It is no secret that blackjack is one of the most commonly played live casino games! First arising on the French casino game scene in the late 16th century, blackjack’s appeal spread like wildfire and is now enjoyed by all sorts of enthusiasts around the world.
An interesting side of blackjack is that players compete against the dealer rather than each other. The goal is to get as close to making a hand value of 21 as possible without surpassing it, all before the dealer does.
The dealer and the player start with two dealt cards, with the dealer’s first card facing up and the second facing down. Each card number represents its own value, however, face cards each count as 10, and aces count as 1 or 11. Blackjack is a pair consisting of an ace and any 10, jack, queen or king card, adding up to 21.
Unlike many other casino games, blackjack has a small house edge of less than one percent, making more players opt for this casino game rather than others like poker or roulette. However, this is only the case for those who have a solid blackjack strategy up their sleeve, which is possible when knowing how to use your gameplay options wisely.
With that said, knowing when to use a double down bet wisely is key to increasing your chances of scoring a win in any live casino blackjack game. In this article, we have compiled all the tips and tricks you need to learn what the best double down strategy looks like — all you have to do is keep reading ahead!
WHAT DOES ‘DOUBLE DOWN’ IN BLACKJACK MEAN?
First and foremost, let’s dive into how many cards are dealt in blackjack games. You are dealt a pair of cards and can see only the upcard of the dealer’s hand. Once comparing the strength of the dealer against your cards, you can then decide how you want to play your blackjack hand.
One way is to go for the double down option, which refers to doubling your initial bet before receiving an additional card. Keep in mind that there is a risk when choosing to double down, as if you are dealt a low card, you are unable to hit again and could end up losing twice as many chips. Depending on the situation at hand, you might also wish to go for the hit or stand options.
It is key to find the perfect balance between playing safe and taking risks in blackjack casino games in order to have an advantage. At the end of the day, choosing to play this bet option is a confident yet fitting move in three situations in terms of probability.
BLACKJACK DOUBLE DOWN RULES
In most blackjack casino games, the traditional strategies for doubling down are consistent. Rules do, however, vary between casinos, which could subsequently end up affecting your choices and decisions.
Many restrictions were in place regarding when and how a player could use the double down blackjack option when casinos first started offering the game. Players were only able to do so with a two-card hand and a final total of 10 or 11. Other than that, players could not take advantage of this option.
Nowadays, casinos permit players the freedom to decide when to double down, despite some single-deck variations still upholding rather rigid rules on when players are able to double down, with the only change being when holding two-card totals of nine through 11.
As it stands, when you decide to double down, your first bet is matched with another, and you receive one more card. This means that you have a larger bet to uphold, which is why it is recommended to opt for this bet when you think you have a good chance of winning the hand.
HOW TO USE THE DOUBLE DOWN BLACKJACK BET
Now that we know what a double down in blackjack is let’s dive into how it all happens! This is how it all goes down:
- The player is firstly dealt two cards.
- After the player checks both cards, the option of placing a double down bet is presented.
- This is when the player signals the dealer and places the original bet amount in the designated area of the table.
- As a result, one extra card is given to the player on which a strategy is decided. From here, the player can either get blackjack or lose the bet.
As previously mentioned, choosing to double down is all-in-all a rather risky play, but should you think that the chances of winning a round are high, it is a good strategy to opt for. With that said, doubling down is also commonly used in online blackjack too. Since players are unable to use hand signals in this case, players can make the extra bet by clicking on a button that pops up automatically right after the original two cards are dealt.
WHEN TO DOUBLE DOWN IN BLACKJACK
There is only one opportunity in a blackjack casino game to double down, and this is at the start of the game. At this point, it makes the most sense to double your starting bet in the case of three hand groups. In each of these groups, you are more likely to succeed, and there are no chances of going bust.
- The player holds a hard nine and the dealer’s face-up card is anything between two and six – a hard nine is made up of two cards in which neither one is an ace. Doubling down a nine could win against some hole cards that the dealer is holding.
- The player has a hard 10 or 11, and the dealer is showing a low card – the chances are in the player’s favour if their initial two cards are two and eight, two and 9, three and seven, three and eight, four and six, four and seven, five and five or five and six, with the dealer’s lower card. In this case, it is recommended to double down as there is no way to go bust. However, the dealer risks going over 21 due to having to hit until 17 is reached.
- The player has a soft 16, 17 and 18, and the dealer’s face-up card is a two through six.
It’s anything but a bad idea to double down when you have an ace in your initial two-card hand and the next card being a five through seven, with the dealer having a two to six. The ace gives you the option for it to act as a one or an 11, therefore, there is a good chance that your hand can be improved with one more card.
WHEN NOT TO DOUBLE DOWN IN BLACKJACK
There are situations in which doubling down is not the best option when it comes to basic strategy. Take a look at what we mean:
- The dealer is showing an ace – in this event, the dealer has a high chance of scoring a blackjack or a total close to 21.
