Blackjack is one of the most popular and exciting card games in the casino. It's easy to learn how to play and how to bet. So, this month in our Ask the Dealer column, we're featuring blackjack and how to play it. Here, our dealers will expertly answer your most-asked questions about how to play casino games and what tips they have for winning.
Blackjack, also known as 'Twenty-One,' is a fast-paced but simple card game that requires some quick thinking and adding on your part to ensure you know what your next move should be. The house odds in Blackjack are lower than in other games; with some advanced strategies, you could win big playing this popular card game.
What Is the Object of the Game?
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Blackjack Double Down – A Numbers Game Firstly, however green you are to Blackjack, we can all agree that the highest number you can sensibly get is 21. Secondly, we're out to beat the dealer, either. When to Double Down in Blackjack What is double down in blackjack. The rules of blackjack (also referred to as twenty-one) are relatively easy to pick up. It's a game between a player or group of players and the dealer. The players don't play against each other; instead, they try to win against the dealer by reaching 21 points with their. HERE'S WHEN YOU SHOULD DOUBLE DOWN IN BLACKJACK To double down, you make a second bet equal to your first. You then get one more card – and only one. There's no second hit after doubling.
You are playing against the house or the dealer. You want to beat the dealer's hand by getting cards that add up to as close to 21 as possible, but not over 21. If you go over 21, you lose automatically.
What Does Split Mean in Blackjack?
Good Question! If you hold two cards that are the same number in your hand, like two eights or two sixes, you can split them apart and play each one like two separate hands instead of one. Once you split your two cards into two hands, you'll place your original bet with one hand and place an equal bet on the second, split hand.
You will play the hand to your right first. The dealer will give you a card when you ask for a 'hit.' You will continue to hit until you are satisfied or you bust.
Then, you move to play the other hand and have the dealer hit you with cards until you say 'stop' or you go over 21. If you go over 21, you lose your bet on that hand.
If you have a pair of aces and split them, the dealer will give you only one additional card per hand. You cannot draw again. If you draw a 10 on the second card, you have 21. Your winning hand pays 1:1, not 3:2 like other winning blackjack hands.
What Does Double Down Mean in Blackjack?
This is another excellent strategy question. On your original two cards, you can double your bet before the dealer gives you another card. You place another bet equal to the first. Then, the dealer will give you only one card The dealer settles all bets at the end of the hand.
If you have sevens, you can split a pair, as above, and double down if you want to.
Enjoy the Game
Be sure to ask a dealer if you have questions! And check back for future issues of Ask the Dealer, where we will likely talk about why you'd want to split or double down a blackjack hand and the deeper strategy behind these moves.
Have fun and stay awhile! Why not enjoy an overnight adventure with one of our hotel and casino packages? Call our reservations experts at 800-682-6040 or contact us online today.
Inexperienced players often wonder how is it possible to win at blackjack in the long term when their probability of winning a hand in a fair game is approximately 44%. Well, one of the main reasons why this is possible is the player's ability to get more money into action when they hold an advantage against a dealer who is in trouble.
One way to increase your action in favorable situations is to double down, in which case you post an extra bet that should be equal in size to your initial stake. In exchange, you get one additional card and are no longer able to hit your hand. The dealer would either tuck the extra card under your chips in pitched games or place it sideways next to your initial two cards in a multiple-deck game.
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Doubling down can indeed be risky since it involves increasing your bet. This causes clueless or more conservative players to altogether avoid this play out of fear they might end up losing twice as much money on a single hand. Others tend to overdo it, exercising the double down option each time their 'intuition' tells them they stand to win a hand.
Yet, doubling down can be one of the most thrilling and profitable moves you can make at the blackjack table, but only on condition you are able to identify the advantageous situations that call for a bet increase. In this article, we tackle doubling down rule variations and give you further insight into some of the key doubling decisions that can help you maximize your profits.
Doubling Down Rule Variations
Free sakura games. The tricky thing about this play is that the rules related to doubling down may vary wildly in different casinos, which is why you should be well-acquainted with the doubling rule variations you may encounter. These are not written on the table's felt so you will either have to ask the dealer for specifics or stand by and observe others play for a while.
In many multiple-deck games, players are permitted to double on any starting two-card total without further restrictions. This is the most player-friendly rule variation because it gives you the opportunity to potentially turn a profit in all advantageous situations you face.
