Many casual blackjack players routinely play two simultaneous hands. This of course all goes for naught since it'll bring exactly the same results as two individual persons playing one hand apiece using identical strategies. Think about it. If seat "A" plays perfect basic strategy, he has a 1 /2% disadvantage in a multi-deck game. If seat "B" plays the same way, he also has a 1/2% disadvantage. If both seats just happen to be the same person, what difference can that possibly make?

There are however, select occasions when a card counter can draw an advantage from playing two simultaneous hands! That's when the count is high -- providing there's at least one other player at the table. As an example, let's say you're in a three-handed game and your count suggests a five unit bet. About 11 cards will be used up on each round. Of those 11 cards, you will get one hand. If you go to two hands, about 14 cards will be used for each two hands you're dealt. If there's say, one deck left before the cut card comes out, you'll get in S hands playing them one at a time and 8 hands by playing two at a time!

This however, is not quite as good as it sounds since both of your hands are played against the same dealer's hand. That makes you somewhat more likely to win both, or lose both than if they were two completely separate hand scenarios -- which in turn increases your volatility. For this reason, when playing two hands you should cut down the amount wagered on each to about 70% of what you'd play a single hand for. If your ten unit bet would be $100 for one hand, then two hands at $70 each would be an appropriate amount. That will adjust for the increased volatility of risking two bets against one dealer's hand