When you are allowed to Double Down After Split, you’re going to split 2’s and 3’s when the house has the upcards of 2 through 7. You’re going to split fours (4,4) when the house shows a 5 or 6, and 6’s are split when the house shows 2 through 6. When DDAS is not available, you will absolutely be splitting less. Max Can You Double Down On Blackjack bonus bet of £5, 15 days to accept & 30 days to complete wagering. Deposited funds locked to casino platform until wagering met. Your own deposited funds can be withdrawn at any time. Real money funds used first. Free Spins: Available after deposit bonus is redeemed/lost, credited as £2 bonus. If a dealer shows a low-card of 2 to 6, this would be an ideal time for you to double down on your wager. Generally, doubling on a soft hand like this gives you an upper hand to double your bet. Hard 10 to 11 against a dealer’s low card. When you have a hard 10 or 11 card against any dealer’s low-card, you should double down. Meaning that when you have two cards that total 10 or 11 without an ACE, it’s a hard 10. Blackjack rules may even vary at different tables in a casino. Some casinos only allow players to double after splitting certain cards. The more changes to the original rules of blackjack usually mean that the house edge is increasing. When the blackjack rules allow players to double after splitting the casino loses a bit of their advantage.
One of the best and most exciting options available in blackjack is when we have the opportunity to double down on a bet. As a ‘twice the risk, twice the reward’ option, it has the potential to net us a sizeable return, if we know how and when to properly employ such a tactic. As explained on our terminology page, to double is to place another wager on your hand, equal to the amount of your initial bet, in exchange for only one additional card, and the obligation to stand after that one card is dealt.
For example, if you have been dealt a Six and a Four (a total value of 10), you may choose to double your original wager of $100, as drawing a card valued from seven to 11 is a strong possibility and will stand you in good stead to win the hand. If you do win the hand, instead of receiving a $100 profit if you did not double, you will net a return of $200.
Double Down in Play
Doubling is an essential tactic, and if used correctly, helps to lower the casino’s house edge. A knowledgeable player should know when to employ this move for an advantage in the long run, but the decision needs to be carefully considered before commitment, based on a the following important factors:
- The total points value of your current hand
- The dealer’s up-card
- The house rules and edge
- The version of blackjack being played
If you are playing a game with eight decks and you can double on any total, the house edge is 0.55%. If you can double after splitting, this reduces the house edge by 0.13%, but if you can double only on totals of 10 and 11, this increases the house edge by 0.21%. And obviously we want the lowest house edge possible.
Mastering basic blackjack strategies is key to winning. Here are some guidelines worthwhile remembering in order to maximise our chances and avoid unfavourable odds when opting to double:
Take Advantage of 9, 10 & 11 Totals
The best hands to double down on are considered to be those with a value of nine, 10 or 11. We already have the ideal hand to hit on and end with a strong total with just one additional card. If you find yourself dealt a hand with these totals, consider doubling down to maximise your winning payout. There will always be a risk present in every decision you make, but the key to winning more games than losing is to take advantage of an edge while you have it. If you are hesitant to double down because of the size of the bet and your potential loss, you might be playing at a table with too high stakes.
Don’t Split Fives, Go For The High Five: A common tactic for players who find themselves with low pocket pair hands such as Deuces or Treys is to split them and improve their chances of winning with two separate hands, which is fine. But if you find yourself with a pair of Fives, refrain from splitting and consider doubling. A total of 10 points is a strong position to be in (as explained above), so with a pair of Fives and roughly a 24% chance of drawing a card valued at 10 points on the next hit (to give you a total of 20), doubling is in your best interests. You also have a solid chance of drawing an Eight, Nine or Ace, resulting in favourably high hands of 18, 19, or 21.
The Rule of 9
The ‘Rule of 9’ is an established guideline regarding when and when not to double if you are dealt a soft hand (a hand with an Ace). Knowing when to double with a soft hand is crucial, so it is worthwhile understanding the rule’s instructions which explain how to maximise our chances of winning. As always, these are recommendations and you don’t have to double just because these rules say so.
The ‘Rule of 9’ works as follows: if you hold a soft hand, add the value of the dealer’s up-card with the value of your non-Ace card. If the total value is greater than nine, it is suggested to double down. If the total value is less than nine, proceed to hit instead.
For example, if the dealer’s up-card is a Four and your hand contains an Ace and a Seven, you should double because the total sum would be 11. In contrast, if the dealer’s up-card is a Five and you hold is an Ace and a 3, you should hit, as the sum, according to the rule, is eight. There are a few exceptions to this rule: never double down if the dealer’s up-card is above Seven, as they are in a strong position to beat you. If the dealer is showing a Deuce, don’t double either as the odds favour the dealer. Also, when the dealer’s up-card is a Five or Six, you should double down with a hand of an Ace and a Deuce through to a Six, as you are in the stronger position.
Be Mindful of the Dealer’s Up-Card
It may seem like common sense, but plenty of players often forget to keep the dealer’s up-card in mind before opting to double down. All of the above tactics should be dependent on the dealer’s up-card, and while it’s good to be aggressive, it can be unwise to double with a soft hand if your dealer has a Nine or Ten showing. The worst cards for the dealer are up-cards of a Deuce through to a Six because those cards give the dealer the highest chance of busting, and this is when we should pounce and double down. Dealer up-cards of Five and Six give their hand the highest chance of busting at roughly 42%.
Here are the most commonly recommended hands to double down on, taking in to consideration the dealer’s up-card:
[table id=1 /]
If you are dealt an Ace with a Deuce through to a Seven, this leaves us in a relatively strong position to double (depending on the dealer’s up-card, as specified in the table). If your soft hand is an Ace and an Eight or Nine, then doubling is not favourable; standing is your best bet.
