As you browse through different blackjack tables available both offline and online, you may notice that some versions allow simultaneous play of multiple hands. While some players find this convenient, others wonder whether it is a feature worth trying.
One of the most common questions blackjack players ask is whether they should play one hand or two. The answer to this query depends on several factors, the most important being the player’s edge during the game.
Your budget, as well as whether you are a recreational player or a blackjack expert, should also influence your decision. After all, playing two hands at once may deplete your bankroll faster, which is hardly desirable.
It is up to each player to decide which playing style is most suitable. If you are also considering whether playing two hands at once is a good idea, you can compare the positive and negative sides of gambling on a single hand versus betting on two. Each style of blackjack has its advantages and disadvantages, and we will make sure to cover them all.
Why Bet Size Matters When Playing Two Hands
You will notice that some players place bets on two hands at the very beginning of the shoe. Meanwhile, others choose to wait until about half of the shoe has been dealt and then resort to wagering on two hands. If you are wondering why they do so, the answer in most cases is that they believe spreading to two hands later in the game will affect their luck. In actuality, the house edge on both hands remains the same, so nothing changes in terms of luck.
One thing that certainly happens when players switch to playing two hands at the same time is that you will go through more hands in one hour. Having two other players at the table while betting on one hand would mean that you go through roughly 100 rounds in an hour. If you choose to bet on two hands, you will get about 80 rounds per hour, or 160 hands in total. As you can see, you will actually play 60 hands more than in the session where you bet on just one hand. Playing more hands than usual also means you may experience more losses per hour, which could deplete your bankroll more quickly.
If you are used to betting £20 per hand, you can split your stake and decide to play two hands, with a £10 bet on each. If we assume that you play 100 hands per hour, your theoretical loss per hour should be around £10 when you bet £20 per hand. If you bet on two hands simultaneously and play about 80 rounds per hour, your hourly loss decreases to £8 when you stake £10 per hand. In that case, you will reduce your potential losses compared with betting the same total amount on one hand.
Meanwhile, if you make a £20 bet on a single hand and decide to keep the same bet on each of the two hands, you will end up betting £40 per round. Since you will increase the total amount of your stake per round, you will also increase your theoretical losses per hour. That is why this approach is not recommended.
As already mentioned, playing two hands concurrently will slow the pace of the game yet increase the number of hands played per hour. This will raise your potential hourly losses, even if you use perfect blackjack strategy.
However, playing two hands at a time is preferred by many card counters, as using the right strategy and keeping a count gives them an edge over the house. Increasing the number of hands they play per hour will also boost their potential long-term wins. This is because playing two hands per round allows you to get through the deck faster, giving you more information and enabling greater accuracy as the game progresses.
How Card Counters Can Benefit from Betting on Two Hands in Blackjack
While multiple-hand play may not be suitable for every blackjack player, card counters can definitely benefit from this approach. There are several reasons why playing more hands can be useful to those counting cards:
- When the count is in favour of advantage players, they can increase their bet spread by simply betting on two hands at once.
- By splitting their usual stake into two separate hands, card counters reduce both risk and variance.
- Card counters can maintain the same level of risk by betting 75% of their usual single-hand stake on two separate hands. For instance, instead of betting £50 on one hand, opt for a £35 bet on each of the two hands. The risk remains the same, but the expectation is higher.
- During lower counts, card counters can switch to betting on two hands to remove the low-value cards from the shoe faster. Once the count is in their favour, they can revert to single-hand play.
- In double-deck blackjack, just before the cut card appears, card counters can switch to two-hand play to gain greater deck penetration.
- During heads-up play, spreading to two hands simultaneously can increase the chance of receiving a high-value card against the dealer’s face-up card.
- Using this method can help card counters disguise their advantage play by starting a shoe with two minimum bets until the low-value cards are dealt. Once the count favours the player, they can return to single-hand betting and increase their stake.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Playing Two Hands in Blackjack
You may be unsure whether it is a good idea to play two hands at once in blackjack. The truth is there are certain advantages and disadvantages associated with betting on two hands instead of one. To decide whether this type of play suits you, you should compare the strong and weak points of betting on two hands.
Advantages of Betting on Two Hands
Depending on your personal preferences, you may view certain aspects of betting on two hands as positive or negative. Nevertheless, there are some advantages to playing more hands that will appeal to many players.
Probably the biggest advantage of multiple-hand play is that you can quickly make your blackjack sessions more action-packed. If the game feels too slow and you are eager for more excitement, you can choose to bet on two hands at once. That would lead to more hands being played per hour, even though you will actually play fewer rounds in that time. Getting more hands per hour will also mean more potential wins or losses, providing plenty of action.
If you decide to bet on two hands at the same time, you may experience fewer fluctuations in your balance. This is because you might land a win and a loss on the two different hands in the same round. In such cases your overall loss for the round could be zero, smoothing out the ups and downs in your bankroll.
Players who utilise techniques such as card counting, shuffle tracking or clump reading will benefit from betting on two hands at a time. Those using shuffle-tracking or clump-reading tactics could switch to two-hand play whenever they expect high-value cards to appear in the upcoming rounds. Meanwhile, card counters would bet on two hands when the count is low, as playing more hands removes the low-value cards faster. Whenever the count favours the player, they would return to single-hand play.
Disadvantages of Betting on Two Hands
While some players may find betting on two hands more entertaining and advantageous, others will see it as a riskier style of play. As this is not the best option for everyone, there are certain disadvantages associated with betting on two hands at the same time.
Whenever you decide to bet on two hands at once, you will reduce the number of rounds played per hour. However, this approach ultimately increases the number of hands you play in an hour. Because you double the number of hands in each round, you still end up playing more hands than you would by playing a single hand over more rounds. The faster pace does not appeal to every player and can therefore be considered a disadvantage.
Although playing more hands may seem exciting as it can increase potential wins per hour, others may not appreciate this aspect of two-hand betting. As you go through more hands per hour, your potential hourly losses will also rise. That means you may burn through your bankroll more quickly and play for a shorter period.
Ensure you bet on two hands simultaneously only if you can cope with this style of play. If you are not quick with your decisions on both hands, it can be burdensome for the other players at the table to wait. Furthermore, if you are still learning how to use the basic blackjack strategy, you may struggle to apply it to two hands at once. That is why this wagering method is more suitable for advanced players.
While not all casinos or virtual blackjack games enforce this, some tables may have specific conditions for playing two hands simultaneously. Certain blackjack variations may require players who spread to two hands to wager twice the minimum table bet on each hand.
Closing Thoughts on Betting Two Hands in Blackjack
If you see that a blackjack table offers the option to bet on two hands at the same time, there are several things you need to keep in mind. Playing two hands simultaneously will not alter your winning chances, as you are still facing the same house edge. The only thing that changes if you opt for two-hand play is the number of hands you will go through in a single hour.
Playing more hands than usual has its perks and drawbacks, and the suitability of betting on two hands largely depends on players’ preferences. Going through more hands per hour will increase your potential hourly wins and losses. While that may appeal to some players, others prefer playing at a slower pace and enjoying longer blackjack sessions.
Although betting on two hands at the same time will not significantly affect the winning chances of recreational players, card counters can certainly make the most of this betting style. Removing low-value cards faster and playing at a quicker pace allows card counters to achieve deeper deck penetration and gain a greater advantage over the house. That said, it is up to you to decide whether it is worth betting on two hands, or whether you would be better off sticking to straightforward single-hand play.
