 How
many hands should we play?
Most players play one hand at a time. Many counters play one hand
at low counts and two hands at higher counts. This has both advantages
and disadvantages as far as cover play is concerned. On one hand
you can increase and decrease bets more quickly while looking like
a gambler instead of a card counter. On the other hand switching
numbers of hands is looked upon by some casino personnel as a sign
of counting.
This chart is based purely on the overall SCORE of always playing
one hand, always playing two hands or switching between one and
two hands. Cover implications are ignored. What we see is a higher
SCORE when always playing two hands. This is due to the fact that
playing two hands allows a higher betting level without increasing
risk of ruin. The consensus at this time is that always playing
two hands is superior to playing one hand, especially when you are
not alone at the table.
Other considerations exist such as playing two hands at higher
counts tends to use up cards more quickly and can reduce the number
of rounds if you are playing alone. On the other hand, you get more
of the hands at full tables. Also, switching from one to two hands
can be difficult as someone can take the empty seat while you are
playing one hand. Yet another consideration is speed. This is not
an issue for an accomplished card counter as the time taken playing
your own hands is a small part of the overall time. Beginning players
should probably stick to one hand to minimize mistakes made under
pressure.
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