Multi Hand Blackjack Rules

Multi Hand Blackjack is played using 5 decks of 52 cards each that are shuffled before the start of every game. Read further for a quick glance at the rules that govern the game.

In multi hand blackjack, every player can draw up to five additional cards on each hand (that is, 7 cards in all), provided the value of hand does not cross 21. If, by chance, the player’s hand exceeds the 21 limit, he/she will lose the hand. Such a condition of the player’s hand exceeding 21is called a BUST. On the other hand, if the value of the hand does not exceed 21 even after drawing all the 7 cards, the player automatically qualifies to stay and goes to the next hand or the dealer will play his hand. The dealer must stand on 17 and draw on 16.

Regarding the value of cards, King, Queen and Jack have a value of 10. Ace can take either 1 or 11 depending upon the situation at hand in the game. In other words, Ace will assume a value that is most beneficial for the player. One more point particular to ace - any combination of Ace and other cards whose total value does not exceed 21 is called a SOFT HAND.

If the player has dealt an Ace and a card with a value of 10 (face card or a natural ten) as his/her first two cards, it is called Blackjack. The player receiving a blackjack will automatically stay in the game and move on to his/her next hand. If the player beats the dealer with a blackjack, he/she will be paid out at 3 to 2.

Another interesting rule in multi hand blackjack is the SPLIT of the hands. That is, if any one receives two Aces, two fives or two tens, he/she can opt to split the hand. The player automatically wager a second amount equal to that of his/her original wager on the second hand and will be able to play both hands as normal. But cards with the same value and varying denominations cannot be split in this respect.

Again, if the player has already split his/her hand and then draws a card with a value of 10, then it is not considered as a blackjack. Such a hand will automatically have a value of 21 and it can beat any dealer’s hand with a value less than 21 or draw against all other dealer hands except blackjack. The same rule is applicable against splitting pairs of cards having a value of 10.

If the value of the player’s initial two cards, or any of the hand is 9, 10 or 11, then he/she can ‘Double’. This is a gambling assuming that the player’s next hand will be sufficient to beat the dealer’s as-of-yet uncompleted hand. The gamble costs as much as the player’s original bet for that hand, but should he/she win, the person is entitled to double the total wager at hand.

In multi hand blackjack, there is something called an INSURANCE bet, which option is given to the player when the dealer is dealt an Ace. Insurance only covers the original bet and does not provide any protection for Double Down Bet. The insurance bet costs half the original bet and will pay out 2 to 1 if the dealer gets Blackjack, however, the player loose his/her original bet. On the other hand, if the dealer does not get a blackjack, the player will lose the insurance bet and the game proceeds as normal.

After all the hands have been played, the player’s hand is compared with that of the dealer. If the value of both hands happens to be the same, such a condition is called a PUSH. In the event of a push, the player receives the bet amount and no one wins the game.