This is not the case in some casinos where players are restricted to doubling only on specific two-card totals, particularly on hard 9, 10, and 11, which increases the house edge by 0.09%. Some venues would even restrict doubling to totals of 10 and 11 only which gives the house edge a boost of around 0.18%.
The 'Free' Double Down Rule
We previously explained the player is normally required to increase their bet up to the amount of their original stake. In some casinos, however, there are blackjack tables where the so-called 'free double down' rule applies. This variation of the game is known as Free Bet Blackjack and was invented by Geoff Hall, the same guy who came up with Blackjack Switch.
Free Bet Blackjack debuted in the summer of 2012 at the Golden Nugget Casino in downtown Las Vegas and immediately attracted crowds of eager blackjack players because it gave them the opportunity to double down on the house, i.e. without the need of posting additional wagers.
Instead, the dealer places a lammer next to your original wager to mark your double down. If you win, the dealer will pay you both for your initial bet and your double. Should you lose, you lose only your original bet.
You probably think this sounds too good to be true and indeed, you are right. The main catch here is that players are restricted to doubling at no cost only on totals of 9, 10, and 11. When the dealer draws to a total of 22, they do not bust like they normally would. Instead, they push with you if your total is 21 or lower. Add the H17 rule and the absence of surrender to the mix and you have the house edge for this game jump to 1.04% with basic strategy.
How To Double Down In Blackjack
Doubling Down on Three Cards or More
At some blackjack tables, players are given the option to double on three cards or more, which is great because it translates into even more opportunities to turn extra profits. Suppose, for example, you start your hand with two cards that add up to 7 against a dealer 5 and then you draw a 4 for a total of eleven.
It would be impossible to double down at this stage in a regular game of 21. However, if you are playing a blackjack variation that allows for doubling on three or more cards, you will be able to fully exploit your dealer's weakness by doubling on your three-card 11 and potentially pocketing an extra payout.
This rule variation is an absolute rarity, of course, but do not hesitate to take advantage of it if you do happen to come across one such table – this rule takes away around 0.20% of the casino's edge.
Doubling Down for Less
In some gambling establishments, blackjack players are permitted to double down for less than their initial bet. For example, if you wager $20 on a hand suitable for doubling down, you can double for an amount smaller than $20, like $15 or $10. It is typical for some conservative or underbanked players to take advantage of this rule variation.
Should you do it, though? No, doubling down for less is not a good idea. This decision is contrary to what doubling is all about. Players can maximize their profits only by reaching deeper into their pockets and increasing their double down bets to the full permissible amount at the table.
Let's consider the following situation to better demonstrate how stupid doubling for less than your original bet really is. Suppose you post a $10 bet and are dealt a nice starting total of 11 against the dealer's Queen, which, as you know, is assigned a value of 10 like all other face cards. You have several options here, excluding standing since not drawing more cards on your 11 is contrary to all logic.
You can hit your hand, double down for the full amount of your bet or double down for less. Hitting a starting total of 11 against a dealer 10 results in a win around 56% of the time. Therefore, your average expectations with a total of 11 are to win roughly 56 out of every 100 hands, ties excluded. With a $10 bet, this accounts for overall profits of $560, overall losses of $440, and net profits of $120 over the course of a hundred hands.
Doubling Down for Less Additional TipsWhen you double down on a two-card 11 against a dealer 10, your win ratio slightly drops down. You are allowed only one extra card and would sometimes end up drawing small cards like 2 or 3 that get you stuck with a low total against the dealer's powerful face card. This peculiarity of the game causes your win ratio over the course of a hundred hands to decrease to 54%, which accounts for a 2% difference.
You may think 'How is doubling down more profitable in this situation when I end up winning fewer hands this way?!'. If you double for the full amount, which is $20 (2x$10) in this case and win 54 out of every 100 hands on average, you shall generate overall profits of $1,080 and incur total losses of $920.
You still end up with $160 in net profits over the course of every hundred hands on average. As you can see, doubling on your 11 against the dealer's 10 gives you more value over the long term when compared to merely hitting, where you only win $120 over a hundred hands.
Let's see what happens when you take the conservative approach and double down for less than your initial $10 bet, say $2.50. Your average win-to-loss ratio, not counting pushes, is the same per every hundred hands played, or 54 to 46. If you double for $2.50 only and win 54 out of every hundred hands, you generate overall winnings of $675 as opposed to the $575 you lose on average. This accounts for average net winnings of $100.
