- When Should You Double Down On Blackjack
- How To Play Blackjack And Win
- When Should You Double Down In Blackjack Card Game
- When Should You Double Down In Blackjack Winnings
Since the main goal of blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible, you are in a strong position with a hard 11. If the dealer has a card that's lower than 10, doubling down is a good strategy. If the casino's rules state that the dealer must hit soft 17, then you should double down on 11 regardless of what the dealer's revealed card is. Assuming that the dealer doesn't also have a blackjack, you'll win $12 on the hand. Guaranteed, with no chance of losing money. This hand is worth $12. If you decide to double down on the blackjack instead, you're risking another bet with the hope of winning $20 instead of $12. But you're giving up the guarantee of a win. Always double down on 11 and I would even say 10. Even when the dealer has an ace up. The first thing the dealer does when they have an ace up is ask for insurance. Feb 14, 2020 There's only one point in a game of blackjack when you have the opportunity to double down – directly after your initial two cards have been dealt. At this point there are three groups of hands.
Winning at blackjack requires taking advantage of every opportunity the game offers, and one of the most favorable situations for the player is the double down. When you double down, you get to double your original wager in exchange for a single card. Most casinos allow you to double down on any two cards, while some casinos limit your doubling to hands that total 10 or 11. Some casinos even allow players to double down after splitting a pair. Whenever you can, play where the rules are best.
On a shoe game with eight decks where you can double on anything, the house edge is a little more than half of 1 percent. These other rules relating to doubling will increase or decrease the house edge:
- Allowing double downs after splitting reduces the house edge by 0.13% to -0.42.
- Restricting double downs to 10 or 11 increases the house edge by 0.21% to -0.76.
By using basic strategy, you can determine when you should double down based on the mathematics of the game. Doubling down is so favorable because you are doubling your bet when you have the best opportunity of beating the dealer. Most of the time, this is when the dealer is at their weakest, such as having an up card of 2 through 6, 6 being the weakest.
When the dealer must hit, they will bust more times with 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 showing, so your double down will be most successful against these cards. There are other situations in which you will double down with a 10 against the dealer's 9 or an 11 against a dealer's 10. These are close calls, and some newer players hesitate to do this. In the long run, however, you will earn more by doubling down than by just hitting because you get to wager more.
Why It's Worth It
Some players hesitate to double down because they are afraid of losing more money. If the size of your bet makes you sweat, then you are playing with table stakes higher than you should be.
Most casinos will let you double down for less than your original bet, providing it meets the table minimum. This is foolish. You only double in favorable situations, and it is to your advantage to double for the maximum. If it's available, you might also consider playing Free Bet Blackjack, where the casino puts up the double down wager for you.
Double down hands are likely to make or break you during your evening, as there will be times when you run into a bad streak of cards. It can be frustrating, but negative fluctuations do occur. If you are a new player and this happens, you might be tempted to deviate from correct strategy and skip your double downs. That would be a mistake unless your bankroll is too small to continue.
Doubling down is extremely profitable for the player, and it is factored into the figures that are computed for the house edge. When you don't double down at the right time, you are not playing correct basic strategy and you increase the house edge against you. Seize the moment and double down when you can.
Dealer Bust Percentage
It's been a little over 60 years since they figured out the optimal strategy for Blackjack. A group of statisticians wrote a paper in 1956, and that paper's findings were verified in Edward O. Thorp's 1962 book Beat the Dealer. Now, millions of Blackjack players around the world are learning these strategies, including the option to double down. This is when you double your wager and receive one single card; if you haven't gone bust after receiving this card, you stand with whatever you've got.
If you're not familiar with doubling down, or you're still learning the basic strategy, Single Deck Blackjack is the right game to start with. Bovada just introduced a modern version of this game to go alongside the Classic version; try out the following strategies, and you'll be one step closer to playing perfect Blackjack. At Bovada, you can double any two cards when you play Single Deck Blackjack, and the Dealer must hit on Soft 17.
What Is Double Down in Blackjack?
You can double down after you're dealt your two hole cards, which means you have the option to double your bet and receive exactly one more card. Then, if you haven't gone bust already, the Dealer plays, and the winning hand is declared. If you're playing at a live casino, take however many chips you need to match your original bet, and place them nearby – but outside the betting box. Then use your index finger to point at the doubled bet. Figuring out how to double down at Bovada is much easier: Just hit the 'Double' button. No hand signals required.
Blackjack Double Down Rules
In both Single Deck Blackjack variants at Bovada, you're allowed to double on any two cards you're dealt – and you can double down after a split. Some live casinos will not allow you to double after you've split your hole cards. You might also find games where you're allowed to double after receiving a third card or more.
When to Double Down
This is where the rubber hits the road. As always in Blackjack, the correct double down strategy will depend on how many decks are in the shoe, and the specific rules for the game you're playing. Let's take a closer look at the Single Deck Blackjack games available at Bovada, and how to double down in these games for maximum value. In both the Classic and New versions, the dealer must hit on soft 17, which caters to the following strategies when you're dealt the following hole cards:
Hard Hands (No Pair)
If you have 11 in your hand (say, Seven-Four), you should always double, hoping to spike that 10-value card to make 21. Otherwise, follow this guide: Where to buy slot machines.
10: Double when Dealer shows a Nine or lower
Do casinos manipulate slot machines. 9: Double when Dealer shows a Six or lower
8: Double when Dealer shows a Five or a Six
Soft Hands
With hands containing an Ace, you'll occasionally double when the Dealer shows a low card (Six or lower). If you're holding Ace-Six, always double against a low card. Here are the other times to double:
19: Double when Dealer shows a Six Free ways to win real money online.
When Should You Double Down On Blackjack
18: Double when Dealer shows a Three, Four, Five or Six
How To Play Blackjack And Win
13, 14, 15, 16: Double when Dealer shows a Four, Five or Six
Pairs
In Single Deck Blackjack games where you're allowed to double after splitting, like the ones at Bovada, there's only one pair you should double first: a pair of Fives. This should only be done when the Dealer's up-card is a Nine or lower, just like you would with any other hand worth 10. If you have a pair of Fours, split instead when the Dealer shows a Four as well as a Five or Six, and hit otherwise.
Simplified Doubling Strategies
The doubling plays listed above are mathematically proven to maximize your return playing Single Deck Blackjack at Bovada. They're part of what's known as the basic Blackjack strategy – although that's a bit of a misnomer. Learning all the subtle differences between these optimal moves can take some time. When you're just starting out, you might want to consider using a simplified Blackjack strategy that's easier to remember, so you'll make fewer mistakes trying to implement it. There will be a few plays that you'll make sub-optimally with a simplified strategy, but only a few.
Here's one recommended simplified strategy for doubling down in Single Deck Blackjack:
When Should You Double Down In Blackjack Card Game
1. Double with Hard 9 or Soft 16-18 if the Dealer shows a low card (2-6).
2. Double with Hard 10 or 11, unless you have 10 and the Dealer shows a 10 or Ace.
When Should You Double Down In Blackjack Winnings
That's it. Again, using this simplified double down strategy will leave a little money on the table, but it should protect you from even greater losses while you're still learning the game. The Blackjack double down may appear risky in the end, but in very specific situations, it's the best play to make – and you should learn all these situations if you want to get the most out your Blackjack sessions. Memorize them, try them for free using the Practice Play mode at Bovada, and you'll be one step closer towards 'Blackjack Expert' status.
