quite easy to catch on. If it’s your first time trying multi hand blackjack then this variant is ideal. You know the rules, you know the basic strategy, now all you need to do is add a little bit of a twist to the basic strategy and you’re good to go. With up to five hands to play per game you have five times more chances of hitting blackjack.
Word of warning: If you should choose to play this variant try playing one from a software provider other than Microgaming. This industry giant may make the best games but with this specific variant the house edge is a lot higher than in the single hand variant due to more decks being added to the shoe.
2. Multi Hand Bonus Blackjack
With this variant you are provided with a side bet wager option that can be applied to any or all of the hands played in the base game. Be sure to take a look at the bonus pay table of this variant to see which cards could award a bonus pay-out. These bonus pay-outs can only be awarded for your first two cards dealt and they have to be on the list. Apart from the added bonus bets and rewards the game is played with standard blackjack rules and multiple hands.
3. Multi Hand Double Exposure Blackjack
For a very special and unique gameplay experience this is the variant to try. The game is played with a unique set of rules which includes the dealer’s two cards always being face up. The downside is that because of this advantage the rules have changed slightly to even the odds a little more. With the correct blackjack strategy applied you could easily reign victorious when playing Multi Hand Double Exposure Blackjack.
4. Perfect Pairs Multi Hand Blackjack
A favourite among players and also listed as one of the most interesting blackjack game variants to choose from. The game is played similar to European Blackjack with Perfect Pairs being the focus. Something to look forward to when playing this multi hand blackjack variants is not just placing regular bets on your up to five hands played but also adding a delicious bonus side bet wager to keep things interesting. The side bet can be extremely beneficial if your first two cards dealt are a pair. The side bet can be placed on all hands or a selected number of them. Just remember, if you play, you pay. Each additional side bet will be deducted from your bankroll.
Everybody Needs Somebody! Why not take a look at what others in the GamblersPick Community has said about these game variants? You can read through what other’s experienced when playing the games and even score some pro tips. And if you’ve got some notes you’d like to share on Multi Hand Strategy, join the GamblersPick Community and help a few fellow blackjack lovers out.
More about MH Blackjack:
Multihand Blackjack is one of the modern varieties of the classic game that can be played at most online casinos. It appeals to those who want to push their online gambling into overdrive by playing several hands simultaneously. The game has tremendous popularity at Internet operators and enables players to wager on up to five separate hands at the same time. This type of game can also be played against real dealers, for a more authentic gaming experience.
The rules of Multihand Blackjack are the same as in the classic game, with the only difference being the fact that players can bet on several hands. Players still try to make a total as close to 21 as possible without going over the top and ideally make a natural blackjack. Each hand is played individually and players have the option of asking for another card or to stand, based on their total and the dealer’s hand. Cards from 2 to 9 have their face value, aces count for 1 or 11 and face cards and tens are worth 10
Enhanced Flexibility at Multihand Blackjack Online Casinos
Multihand Blackjack requires players to decide in advance how many hands they plan on playing. Once this decision is made, players also need to place their bets but they don’t have to make identical wagers on all hands. They can increase or decrease the bets as they see fit, based on their bankroll and strategy. Once the game starts, every hand is played independently from right to left.
It is possible that players win with one hand while losing the other, but in the long run this reduces variation. Savvy players who use optimal strategy can expect better results when playing Multihand Blackjack at online casinos. In theory, the more hands you play, the better the odds of winning especially when you choose a casino game with such a low house edge and blackjack.
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