- Single-hand blackjack allows the player to play the game with one hand.
- Multi-hand blackjack allows the player to play the game with multiple hands.
Can one play multiple hands in online blackjack? Sometimes, yes. While it depends on which a player chooses, there are absolutely titles with rules variations that allow for multi-hand play when playing online casino table games.
Multi-hand titles appeal to blackjack veterans who can run multiple strategies in parallel without breaking a sweat, or to hardcore players trying to increase their playthrough rate. Learn more about how multi-hand blackjack works and who will enjoy this rules variant the most.
What is Single-Hand Blackjack?
The majority of online blackjack features single-hand gameplay. In these titles, players are dealt just one hand at a time and must complete that round of play with either a win, a loss, or a push before moving on to the next hand. The only exception to this is if they can split their hand.
At the start of a single-hand blackjack deal, a player is dealt two cards. After that, they can hit, stand, double down, or possibly split — but that’s all they can do during that hand. The only way to see more cards is to hit or double, and risk busting.
A common misconception is that single-hand blackjack is played with only one deck of cards, which theoretically improves a player’s odds since each card that’s drawn will have a bigger impact on the next draw. But this is false — single-hand blackjack can be played with any number of decks, and most often is played with more than one. The key element of single-hand blackjack is that the player controls only one hand at a time.
Playing with a single hand is best for new players, who should focus on playing one hand well as they learn the rules of blackjack. It’s also a great choice for casual players who enjoy longer play sessions. Players trying to practise responsible gambling should also stick to single-hand blackjack over multi-hand rules to avoid going through their budget at a faster rate than normal.
What is Multi-Hand Blackjack?
Some blackjack variants deal players multiple hands of cards at once. Every hand is played against the dealer’s hand. Each hand also has its own wager, which doesn’t necessarily have to be all the same amount, and therefore each hand risks losing the wager or winning a payout.
Before the cards are dealt, a player will be asked to select how many hands they wish to play. After that, they’ll place their bets and receive two cards for each hand. The player will be asked to act for each hand in order, which means no skipping around to try and flush 10s out of the deck.
Playing multiple hands at once increases a player’s playthrough rate. This means they can see more hands, place more bets, and theoretically win more payouts per minute. However, this comes with increased risk and increased mental strain from balancing several hands at once. For this reason, multi-hand blackjack is the realm of veterans and serious gamblers looking to optimize their play sessions.
What’s the Difference Between Single- and Multi-Hand Blackjack?
Ultimately, “single-hand” and “multi-hand” are essential blackjack terms that refer to the number of hands one can play simultaneously. In single-hand games, the player only has one hand, while multi-hand games allow the player to play with more than one hand.
Crucially, two blackjack games where the only difference is between single- and multi-hand play will have identical odds and house edge.
Does Playing Multiple Hands in Blackjack Result in Better Odds?
There’s a myth that multi-hand blackjack is more advantageous for players, because players are dealt cards at a higher rate than dealers are dealt cards. At the end of the day, multi-hand blackjack offers the same odds as single-hand blackjack.
Blackjack Strategy With Multiple Hands
When playing multi-hand online blackjack in Canada, stick with gameplay that offers the best odds: traditional, strategic play. Blackjack already has a solid RTP, so don’t mess with the formula.
That means hitting when the dealer’s up-card is high, or standing when the up-card is low. Split Aces, split 8s, double down on 11. Essentially, just follow basic blackjack strategy, multiplied over several hands. This offers the best odds of winning in the long term while minimizing risk from aggressive betting strategies.
