Multi-hand Blackjack Gold
The wombat says: Eh oop! Do our eyes deceive us, or is this another Microgaming version of that most iconic of table games, Blackjack? Yes it is! But what makes this one different? Well, with the Multi-Hand Classic element thrown in, you have 5 hands, 5 chances to beat the dealer and 5 ways to win in this variant – which can only be a good thing.
Multi-hand Classic Blackjack Gold is very similar to the traditional European Blackjack version and follows much of the same rules but instead of 2 card decks, 5 card decks are used. This is a virtual game- if you prefer the live action then we would recommend Live Blackjack Common Draw High Limit or Low Limit, depending on your budget, or Extreme Live Blackjack for that matter, especially if you like playing on your mobile.
Look and Feel
One word Wombat Fans, and that’s ‘slick’. It is beautifully designed, and features the kind of 3D graphics that really immerse you in the casino vibe – making this a game that will attract Blackjack beginners and card veterans alike. Full marks for user-friendly interface too, with its easy to navigate settings and options.
Game Play
As mentioned, the rules are pretty standard to both virtual and live blackjack games alike and mainly match those found in European Blackjack: the player aims for a hand of 21, or just beat the dealer’s hand without going bust, but this version is played with 5 standard decks and the player bets on up to 5 hands at once.
When you begin the game, the dealer will hand out your 2 cards, and you’ll have the usual choices to make; you can hit, stand or double your wager depending on how good you think your hand is.
FYI Blackjack fans: Doubling down is only allowed if your two original cards add up to what is known as Hard Hands. For those of you not familiar with Blackjack terminology, this means that their combined value adds up to either 9, 10, or 11.
Cards from 2 to 9 are taken at face value, while picture cards are worth 10 and aces carry a value of 11, and a single split is allowed once per hand, but you can’t double down after a split. Plus, only like cards (of the same value) can be split.
You can also split Aces, and are allowed more than one card to be sent to each split (this is an unusual option as in most other variants, you are only allowed one card to go to each split Ace).
There is also the usual Insurance option, which allows you to bet for a dealer’s Blackjack, which will pay double if won!
Bets range from €1 to €200 per hand, Wombat Fans, which meand when all five hands are in play, and if they all are doubled and split, then there’s a possible €4 000 up for grabs. EEEEK! We really do like this Blackjack malarkey…
Conclusion
OK, this game offers no side bets or special payouts, but thanks to the option of playing more with than one hand (5 to be exact), this blackjack version can be very lucrative indeed… And make sure to turn on the Expert Mode, too, as it will gives you a customisable strategy table and, of course, the Auto Play feature – which makes this lazy wombat one very happy marsupial. Thumbs up to Microgaming once again!