Blackjack When To Double

Basic blackjack strategy charts can help make it easy to learn the basics of when to hit, when to stand, when to double down and when to split pairs in any situation. Basic blackjack strategy charts are tables that list possible hand values on one axis and possible dealer upcard values on the other axis. Non-controlling players may double their wager or decline to do so, but they are bound by the controlling player's decision to take only one card. Signal: Place additional chips beside the original bet outside the betting box, and point with one finger. Blackjack pays 3:2; Blackjack pays 6:5 – this is typical for a double deck or single deck blackjack game. 6) Can you re-split your hands and if so, how many times? You are always allowed to split your cards the first time, but if you are then dealt the same card again, can you split your cards again? Aug 18, 2020 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.

1. Blackjack Double Strategy
2. Blackjack Double Down
3. Free Blackjack Games For Fun
4. Blackjack When To Double

It's been a little over 60 years since they figured out the optimal strategy for Blackjack. A group of statisticians wrote a paper in 1956, and that paper's findings were verified in Edward O. Thorp's 1962 book Beat the Dealer. Now, millions of Blackjack players around the world are learning these strategies, including the option to double down. This is when you double your wager and receive one single card; if you haven't gone bust after receiving this card, you stand with whatever you've got.

If you're not familiar with doubling down, or you're still learning the basic strategy, Single Deck Blackjack is the right game to start with. Bovada just introduced a modern version of this game to go alongside the Classic version; try out the following strategies, and you'll be one step closer to playing perfect Blackjack. At Bovada, you can double any two cards when you play Single Deck Blackjack, and the Dealer must hit on Soft 17.

What Is Double Down in Blackjack?

You can double down after you're dealt your two hole cards, which means you have the option to double your bet and receive exactly one more card. Then, if you haven't gone bust already, the Dealer plays, and the winning hand is declared. If you're playing at a live casino, take however many chips you need to match your original bet, and place them nearby – but outside the betting box. Then use your index finger to point at the doubled bet. Figuring out how to double down at Bovada is much easier: Just hit the 'Double' button. No hand signals required.

Blackjack Double Down Rules

In both Single Deck Blackjack variants at Bovada, you're allowed to double on any two cards you're dealt – and you can double down after a split. Some live casinos will not allow you to double after you've split your hole cards. You might also find games where you're allowed to double after receiving a third card or more.
When to Double Down
This is where the rubber hits the road. As always in Blackjack, the correct double down strategy will depend on how many decks are in the shoe, and the specific rules for the game you're playing. Let's take a closer look at the Single Deck Blackjack games available at Bovada, and how to double down in these games for maximum value. In both the Classic and New versions, the dealer must hit on soft 17, which caters to the following strategies when you're dealt the following hole cards:

Hard Hands (No Pair)

If you have 11 in your hand (say, Seven-Four), you should always double, hoping to spike that 10-value card to make 21. Otherwise, follow this guide:

10: Double when Dealer shows a Nine or lower

9: Double when Dealer shows a Six or lower

Blackjack Double Strategy

8: Double when Dealer shows a Five or a Six

Soft Hands

With hands containing an Ace, you'll occasionally double when the Dealer shows a low card (Six or lower). Free slot games real money. If you're holding Ace-Six, always double against a low card. Here are the other times to double:

Blackjack Double Down

Gowild casino review. 19: Double when Dealer shows a Six

18: Double when Dealer shows a Three, Four, Five or Six

13, 14, 15, 16: Double when Dealer shows a Four, Five or Six

Pairs

Free Blackjack Games For Fun

Microsoft outlook for mac version 15 33. In Single Deck Blackjack games where you're allowed to double after splitting, like the ones at Bovada, there's only one pair you should double first: a pair of Fives. This should only be done when the Dealer's up-card is a Nine or lower, just like you would with any other hand worth 10. If you have a pair of Fours, split instead when the Dealer shows a Four as well as a Five or Six, and hit otherwise.

Simplified Doubling Strategies

The doubling plays listed above are mathematically proven to maximize your return playing Single Deck Blackjack at Bovada. They're part of what's known as the basic Blackjack strategy – although that's a bit of a misnomer. Learning all the subtle differences between these optimal moves can take some time. When you're just starting out, you might want to consider using a simplified Blackjack strategy that's easier to remember, so you'll make fewer mistakes trying to implement it. There will be a few plays that you'll make sub-optimally with a simplified strategy, but only a few.

Blackjack When To Double

Here's one recommended simplified strategy for doubling down in Single Deck Blackjack:

1. Double with Hard 9 or Soft 16-18 if the Dealer shows a low card (2-6).
2. Double with Hard 10 or 11, unless you have 10 and the Dealer shows a 10 or Ace.

That's it. Again, using this simplified double down strategy will leave a little money on the table, but it should protect you from even greater losses while you're still learning the game. The Blackjack double down may appear risky in the end, but in very specific situations, it's the best play to make – and you should learn all these situations if you want to get the most out your Blackjack sessions. Memorize them, try them for free using the Practice Play mode at Bovada, and you'll be one step closer towards 'Blackjack Expert' status.

