How to Play Blackjack Multi-Hand
Blackjack Multi-Hand follows the normal rules and they are very easy to learn. The aim is to build a hand of cards as close in value to 21 as possible but without exceeding 21 and going bust. As long as your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s is then you will win the round.
When playing Blackjack numbers cards (2 to 10) are worth their face values, the face cards (Jack, Queen and King) are all worth 10, and the Aces are worth 1 or 11. As a result, it is possible to build a hand of 21 using just two cards, an Ace and a 10 card, this is known as Blackjack and it is the strongest possible hand.
At the start of a round you need to place your bet for each hand that you wish to play. There is a minimum bet of 5 and a maximum bet of 500 for each hand. When you are happy with your bets click on ‘Deal’ and you will receive two face up cards to each hand. At the same time, the dealer is dealt one face up card and one face down.
There are then a number of basic options for each hand, Hit, Stand and Double. If you choose Hit then another card is dealt to that hand and you have the choice once again. You can continue drawing cards to a hand until you go bust. If you choose Double then your bet is doubled, you are dealt one more card to that hand, and then play moves on. If you choose Stand then play moves to the next hand.
After you have finished playing your hands, the dealer will play. The dealer must draw more cards until their hand is worth at least 16 and they will stand on all 17s. After the dealer has played, you are paid out for any winning hands. All winning hands are paid at 2:1 except for Blackjack, which is paid out at 3:2. If both you and the dealer have the same hand then the bet is returned as a push.
Blackjack Multi-Hand Special Features
Occasionally you will have more options beyond the basic ones explained above. If your first two cards have the same value then you can ‘Split’ them into two hands. This will double your bet but you can then play each hand independently and have even more chances of winning. The only difference to a regular hand is if you split two Aces, in that instance you can draw just one more card to each hand. Furthermore, after a split, an Ace and a 10 card count as 21, they are not considered Blackjack.
If the dealer’s face up card is an Ace then you can take out insurance against him having Blackjack. Insurance costs half of your initial bet and if the dealer goes on to have Blackjack then you are paid out at 2:1. Insurance is only available if you do not have Blackjack. It is also important to remember that you cannot split or double after taking insurance.
If you have Blackjack and the dealer’s face up card is an Ace you will be offered the chance of Even Money. If you take it then you win 1:1 on your initial bet and the game ends. Even if the dealer has Blackjack you still win rather than receiving your bet back as a push.
