Aside from being easy to learn, blackjack offers a slew of variations with different
odds and bets. Some are played 4️⃣ with a single deck of 52 cards, while some feature six
or eight decks, increased chances of winning, and many 4️⃣ moves to choose from.
The two
such variations are single-hand and multi-hand blackjack. Although the rules are the
same for both, 4️⃣ there are slight differences you should be aware of. If you’re unsure
which variation to go for, let’s explore them 4️⃣ together and find out which one offers
the best chances of winning.
Single-Hand Blackjack
Single-hand blackjack is played with
only one deck 4️⃣ of 52 cards. It was referred to as the holy grail or golden standard for
blackjack before card counters stepped 4️⃣ on the scene. Many casinos started adding more
decks to get in the way of card counters’ strategy, and some 4️⃣ even stopped offering this
game. Still, it is possible to find it in some land-based and online casinos.
The rules
are 4️⃣ pretty straightforward. The goal is to get a hand value of 21 or as close as
possible to 21 without 4️⃣ going bust. You need to place your wager before the game starts,
and then the cards are dealt. The player 4️⃣ is dealt two cards face-up, while the dealer
is dealt one face-up and one face-down. Based on the cards you 4️⃣ get, you need to decide
whether to hit, stand, split, or double down. Some formats also allow a surrender
option.
There 4️⃣ is only one bet you can make. You can place a wager from the minimum
(usuallyR$1 in online casinos) to 4️⃣ the maximum ($100 per game). Unless you’re doubling
down, you can bet only before the cards are dealt. This blackjack 4️⃣ game allows you to
double down on any two cards.
Other notable rules of this game include that the dealer
hits 4️⃣ on soft 17, you can split a hand up to three times, and you can split aces and get
one 4️⃣ card for each without the possibility to re-split them. It is not considered a
blackjack if your hand is composed 4️⃣ of a split ace and a ten.
The blackjack payout for
this variation is 3:2, while the winning insurance bet pays 4️⃣ 2:1. All other winning
hands pay 1:1.
As for the house edge, you can reduce it to as low as 0.15% 4️⃣ by learning
and applying the optimal single-deck blackjack strategy. If you make a mistake in your
strategy, it will result 4️⃣ in a bigger edge, and there is no way to reduce it
strategically except by counting cards.
Multi-Hand Blackjack
As its name 4️⃣ suggests,
multi-hand blackjack allows players to play more than one hand simultaneously, making
the game more exciting. Online versions of 4️⃣ this game are more common than
brick-and-mortar ones as players can contemplate their moves without rushing, which is
more complicated 4️⃣ in a casino setting.
You don’t have to worry about the rules since
they are the same as in the classic 4️⃣ blackjack variation. The aim is to form a hand
total of as close to 21 as possible without surpassing it. 4️⃣ However, this version
differs from the original in that players can place more bets and make different moves
by playing 4️⃣ more than one hand. Depending on the software vendor variation, they can
play up to five hands simultaneously.
Players don’t need 4️⃣ to wager the same amount on
each hand during the session. No matter how many hands are involved, each hand 4️⃣ is
treated separately. The hands are played sequentially, starting at the first-base spot
and moving left. The game generally involves 4️⃣ six or eight decks, with a payout of
3:2.
It is hard to pinpoint specific rules of this blackjack variant as 4️⃣ they greatly
vary from casino to casino. In some of them, dealers are bound to stand on soft 17,
while 4️⃣ in others, they must hit. Surrender is allowed in some, and players can take
insurance against the dealer’s ace in 4️⃣ others. Additionally, some versions of the
multiple-hand format allow doubling down on any two-card hands, whereas others restrict
it only 4️⃣ to nine through 11 totals.
Due to so many specifics, it is best to double-check
them before choosing what multi-hand blackjack 4️⃣ variant to play.
Interestingly, many
players prefer online variants of this game since they don’t have to worry about the
number 4️⃣ of available seats. Additionally, software vendors provide these games with
top-notch graphics and several dealing card speed levels. Plus, some 4️⃣ display the
dealer’s last ten hands, the number of bets you placed per session, and your maximum
win.
Which Gives You 4️⃣ Better Odds?
Blackjack may be a game of chance on one hand, but on
the other, it is a very strategic 4️⃣ game played with a mathematical approach involving
probabilities. Naturally, the odds and probabilities vary and depend on the number of
4️⃣ decks in the shoe and the side bets.
Many casinos offer single-deck blackjack at a
payout of 6:5, which increases the 4️⃣ house edge significantly. At the same time,
multi-deck blackjack gives out a payout of 3:2. Also, single-hand blackjack has a 4️⃣ house
edge of 5.9% on insurance, compared to 5.8% of multi-hand blackjack. It is advisable
not to buy insurance in 4️⃣ multiple hands unless you have proficient card counting
skills.