9: Double when Dealer shows a Six or lower

Blackjack Double Strategy

8: Double when Dealer shows a Five or a Six

Soft Hands

With hands containing an Ace, you'll occasionally double when the Dealer shows a low card (Six or lower). Free slot games real money. If you're holding Ace-Six, always double against a low card. Here are the other times to double:

Blackjack Double Down

Gowild casino review. 19: Double when Dealer shows a Six

18: Double when Dealer shows a Three, Four, Five or Six

13, 14, 15, 16: Double when Dealer shows a Four, Five or Six

Pairs

Free Blackjack Games For Fun

Microsoft outlook for mac version 15 33. In Single Deck Blackjack games where you're allowed to double after splitting, like the ones at Bovada, there's only one pair you should double first: a pair of Fives. This should only be done when the Dealer's up-card is a Nine or lower, just like you would with any other hand worth 10. If you have a pair of Fours, split instead when the Dealer shows a Four as well as a Five or Six, and hit otherwise.

Simplified Doubling Strategies

The doubling plays listed above are mathematically proven to maximize your return playing Single Deck Blackjack at Bovada. They're part of what's known as the basic Blackjack strategy – although that's a bit of a misnomer. Learning all the subtle differences between these optimal moves can take some time. When you're just starting out, you might want to consider using a simplified Blackjack strategy that's easier to remember, so you'll make fewer mistakes trying to implement it. There will be a few plays that you'll make sub-optimally with a simplified strategy, but only a few.

Blackjack When To Double

Here's one recommended simplified strategy for doubling down in Single Deck Blackjack:

1. Double with Hard 9 or Soft 16-18 if the Dealer shows a low card (2-6).
2. Double with Hard 10 or 11, unless you have 10 and the Dealer shows a 10 or Ace.

That's it. Again, using this simplified double down strategy will leave a little money on the table, but it should protect you from even greater losses while you're still learning the game. The Blackjack double down may appear risky in the end, but in very specific situations, it's the best play to make – and you should learn all these situations if you want to get the most out your Blackjack sessions. Memorize them, try them for free using the Practice Play mode at Bovada, and you'll be one step closer towards 'Blackjack Expert' status.

• Appendices
• Miscellaneous
• External Links

Introduction

Rule variations will have an effect on the player's expected return. The numbers below show the effect on the player's return under various rules and after taking into consideration proper basic strategy adjustments. These changes are relative to the following rules: eight decks, dealer stands on soft 17, player may double on anyfirst two cards, player can double after splitting, playermay split to 4 hands.

Blackjack Rule Variations

Notes

1. A 'Charlie' is an automatic winner. For example the five-card Charlie rule means the player automatically wins with 5 cards, as long as he didn't bust.
2. Dealer does not peek for blackjack with an ace up. If dealer has a ace-up blackjack, player loses all bets made, including from doubling and splitting. A 10-up blackjack will be revealed immediately after peeking, and the player will lose only his original wager, except a blackjack tie will push.
3. BB+1 refers to an Australian rule, in which the player will lose all busted bets, plus one unit, if the dealer gets a blackjack. For example, if the player splits 8's to three hands of a 20, (doubled) 19, and a busted hand, and the dealer get a blackjack, then the player will lose 2 units, one for the busted hand, and one from the remaining 3 units on the table. There is a great deal of confusion for the term for his rule, some sources calling it 'OBBO,' for Original and Busted Bets Only.
4. OBBO stands for Original Bets and Busted Only. 'Original Bets' means each original bet per hand. So, if the player bet $5 and split to three hands, he would have three original bets of $5 each. As far as I know, the OBBO rule is confined to some parts of Australia and Malaysia. In the example above, the player would lose 3 units under this rule, one for the busted hand and two for the number of unbusted hands. The term is discussed in depth in the bookThe Pro's Guide to Spanish 21 and Australian Pontoon by Katarina Walker.
5. This strange rule is actually followed in Pennsylvania, on Shufflemaster TMS-300 video multi-player blackjack games. State law prohibits one player taking the cards of another player. The way they implement this rule is to give every player, and the dealer, a separate shoe. The dealer plays out his hand first, secretly, and the results stored in memory. Then the cards used by the dealer are removed for each player shoe. When all players have finished acting, the game shows what cards the dealer drew already. According to Shufflemaster, the effect of this rule is 0.02% in favor of the dealer. Shufflemaster wishes to add this rule is part of a patent-pending technology.
6. Dealer does not peek for blackjack with a 10 up. If dealer has a 10-up blackjack, player loses all bets made, including from doubling and splitting. An ace-up blackjack will be revealed immediately after peeking, and the player will lose only his original wager, except a blackjack tie will push.
7. Dealer does not take a hole card, or never peeks at it if he does. If the dealer has a blackjack, then player loses all bets made, including from doubling and splitting, except a blackjack tie will push. The cost of this rule to the player is 0.08% when doubling, and 0.03% when splitting. This breakdown is important in the case of Galaxy casinos in Macau, where the player only loses the original bet when doubling, but everything when splitting, if the dealer gets a blackjack.
8. The push on a dealer 22 rule is a legally protected rule. The rights belong to the owner of Blackjack Switch.
9. This rule can be found at the Pharaoh's Palace in Macau. The player may invoke the rule before the dealer checks for blackjack. The effect shown is based on the dealer not taking a hole card.