- The player has a total that exceeds 21 – the chances of going back are relatively high if the player’s total is over 11. In this scenario, the best bet would be to stick to a lower total rather than hoping the dealer goes bust.
- When dealt anything over an 11 – with the exception of soft hands, there is a great chance of getting bust if doubling down in this event.
The double down bet may not always be as smooth-sailing as anticipated, however, a better understanding of blackjack strategy can prevent unnecessary losses of extra money and earn you a hearty win in the long run.
WHEN TO DOUBLE DOWN IN BLACKJACK (CHART)
Need a little cheat sheet on when to double down? Take a look below to see your greatest chances of winning when taking this option up for battle:
Player’s Hand/Dealer’s Upcard | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
8 | DD | DD | ||||||||
9 | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | |||||
10 | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | ||
11 | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD | DD |
A-2 | DD | DD | ||||||||
A-3 | DD | DD | ||||||||
A-4 | DD | DD | ||||||||
A-5 | DD | DD | DD | |||||||
A-6 | DD | DD | DD | DD | ||||||
A-7 | DD | DD | DD | DD | ||||||
A-8 | ||||||||||
A-9 |
DD – Double down, Blank – Do not double down
TIPS AND TRICKS ON DOUBLING DOWN IN BLACKJACK
Keep in mind the following important tips to improve your gameplay:
- Choosing to double down after hitting is not possible in blackjack games. You can have the dealer hit you with cards until you choose to stop. You are only able to risk a double down after your initial bet is placed and the first two cards have been dealt.
- You will typically not be allowed to double down after splitting. This is when a duo of same-value cards are dealt, which can be split into different hands. Some online casinos may give you this benefit, but most land-based casinos might not.
More options are available with soft totals. Since the ace can count as a one or an 11, you can double down and hit a high card or a low card, forming your total that way. - To practice these tips, we recommend finding the best online casinos and jumping right into a DEMO game, which is a feature that many casinos offer. At EnergyCasino, you can play all sorts of games, including blackjack and poker games, and practice these tricks before jumping into the real deal.
HOW TO SIGNAL A DOUBLE DOWN
Now that you know when to opt for the double down blackjack bet and when to avoid it, you might be asking how to actually initiate the action. Players do not simply yell out commands but rather use hand signals to not only tell the dealer how they would like to play their round.
This method is also used to prevent any misunderstandings and used for surveillance purposes in case of a dispute. Compare the different hand signals used for each of the best-known bets:
- To hit – use your index finger to scratch the table.
- To stand – wave your hand over your cards.
- To double down – push a stack of chips next to your current wager and hold up one finger.
- To split – match your initial bet and hold up two fingers.
Your hand is complete for that round after signalling. When playing blackjack at online casinos, you are required to click the ‘HIT’, ‘STAND’, ‘DOUBLE DOWN’, and ‘SPLIT’ buttons on the screen.
PLAY BLACKJACK AT ENERGYCASINO
You can enjoy playing your favourite online blackjack table games for free at EnergyCasino! Make your way over to the ‘Casino’ tab and search for blackjack games or even any other casino games that suit your fancy, such as poker.
At this online casino, you’ll have an array of tables to choose from — all you have to do is hover over the thumbnail and click on ‘DEMO’ for money-free gameplay.
You can choose to fine-tune your hit, split and double down skills using virtual funds before jumping into the real deal at our Casino. You can also find other Live Casino games and demos, such as poker and other dealer shows, at this online casino.
Keep in mind that all wagers and winnings in demos are entirely virtual — no actual money will be credited to or deducted from your casino account balance. Demos are subject to availability based on the player’s jurisdiction and may require age verification before access can be granted.
⭐ Can you double down if you have a blackjack?
If you have a total of 21 on the initial two cards, you will immediately win unless the dealer has reached this total too. At this point, the blackjack hands tie, and there is no opportunity to double your bet.
⭐ What happens after you double down?
After you double your bet, you receive one extra card, and your hand is over. You must then wait to see what the dealer has to figure out your next move. Keep in mind that you will be unable to double down after hitting.
⭐ How do you win with double down?
To truly maximise your chances of winning with a blackjack double, the basic blackjack strategy says to use double when your cards total 9, 10, or 11 without an ace or if your cards total 16, 17, or 18 when you have an ace.
⭐ What is the difference between split and double down?
Some of the best-known bets in blackjack are the split and double down.
The former refers to having the same value for both the first and second cards and having the ability to split them into two separate hands, whereas the latter refers to doubling your stack of chips and receiving one more card.
⭐ Should you double down on 10?
If the dealer shows a high-value card, you may not want to go for a blackjack double as there is a real chance of them beating you to a better hand.
If they show a six or lower, doubling down in blackjack is a good option.
⭐ Should you double down on 11?
Yes, you should consider doubling down in blackjack on an 11 if the dealer is showing a lower card than a 10. This puts you in a strong position to get to 21.
⭐ Can you double down on 21?
Doubling down is not possible when you get 21
If your luck spans as far as hitting 21 with your card duo, you will immediately receive your payout, and you will be unable to do anything else with your hand.