|
|
Facing the same dealer, blackjack players often confront the same dilemma: should they play one hand or multiple hands? Most blackjack tables have seven spots, all against the same dealer. So, should you put all your bets in one of these seven spots, or spread them across two or more?
For experienced players who always know how to handle different hands, playing one hand or multiple hands has virtually no effect on their win rate in the long run. However, the topic of one hand versus multiple hands seems to be a frequent discussion among players. Is there any significance to it?
In fact, this proposition is not without value. Let's consider it in terms of chips. If you decide to bet 1,000 Hong Kong dollars and play one hand, you have only one hand facing the dealer's cards, with the outcome being straightforward: win, lose, or push. However, if you put the 1,000 Hong Kong dollars into two spots, you have two hands facing the dealer's cards, increasing the possible outcomes: both win, both lose, one wins and one loses, one pushes and one wins, one pushes and one loses, and even both push. If you divide the 1,000 Hong Kong dollars into three or four spots, the potential outcomes increase even more.
As mentioned earlier, in the long run, playing one hand or multiple hands has almost no difference in win rate. This conclusion is based on always adopting a certain strategy and having a long-term view of the game. We've discussed before that each hand facing the dealer's initial cards has a fair value. If you use the optimal strategy, in the long run, you will always get this fair value. If you adhere to long-term thinking, this fair value will be the primary factor, smoothing out the impact of playing multiple hands.
However, there's one point worth noting. When bringing a certain amount of chips to the table, concentrating them in one spot carries a much higher immediate risk than spreading them across multiple spots, despite the large correlation between the outcomes of different spots on the same table. This conclusion can be drawn from our analysis of the win/loss outcomes of playing one hand versus multiple hands with 1,000 Hong Kong dollars.
So, what's the best choice for betting in blackjack at the casino?
My advice is that it depends on the individual, and you should play within your means. If you are a seasoned player with a deep understanding of the game and frequent visits, the difference between playing one hand and playing multiple hands can be negligible, but it depends on how much risk you are willing to take. If you want to reduce the fluctuation in game results (such as when your average bet size relative to your total chip stack is significant), you can spread your chips across several spots.
If you are a beginner and not familiar with the game, I would suggest playing fewer hands. Putting all your eggs in one basket, playing only one hand, can help you get familiar with the game and accumulate experience. When you play multiple hands, you have to make more decisions, making it easier to make mistakes and increasing the likelihood of losing.
Lastly, there's one more point worth mentioning. Sometimes a player may choose to open or close a spot midway through the game, resulting in the dealer getting a very strong upcard (such as a 10 or an Ace) when they otherwise would have received a weak card (such as a 4, 5, or 6). At such times, other players often blame the player who opened or closed a spot. However, this is unfair because the dealer has the same chance of getting a weak card due to the change in the number of spots. Perhaps it's human nature, but players seem to remember the former situation more often. |
|
Post time 5-4-2024 10:25:01