When to Double Down in Blackjack-Bitcoin Blackjack Strategy

Posted by Crystal Reese on November 30th, 2020

When to Double Down in Blackjack-Bitcoin Blackjack Strategy

In this article, we will discuss the following points:

  • What does it mean to double down in blackjack?

  • When double down is the best move according to the basic strategy

  • Double down cheat sheet for both single deck and multi deck blackjack games.

Blackjack players often make the biggest mistake, which is not following the basic strategy. The second biggest mistake is playing games when you cannot double down.  The second biggest mistake is playing games when you cannot double down or ignore doubling down even when it's an available option.



Double down is one of the best moves that you can make at the game of blackjack. If used right, you have a lower house edge, and you can get the best odds to beat the house. 

Blackjack double down explained

Blackjack can be easily played by only hitting and standing every single hand. The rules of the game don't require you to do anything else. Double down is an extra move or an additional bet that you can make. So what exactly does it mean to double down in blackjack?

  • When you double down, three things happen:

  • You double your bet for the round

  • You draw one card

  • You automatically stand after (you lose the option to hit again)

Here is a mental example: you get a five and a 6 (11- value)while the dealer has a seven as their free card. You can either hit stand or double down; obviously, you don't stand. That would make you lose your bet for no reason at all. There's no card yet that could make you go bust (go over 21). If you hit and get a ten-value -hand, you'll have a 21-second best hand after the natural blackjack. If your initial bet was £1, you win £2 (payout 1 to 1, classic bet back)

If you double down, your original bet increases to 2 pounds, and you'll win 4 pounds (payout 1 to 1) plus your bet back.

It may not seem like a significant difference, but it is a double win after all. It is a risky move to make, but it is worth it. As quickly as you got that ten-value hand, you could have gotten a lousy card with no value, for example, at two at 3 or 4. You'd have only a 15 value or lower hand and no chance to improve it, but after you double down, you cannot hit anymore. It is enough to realize double-down is not a move that should be making every single hand. With only a handful of times when it should be used, and they are all explained below:

When you need to double down

Blackjack strategy tells you when is the best time to hit, stand, split, or doubledown. You need to know when to double down in Blackjack.

It's based on statistical probability

The dealer shows one card face up, and you know your cards, and it's enough to calculate the best move you can make to have the best odds at winning.

The part that's highly overlooked by many blackjack players is to use double down correctly, and they'll be playing blackjack better than the majority of casino players.

When multiple decks of cards are used

Most casinos, both online and brick-and-mortar ones, use multiple decks of cards at the same time. If that's the case, this blackjack strategy for doubling down comes in handy.

When you have a hard 9,10 or 11

  • Double down when you have a hard-line, and the dealer shows a 3,4,5 or 6

  • Double down when you have a hard time, and the dealer shows are 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 or 9

  • Double down when you have a hard 11, and the dealer shows are 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 or 10

When you have a hard hand of values from 9 to 10, you have relatively good odds of landing a 10- value hand. If that happens, you have one of the strongest hands out there-value from 19 to 21. You always are the best when the dealer has a weak hand, for example, up to a 6- value. It is your chance to double your bet and wait to see how it plays out.

When you have a soft 13 or 14

  • Double down when you have a soft 13, and the dealer shows a 5 or 6

  • Double down when you have a soft 14, and the dealer shows a five or six.

When your hand has that can be treated both as 10 11, you have a soft hand. It opens more possibilities to double down. When the hand is a soft 13 or 14, and the dealer shows a five or six that you cue. Double down, sit back, and see if the blackjack math is in your favor. However, you can double down only on your first two cards, only if you have a 9 to 11-value hard hand, or it's not possible to double down after you split.

The moral of these blackjack stories is similar to the moral of most blackjack stories. It would be best if you always stuck with the basic strategy. In case you decide to deviate from the basic strategy, you might be okay in the short-term, but in the long run, deviating does one of two things every time, such as:

  • Increasing the amount you lose over time when playing a specific hand a specific way

  • Decreasing the amount you win over time when playing a specific hand in a specific way.

Card counting is beyond this article's scope, except this relates to the doubling down for fewer moves, but you can never double down for less no matter what the count was. Does it make sense to double-down for less if you don't have enough of a bankroll to double down? For example, if you're playing for 0 on that hand, but you only have left on the table, in that case, then yes, doubling down for less would be the most appropriate move. But if you only have 0 on the table, you shouldn't bet 0 of it on a single hand of blackjack. You better off betting per hand so that you could make the correct fundamental strategic decisions.

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Crystal Reese

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Crystal Reese
Joined: October 1st, 2020
Articles Posted: 2

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