You can hit your hand, double down for the full amount of your bet or double down for less. Hitting a starting total of 11 against a dealer 10 results in a win around 56% of the time. Therefore, your average expectations with a total of 11 are to win roughly 56 out of every 100 hands, ties excluded. With a $10 bet, this accounts for overall profits of $560, overall losses of $440, and net profits of $120 over the course of a hundred hands.
Doubling Down for Less Additional TipsWhen you double down on a two-card 11 against a dealer 10, your win ratio slightly drops down. You are allowed only one extra card and would sometimes end up drawing small cards like 2 or 3 that get you stuck with a low total against the dealer's powerful face card. This peculiarity of the game causes your win ratio over the course of a hundred hands to decrease to 54%, which accounts for a 2% difference.
You may think 'How is doubling down more profitable in this situation when I end up winning fewer hands this way?!'. If you double for the full amount, which is $20 (2x$10) in this case and win 54 out of every 100 hands on average, you shall generate overall profits of $1,080 and incur total losses of $920.
You still end up with $160 in net profits over the course of every hundred hands on average. As you can see, doubling on your 11 against the dealer's 10 gives you more value over the long term when compared to merely hitting, where you only win $120 over a hundred hands.
Let's see what happens when you take the conservative approach and double down for less than your initial $10 bet, say $2.50. Your average win-to-loss ratio, not counting pushes, is the same per every hundred hands played, or 54 to 46. If you double for $2.50 only and win 54 out of every hundred hands, you generate overall winnings of $675 as opposed to the $575 you lose on average. This accounts for average net winnings of $100.
As you can see, doubling down for less is the worst of the three options you have profit-wise. So remember never to double down for less when playing regular blackjack – this is a profitable course of action only for blackjack tournament players.
Doubling on Soft Hands vs. Doubling on Hard Hands
We explained on a couple of occasions that a blackjack dealer ends up winning a bit more frequently than the player whose probability of winning hands in a fair game is around 44% as opposed to the dealer's 47% probability of winning. The remaining 9% account for the occasions when the dealer and the player push.
From this perspective, it makes sense for the player to bet more conservatively on the majority of the hands they go through. However, this is not the case when it comes to doubling down on hard totals where you should play more aggressively, increasing your action if the dealer has a relatively high likelihood of exceeding 21 and you have an edge over their hand.
Some people would settle for their soft totals and dismiss both hitting or doubling on such hands because they are too afraid they may end up getting stuck with a lower total by drawing an additional card. This fear causes them to pass on many lucrative opportunities to increase their action when holding an advantage against the dealer.
Others wrongfully assume the reason why basic strategy recommends doubling on certain soft totals is that you try to outdraw the dealer. But if you take a quick look at the basic-strategy chart, you will see doubling is a viable option with soft totals only when the dealer is exposing a weak card.
In other words, you double on hands like A-4 and A-5 against the dealer's 4, 5 or 6 because they are more likely to bust with these small cards and you want to get as much money into action as you can against a vulnerable dealer.
When Your Double Down Goes Wrong
Doubling down can be very profitable but it can also be very tricky for the simple reason you are entitled to draw only one extra card. When doubling on soft hands, you may get stuck with a lower total than the one you started with.
Similarly, if you double down on a hand like 7-2 against the dealer's 5, you draw a 2 or a 3 for poor totals like 11 or 12. The only way for you to win the round would be for the dealer to break their hand. You would have been able to hit your hand repeatedly if you had not doubled. And yet, doubling is the correct play in one such scenario. Continue reading to see why.
Insight into the Key Doubling Down Decisions
Basic strategy tells blackjack players when it is the best time to hit, stand, split, or double down. It is based on mathematical probability and millions of computer-simulated trials, which guarantees the plays it comprises are the optimal ones in the long run. Let's examine several situations where doubling down is the best course of action and explain why.
Doubling on a 9 against a Dealer with a Small Card
We talked about how sometimes doubling down can get you into trouble but remains the best play nevertheless. This is the case when you are dealt a hard 9 against a vulnerable dealer who exposes a small card like 5. In one such scenario, you will win roughly 59% of the time and lose around 41% of the hands, i.e. if we do not include the pushes.
