What Does Double Down in Blackjack Mean? Learn the Basics Here

Double Your Thrills! Crack the Code to Blackjack’s Double Down

Beyond Basic Hits

There is nothing more thrilling than a double down in blackjack, but you might be asking what does double down in blackjack mean?

I look at the best strategies for doubling down in blackjack, and why it’s important to pick the right spots to do it.

What Does Doubling Down in Blackjack Mean?

Double down blackjack is an important part of the game, and it not only adds excitement to the hand, but when played correctly, it gives players a slight edge.

A double down is when you double your initial bet and receive only one card. Players typically only double down in favorable positions when a dealer has a weak holding card, and this is because players want to take advantage of +ev spots.

Blackjack is considered a 50/50 game against the dealer, but there can be rules that favor the dealer. Therefore, knowing when to double down in blackjack is important for evening out the playing field.

Once you double down, if your initial bet was $20, you will now have $40 on the hand. The player receives one card and they don’t get a choice to hit or stand. It comes with risk, but it also comes with potentially double the reward.

Card counters use it to their advantage, and doubling down at the right times is imperative when blackjack card counting.

When Should I Double Down in Blackjack?

There are good and bad times to double down, and there are also times when it’s considered as a players decision.

If you are dealt a 10 or 11, and the dealer has 9 or less, it’s a double. The chances of pulling a picture card or 10 are good, and the player can take advantage. However, if the dealer has a 7 or above, it’s always more of a risk for the player.

You could finish your hand with only 12, and the dealer only needs to pull one card to make a 17 or better. There is more risk involved with doubling down when the dealer doesn’t have a bust card, so the best time to take advantage is when the dealer has 6 or lower.

If the dealer has 5 or 6 showing I don’t mind doubling down with 8 to 11. The maximum hand you can have when doubling 8 is a 19 if you pull an ace, but the dealer is more likely to bust when showing a 5 or 6. It’s an advantage play for the player, but if you want to tighten things up, only double on 10 or 11 when the dealer has a card under 7.

Can I Double on a Split?

What is split in blackjack? It’s when you have a pair or two picture cards and you choose to split them into two separate hands. It costs you double your original bet, but the payoff can be worth it.

We recommend splitting aces regardless of what the dealer is showing. We don’t recommend splitting a made 20, as you should take advantage of holding a 20 against the dealer.

If the dealer has 6 or below, we recommend splitting 8s or lower. A 16 isn’t a great hand, so players might as well split the hand to try and get better than a 16 with both hands. It’s a good strategy, and it can involve double down blackjack.

At some casinos, you can double down on your split hand. It’s not available at all online casinos, and it depends on the provider, but doubling on a split should be allowed. It’s more common at land-based casinos.

Doubling on a split can result in players spending much more than their original hand, but the payoff could be big.