Following are the odds in the player’s favor depending on the number 4️⃣ of
decks
Six decks are 0.02% in the player’s favor
Five decks are 0.03% in the player’s
favor
Four decks are 0.06% in 4️⃣ the player’s favor
Two decks are 0.19 % in the player’s
favor
A single deck is 0.48% in the player’s favor
Advantages and 4️⃣ Disadvantages of
Single-Hand Blackjack
Single-hand blackjack seems like a perfect game with a very low
house edge of only 0.15% and 4️⃣ increased chances of making a profit. Despite many
benefits, there are certain drawbacks to the game we will discuss below 4️⃣ as
well.
Advantages
This blackjack variation features two significant advantages. We
already mentioned the first one — low house edge. However, being 4️⃣ given a low house edge
is worth nothing if you haven’t learned the ropes of the game and mastered the 4️⃣ basic
blackjack strategy. Only then will your chances of winning increase.
Another benefit of
this game applies to card counters. Counting 4️⃣ cards is quite challenging when you have
six or eight decks in the show because you have to wait longer 4️⃣ to acquire the favorable
count. Single-hand blackjack facilitates it since it is played with one deck only and
allows card 4️⃣ counters to bet big much sooner. However, it’s good to know that you can
only do this at brick-and-mortar casinos 4️⃣ because decks in online blackjack are shuffled
after each hand.
Disadvantages
There is one disadvantage that doesn’t come from the
game itself 4️⃣ but from casinos that include adverse regulations in single-deck games. We
already stated that single-hand blackjack has a favorable variant. 4️⃣ However, casinos
will often boost it to be higher than in six- or eight-deck variations. They would pay
6:5 instead 4️⃣ of 3:2, increasing the house edge from 0.15% to 1.45%. This is one of the
reasons some players don’t even 4️⃣ bother playing it.
However, this drawback is not the
only one. Another one refers to online single-hand blackjack. Players who like 4️⃣ getting
comps and free stuff while playing will not enjoy this game variation. This is because
casinos don’t earn much 4️⃣ money from players in the long run.
Advantages and
Disadvantages of Multi-Hand Blackjack
This game has grown in popularity over the years
4️⃣ by offering players various moves to choose from. But it’s not all sunshine and roses,
and this variation also has 4️⃣ a few drawbacks.
Advantages
One of the major pros of this
game is the possibility of playing multiple hands and making a 4️⃣ more significant profit
by placing many separate wagers on each hand. Plus, they can double down and increase
their odds 4️⃣ of winning. This applies only if they make this move at the right
time.
Besides being able to make many moves, 4️⃣ online blackjack variants also allow
players to think through their best moves without being under pressure from others or
the 4️⃣ dealer. This way, they can play their favorite game in a whole new way and get the
opportunity to experience 4️⃣ things they wouldn’t have if they only played one
hand.
Disadvantages
Card counters will not love this game as it eliminates their 4️⃣ chance
to count cards. Multiple decks in play make it harder for them to do it in land-based
casinos, not 4️⃣ to mention online platforms where the decks are shuffled after each
hand.
Another disadvantage is that this game is a double-edged 4️⃣ sword with the
possibility of placing different wagers on each hand. You could find yourself in a
situation where you 4️⃣ lose more than you win. Thus, you must master a reliable and
flexible strategy when playing multi-hand blackjack to make 4️⃣ the most of this
version.
FAQ
Is multi-hand blackjack suitable for everyone?
As a general rule, players
can switch to playing more than 4️⃣ one betting spot only when their edge is higher than
the house edge during the current round. However, it doesn’t 4️⃣ matter if you play by
intuition or basic blackjack strategy because the casino will always have the same
advantage over 4️⃣ you. But those who somehow manage to count cards and play at an
advantage against the house can spread to 4️⃣ two or more hands.
Another essential fact to
keep in mind is that playing on several hands at the same time 4️⃣ increases the game’s
volatility. So, those with a faint heart and limited bankrolls should stay away from
it.
What does multi-hand 4️⃣ mean?
Multi-hand refers to the number of hands one player can
play against the dealer at one time. This blackjack variation 4️⃣ allows you to play three
or five hands every round.
Are single-deck games better than multi-hand?
The days when
it was easy 4️⃣ to win at a single-hand blackjack due to a low house edge are long gone.
Most gambling establishments offering single 4️⃣ deck games nowadays only pay 6:5 instead
of the usual 3:2. This increases the house edge, makes it less likely 4️⃣ to win any
tangible profits, and should be avoided. Thus, players are safer playing multi-hand
blackjack.
How to play on the 4️⃣ client?
You can play all contemporary online blackjack
variations directly through a website or application. Thus, there is no need for 4️⃣ you to
download any software to your device.
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