Being dealt an Ace and a Six or Seven is the ideal hand to double down on. Many people may opt to stand with a soft total of 17 or 18 which is fine, but doubling is often advised. As the table suggests, your decision needs to be dependent on the dealer’s up-card. If you do opt to double with a soft 17/18, you have a strong chance of receiving a card valued at 10 (giving you a hard total of 17 or 18) which leaves you in the position you began in, just with the chance to win double the cash. If you are dealt an Ace, Deuce or Trey, you now hold an even stronger total of either 18, 19, 20, or 19, 20 or 21. If you are dealt a Four on the soft-17 hand, that will also leave you with an unbeatable 21. The point is to take advantage of strong starting soft hands, because of the unique value the Ace holds.
Know Which Variant You’re Playing
American blackjack (unlike American Roulette) has more favourable odds for the player, so where possible, play American versions of the game.
American rules are as follows:
– You are not restricted when doubling down; you can have a hand with any value and choose to double.
– You can also surrender at any time, and the dealer must stand on a soft-17.
European blackjack has the following rules:
– When offered the chance to double, you may only do so if your hand totals nine, 10 or 11.
– The dealer must hit on soft-17, and you cannot surrender.
In casino blackjack, the rules for doubling and splitting have one key difference. While both of these rules allow a player to increase his wager after the initial cards are dealt, splitting specifically requires the player to match the original bet amount with an equal wager on the second hand, while doubling down has no such restriction. The casino will gladly allow you to “double for less”, by adding an amount less than the original bet in return for drawing only one additional card. That’s not surprising, since doubling for less is never the correct strategy for a player at a regular game. If it is advantageous to double, it’s best to get as much money on the table as possible. Remember, you’re also giving up the ability to draw more than one card to your hand.
While doubling for less is always a mistake in a live game, tournament play is different. In fact, when used properly, doubling for less is a powerful technique for getting an extra edge over your opponents. In this article, we’ll look at two examples when it’s appropriate.
In the article on position, I discussed the importance of position in tournament play, and noted that players to your left are a bigger threat than players to your right. The reason is simple. On most hands, the players to your left get to see your bet and playing decisions before they make their own decisions. As a result, having a second opportunity to change the amount of your wager can be valuable. That means doubling and splitting are more useful than in regular table play.
Example 1: Stealing a shot at the lead
Let’s imagine that you are trailing a player to your left by $50, and you are nearing the end of the round. If you can’t afford to wait until the button passes you to make a move for the lead, doubling or splitting can be your best shot. Let’s say you bet $100, and your opponent matches that bet behind you. The cards are dealt and you have a hard 12, he has a hard 18, and the dealer shows a 4 upcard. Here’s a situation where basic strategy says you should stand. However, it’s also a great opportunity to steal the lead from your opponent. By doubling your 12, you can take the lead if successful. However, since this is generally a poor play, you should double for as little as possible to accomplish your goal. In this case, doubling for $55 or $60 is appropriate.
While this can be a strong play, there are several factors you should consider before pulling the trigger on the double. How many hands are left? How many hands will he be betting behind you? What is the maximum bet, and what are the bankrolls? Perhaps the most critical factor is how damaging a losing swing would be to your chances. If you bust the 12, and the dealer busts behind you, you are now $305 behind. If the max bet is $300, that’s a terrible handicap, and unless the round is nearly over, you should perhaps skip this opportunity and hope for a better shot later. On the other hand, if the max bet is $1000, and you both have plenty of chips, then a $305 deficit is no big deal, and this is probably a great time to take a shot.
Note that the same factors apply to your opponent after you double. If you succeed in drawing a good card to your hand, he may consider doubling his hard 18 behind you. While it’s almost a sure loser, if a negative swing is not a big deal it might be the right play for him.
Example 2: Forcing your opponent to make a choice
Here’s a powerful technique that I’ve never seen mentioned in print before. Though it’s far from unknown among tournament pros, I’ve seen very few players use it, although the situation comes up pretty frequently.
How To Play Blackjack For Beginners
Back at the table, you’re still trailing Lefty by $50, but now it’s the last hand. You’ve bet $250, and Lefty matches it. You have an 11, Lefty has a pair of face cards, and the dealer shows an 8. You have a basic strategy double-down, and it is quite apparent that you should double if you want to have any reasonable chance of winning the round. In the last example, we had a poor double-down and wanted to minimize the cost by doubling for less.
When Can You Double In Blackjack
This time, with a solid basic strategy double, most players would choose to double for the full amount. That would be a huge mistake! Consider what happens if you draw a poor card on your double. If your double ends up stiff, with a total of less than 17, Lefty can now lock you out of any chance to win. He can split the face cards, stand on any stiff, and you have zero chance of winning the round. It’s over!
To eliminate this possibility, you should double for less. If you double for anything between $55 and $195, you’ve created a difficult choice for your opponent. He can no longer lock you out with a split. If he splits, and the dealer beats both of you, you now advance instead of him. Since he can’t split for less, you force him to choose between “first high” and “first low”. He must decide whether he wants to cover you winning or the dealer winning, since he cannot do both. All this, just because you doubled for less than the full amount.
This tactic works wonders, no matter what the dealer upcard, and almost no matter what you draw on your double-down. Doubling for less is almost always preferable to doubling for the full amount any time your opponent has a pair that they would prefer to split rather than double.
This is a powerful play, and it arises often enough that it deserves a name. Since I’ve never seen it mentioned by other authors, I’ll go out on a limb and christen it “Ken’s Quandary”, with the quandary being your opponent’s, after you double down. Few plays will provoke a stronger grimace from across the table.
Best of luck out there, -Ken-
For more articles on blackjack tournaments and tournament strategy, you can:
Return to the Blackjack Tournaments Section, or
Move on to the next article The Rule of 2, 4, and 5.