Blackjack Doubling Down

When playing Blackjack, either online or in a casino, you will most likely have the option of doubling down. Doubling down, simply means that you are placing a second wager, up to the amount of your original bet, but only receiving one additional card. In most cases, this is only allowed to do after receiving your initial two cards, and also after splitting a pair, you may also have the option of doubling down on one, or even both of the “new hands” after splitting. One thing to keep in mind is, every casino and every online casino have their own rules, procedures and policies. What one casino may allow, there could many others that will not allow the same options.

When To Double Down In Blackjack

To know the best, mathematically advantageous scenarios to double down on a hand, is best found on a “basic strategy card”. These cards are often found in casino gift shops, or you could also look online. They are often a credit card sized pocket chart that will have advice on when to double down, or not to double down, based on calculated odds.

It is important to remember, that just because the odds are in your favor to double down on a hand, does not mean it will always turn out a winning bet, and just because it will all even out in the end, statistically, does not mean you will win when you have larger wager, and lose when you have a smaller wager, it could just as easily work out to be the opposite.

It is equally important to not forget, you play the hand, not the money. That means that if you put out a bet, a bit larger than normal, and get an opportunity to double down, you should not shy away from doing so, just because you have a bigger bet to lose. It is never enjoyable to back down from a good double, and then catch the dream card, kicking yourself for not “seizing the moment”.

Doubling Down On Hands In Blackjack

Now, I'll give you some examples of when I double down, most of which I learned from using “basic strategy” cards. Keep in mind, I have been playing and dealing the game of “Blackjack” for many years, so it has been awhile since I have actually read one of these cards, but again, I play by “basic strategy” only, so if my information is not equal to the information on a basic strategy card, I would trust the card more, for it has been created by using odds, calculated by a computer.

Just as a few examples of rules I follow when deciding to double down while playing Blackjack, I always double down on an eleven, against any dealer up card, including ten valued cards and aces. A lot of people get a little hesitant to double down against the ten or ace, the odds are still in your favor, go for it and double, you could just as easily double down and lose against a deuce.

I also always double down on any “soft totaled hands”, meaning hands that include an ace, usually the ones less than a soft nineteen. A lot of people will question why you doubled down on a soft eighteen, but it is the right thing to do, according to basic strategy, against a dealer's four, five or six as an up card.

Again, these are just a couple scenarios where doubling down in blackjack is a good bet, to see all of the situations where it is suggested, I recommend looking for a basic strategy card for blackjack.