There’s more to blackjack than hitting and standing. While those two options are the most popular, splitting and doubling down are also strategic moves to make, and we’ll focus on the latter in today’s Go Spin blog. For those who are unaware, doubling down involves placing a bet equal to your ante and receiving just one more card. It’s risky at times and hugely profitable at others. The trick is learning when. If you’re new to the game, understanding the blackjack double down meaning is key to making smarter betting decisions. With our guide to the blackjack double-down rule, we’ll explain how doubling down works and why the blackjack-double down strategy is ideal for beginners today.
The Basic Rules of Doubling Down
The blackjack double-down rule involves doubling your bet and placing a new wager equal to your ante (first bet). After doing so, the dealer gives you one more card with which you must complete your blackjack hand. If you beat the dealer, you’ll receive twice as much, thanks to the doubled bet.
Just when doubling down is possible varies from casino to casino or game to game. The first rule is that you can only double down in blackjack after receiving your first two cards. In some games, it’s possible to double down after splitting, but the rules here vary, too. Doubling down increases the amount of risk, but, of course, that magnifies the reward if you’re successful.
When to Double Down in Blackjack
When is the best time to apply the blackjack doubling bet strategy? Admittedly, certain times in the game are far more appealing than others. The most common times to double down in blackjack include the following:
- If your hand is worth 9, then double down.
- If your hand total is worth ten, then double down.
- Double down if your hand is worth eleven but doesn’t feature an ace.
In all three scenarios, given the number of 10s in a shoe, you can risk doubling down without busting. If aces are in your hand, the following opportunities are worth doubling:
- Double down on an ace if your hand totals a soft 16, 17, or 18. This is most effective if the dealer shows 3 through 6.
When Not to Double Down
There are also times when you don’t want to double down. Doing so during any of these times is incredibly risky:
- Never double down in blackjack if the dealer shows an ace, as there’s a reasonable chance they’ll have blackjack.
- If you have a hard total of more than 11, avoid doubling down. The risk of busting is too great.
Myths About Doubling Down Explained
Lots of myths surrounding the blackjack double-down rule exist. These often trip new players out. Fortunately, our experts at Go Spin are on hand to help you navigate this mythical minefield as we explain the truth behind the myths.
- Doubling on 11s: Oddly enough, while you’ll win 56% of the time if you hit on 11, you only win 54% of the time when you double down on 11. That’s 2% less. That’s more than the house edge in some games.
- Doubling on a Dealer Ace: It’s definitely not smart to double down on a dealer’s hand showing an ace. Yes, the dealer isn’t guaranteed blackjack, but the odds are good that they’ll have it.
- Doubling Down on Two-Card Hands Isn’t Wise: On the contrary, doubling after splitting is something players often like to do. Some games try to prohibit this because disallowing doubling down after splitting gives the house an extra edge of 0.12%.
Practicing Doubling Down Before Betting
As you can see, there are times to double down and definitely times when you’ll want to avoid doing that. The simplest way for beginners to understand the finer nuances of doubling down is to check a Basic Strategy chart. It will clearly tell you the best moves to make based on what’s on the table. Of course, there are ways to learn this yourself. This is advantageous since you can’t exactly take a Basic Strategy chart into a real, brick-and-mortar casino.
One of the simplest ways to pull this offer is to play free blackjack games. Choosing RNG games (as demos) allows you to play for free, test the blackjack double-down rule, and mark your progress. Make a note of how it pans out when doubling down and how many times you successfully manage to do so, compared with how many times it fails. These results, while tedious, will unquestionably help you become more familiar with the concept and learn when the optimal time to double your bet is.
FAQ
Can I double down after hitting?
No. Doubling down takes place instead of hitting. If you double your bet, you only receive one more card and cannot hit after that.
Can I double down in blackjack tournaments?
There’s no reason why this isn’t possible. Of course, each tournament, casino, and game has its own rules for doubling down.
Can I double for less than my initial stake?
No. The entire point of doubling down is that it costs the same as your ante bet. If you wager $1 as your ante bet, then your double-down bet is also $1. That’s just the way it is.
Does doubling down appear on Basic Strategy charts?
Yes, it does. You should easily find the appropriate times to double down on most Basic Strategy charts. They may appear as DH (double if allowed, otherwise hit) and DS (double if allowed, otherwise stand).
Can I surrender after doubling down?
Not often, no. In most cases, the Surrender rule won’t help you. Once you’ve doubled down, you’re in it for the long haul. However, there are a few games out there that support Late Surrender, and in a handful of these, it is feasible to surrender after doubling, at the cost of losing only your ante bet. This certainly isn’t the norm, though.
