{"id":1001,"date":"2022-07-29T08:22:54","date_gmt":"2022-07-29T13:22:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blackjackclassroom.com\/?p=1001"},"modified":"2022-09-27T06:43:04","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T11:43:04","slug":"guide-on-single-hand-blackjack-and-multi-hand-blackjack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackjackclassroom.com\/blog\/guide-on-single-hand-blackjack-and-multi-hand-blackjack","title":{"rendered":"Single-Hand Blackjack vs. Multi-Hand Blackjack: What You Need to Know!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aside from being easy to learn, blackjack offers a slew of variations with different odds and bets. Some are played with a single deck of 52 cards, while some feature six or eight decks, increased chances of winning, and many moves to choose from.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The two such variations are single-hand and multi-hand blackjack<\/a>. Although the rules are the same for both, there are slight differences you should be aware of. If you’re unsure which variation to go for, let\u2019s explore them together and find out which one offers the best chances of winning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Single-Hand Blackjack<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Single-hand blackjack is played with only one deck of 52 cards. It was referred to as the holy grail or golden standard for blackjack before card counters stepped on the scene. Many casinos started adding more decks to get in the way of card counters\u2019 strategy, and some even stopped offering this game. Still, it is possible to find it in some land-based and online casinos.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rules are pretty straightforward. The goal is to get a hand value of 21 or as close as possible to 21 without going bust.\u00a0 You need to place your wager before the game starts, and then the cards are dealt. The player is dealt two cards face-up, while the dealer is dealt one face-up and one face-down. Based on the cards you get, you need to decide whether to hit, stand, split, or double down. Some formats also allow a surrender option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is only one bet you can make. You can place a wager from the minimum (usually $1 in online casinos) to the maximum ($100 per game). Unless you\u2019re doubling down, you can bet only before the cards are dealt. This blackjack game allows you to double down on any two cards.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other notable rules of this game include that the dealer hits on soft 17, you can split a hand up to three times, and you can split aces and get one card for each without the possibility to re-split them. It is not considered a blackjack if your hand is composed of a split ace and a ten.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The blackjack payout for this variation is 3:2, while the winning insurance bet pays 2:1. All other winning hands pay 1:1.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As for the house edge, <\/span>you can reduce it to as low as 0.15% by learning and applying the optimal single-deck blackjack strategy.<\/span> If you make a mistake in your strategy, it will result in a bigger edge, and there is no way to reduce it strategically except by counting cards.<\/span><\/p>\n

Multi-Hand Blackjack<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As its name suggests, multi-hand blackjack allows players to play more than one hand simultaneously, making the game more exciting. <\/span>Online versions of this game are more common than brick-and-mortar ones as players can contemplate their moves without rushing, which is more complicated in a casino setting.<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to worry about the rules since they are the same as in the classic blackjack variation. The aim is to form a hand total of as close to 21 as possible without surpassing it. However, this version differs from the original in that players can place more bets and make different moves by playing more than one hand. Depending on the software vendor variation, they can play up to five hands simultaneously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Players don\u2019t need to wager the same amount on each hand during the session. No matter how many hands are involved, each hand is treated separately. The hands are played sequentially, starting at the first-base spot and moving left. The game generally involves six or eight decks, with a payout of 3:2.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is hard to pinpoint specific rules of this blackjack variant as they greatly vary from casino to casino. In some of them, dealers are bound to stand on soft 17, while in others, they must hit. Surrender is allowed in some, and players can take insurance against the dealer’s ace in others. Additionally, some versions of the multiple-hand format allow doubling down on any two-card hands, whereas others restrict it only to nine through 11 totals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to so many specifics, it is best to double-check them before choosing what multi-hand blackjack variant to play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interestingly, many players prefer online variants of this game since they don\u2019t have to worry about the number of available seats. Additionally, software vendors provide these games with top-notch graphics and several dealing card speed levels. Plus, some display the dealer\u2019s last ten hands, the number of bets you placed per session, and your maximum win.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Which Gives You Better Odds?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Blackjack may be a game of chance on one hand, but on the other, it is a very strategic game played with a mathematical approach involving probabilities. Naturally, the odds and probabilities vary and depend on the number of decks in the shoe and the side bets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many casinos offer single-deck blackjack at a payout of 6:5, which increases the house edge significantly. At the same time, multi-deck blackjack gives out a payout of 3:2. Also, <\/span>single-hand blackjack has a house edge of 5.9% on insurance, compared to 5.8% of multi-hand blackjack. It is advisable not to buy insurance in multiple hands unless you have proficient card counting skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following are the odds in the player\u2019s favor depending on the number of decks<\/span><\/p>\n