- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- Great selection of slots
- High-quality live dealer games
- Excellent welcome bonus
- Crypto-friendly
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- 300+ games
- Crypto-friendly casino
- Live dealer jackpot
- Bonus galore for different verticals
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- Accepts cryptocurrencies
- Generous welcome bonus
- Loyalty program
- Kahnawake Licence
Multi-hand and single-hand video poker differ in precisely what you think — the number of hands you play simultaneously.
However, there are other differences you need to know about, especially in terms of paytables and game variance. Keep reading to learn that and which version is preferred.
What Are Single and Multi-Hand Video Poker Games
A single-hand video poker game uses only one hand, while a multi-hand title uses multiple hands. The number of hands in the latter can be 2, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, or 100. In some rare instances, it can go even higher.
Single-hand games seem straightforward, while multi-hand ones appear impossible to follow. However, that’s not true because you will get the same five cards in multi-hand releases as in a single-hand game.
The versions are effectively the same until the second draw, where you receive new cards. You get five cards and choose which ones to hold in both versions. However, once the subsequent draw starts, you’ll get new cards for every hand played in multi-hand poker.
In other words, you get to hold the same cards for every hand, but the new cards are random, giving you a chance to win on each hand separately.
Naturally, you get to choose the number of hands before the draw, and you have to put money into each one. This means the stake in multi-hand games is typically much bigger, with the potential winnings being higher as well.
You won’t be able to check every hand visually, but you’ll get the results for all.
Differences in Paytable and Variance
Even though it might seem that the odds improve the more hands you play, it’s entirely untrue. The odds are pretty much the same in most cases, especially if the paytable is the same. This means you must stick to the same strategy regardless of the number of hands.
However, you should still consider the paytables. They depend on the actual game, not the format, so we can’t give you specific examples. In general, though, paytables in single-hand video poker games are typically better than on multi-hand releases, as it’s not uncommon for the same combinations to pay more.
In most cases, smaller hands like pairs, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, straight, and flush usually have the same prices. However, higher hands, including full house, four-of-a-kind, straight flush, and especially royal flush, usually feature better payouts in single-hand games.
Even though this is often the case, checking the paytable in the specific game you’re playing is still crucial, as its payouts can be completely unique.
As for the variance, it’s substantially different between the two formats. It’s typically high in single-hand video poker games, while it gets even higher with multi-hand titles. If you were to play 100 single hands separately, the variance would be lower, but as the starting hands in 100-hand video poker are the same, the variance is incredibly high.
Which Version Should You Play?
As usual, no format is objectively better, depending on your preferences and what kind of play you’re looking for.
If you want to bet smaller amounts and don’t have a large bankroll, it’s better to choose single-hand games. They are perfect for beginners, while you can still choose single-hand releases with higher stakes if you want to bet larger amounts.
However, if this is your main interest and you have a big enough bankroll to support it, then multi-hand games are the better choice. You’ll have many more chances to win big here, but you’ll also have to be ready to risk it all, making multi-hand video poker titles better suited for true risk-takers.
Conclusion
Single and multi-hand are the two main video poker formats. The leading differences come in the number of hands being played simultaneously, with multi-hand games having anywhere from 2 to 100 and even more hands.
The games largely remain the same, but there are significant differences in volatility and paytables to consider. Weigh in these differences carefully to decide which version is better suited to your play style and preferences.
FAQ
- Aces and Eights
- Aces and Faces
- Bonus Poker
- Bonus Poker Strategy
- Common Mistakes
- Deuces Wild
- Double Bonus Poker
- Double Double Bonus Poker
- Full Pay Video Poker
- Full vs. Short Pay
- How To Win
- Jacks or Better
- Jacks or Better Strategy
- Joker Poker
- Joker Poker Strategy
- Land-Based vs. Online
- Strategy Charts
- Tens or Better
- Tens or Better Strategy
- Video Poker Pay Tables
- Video Poker vs. Slots
- Video Poker vs. Table Poker
About the Author