Thus, if you flat bet $10 and play the same hand a hundred times, you can expect to win $590 and lose $410 for overall net profit of $180. The average profit you generate per hand with this play is $180/100 = $18.
Your win rate for the hand drops down to around 57% when you double down but this difference is offset by the fact that you are winning twice as much when executing this play. Your average net profit per hand in this instance is equal to ($570 – $430) * 2 = $280/100 = $28. As you can see, you win $10 more per hand, which is why doubling on your hard 9 against the dealer's small card is the best course of action.
Doubling on a 10 against a Dealer with a Small Card
We already discussed the subject of doubling on an 11 against a dealer's 10 and the prolific effect it has in terms of net winnings. Now, let's consider an example where you double on a 10 against a dealer with a small card, 4 for example.
Regardless of the composition of your hard 10 (8-2, 6-4, 5-5, 7-3), the mathematical probability of you winning with this move is roughly 58% whereas that of you losing is around 35%, with the remaining 7% accounting for the ties where no money switches hands (respectively there are no net profits). Let's suppose you have wagered $10 on this hand and are playing a multiple-deck game where the S17 rule applies.
If you decide to merely hit your hard 10 and draw a small card 2 through 7, you are not supposed to draw again anyway because the basic strategy for the game you are playing recommends you to stand on hard totals 12 through 17 when the dealer exposes a 4.
Doubling on a 10 Additional TipsHitting this total over the course of a hundred hands will earn you $580 and cause you to lose $350 on average. Roughly seven out of every hundred hands will result in a push. Respectively, your average net profits per hand when you hit your hard 10 will amount to ($580 – $350) / 93 = $230 / 93 = $2.47.
Now, let's see what happens when you double down on your 10 instead of hitting. The win-to-loss ratio is the same, so your overall net wins over the course of 100 hands would be equal to 2 * ($580 – $350) = $460. The seven pushes aside, your average net win per hand will amount to $460 / 93 = $4.95 and this is why you always double down on your hard 10 against a dealer's 4.
Doubling on Soft 13 through 18 against a Dealer with a Small Card
Inexperienced players often struggle with soft totals, especially when doubling down is concerned. They are too scared they might ruin their soft hand by drawing a card that reduces its total and turns it into a stiff. They argue this is way too risky and may cost them twice as much money if the double down is unsuccessful.
However, in certain situations when the dealer is at a disadvantage, basic strategy requires you to double down on your soft hands, particularly when the dealer is weak with small cards 3 through 6. Here is a brief breakdown of the doubling rules for soft hands 13 through 18 for a multiple-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17. If doubling is not allowed on any two cards, proceed by hitting or standing depending on your total and the dealer's upcard.
- Double on soft 13 and soft 14 against a dealer 5 or 6, otherwise hit
- Double on soft 15 and soft 16 against a dealer 4, 5, or 6, otherwise hit
- Double on soft 17 against a dealer 3, 4, 5 or 6, otherwise hit
- Double on soft 18 against a dealer 3, 4, 5 or 6, otherwise stand
Let's now examine an example with a soft 17 against a dealer with a 4 to see the exact differences in the net profits when you hit and double. Whether you hit or stand has no impact on the outcome of the hand itself because there is no card you can possibly draw that will cause you to make another hit. In the worst possible scenario, you will end up drawing a 5 for a hard total of 12 and stand against the dealer's 4 in accordance with basic strategy.
Doubling Additional TipsMathematically, you are bound to win by taking one more card 49% of the time, lose 43% of the time, and push with the dealer approximately 8% of the time. We assume your original bet amounts to $10. Provided that you choose to take the conservative route and hit your A-6, you will net profits of around $490 every hundred hands and lose $430.
The pushes are not taken into consideration because you do not generate any net profits or net losses with them. It follows that your net wins are $60, with an average profit per hand from this play of $60 / 92 = $0.65. If you double down instead of hitting your A-6, you will generate twice as much in net profits, or 2 * ($490 – $430) = $120, for a win of roughly $1.30 per hand.
It is essential to remember that doubling down is always the best course of action with certain totals when you are facing a particularly vulnerable dealer. Not taking advantage of these situations is almost the same as giving back some of your winnings to the casino. So be sure to inspect and memorize the basic strategy chart for the blackjack variation you intend to play. This will help you to fully maximize your profits when you are in a good spot.
