How to Play Double Down in Blackjack?
As you are no doubt aware, blackjack pits the players against the dealer – they get their two hole cards, and then hit and stand their way as close to 21 as possible.
However, many variants of blackjack extend this traditional gameplay with side bets, with the ‘double down’ bet a particular favourite of players who like to introduce a touch of strategy to their gaming.
So, what is double down in blackjack? Below, we look at when to use it and how it could benefit your play.
What is double down in blackjack?
There’s a handful of extra bets available in blackjack beyond hitting (asking for another card) and standing (freezing your hand on its current score).
Splitting pairs is one such play, giving the player double the opportunity to beat the dealer. Doubling down is another – and it’s a strategy that, when deployed at the right time, can provide an excellent advantage.
As you know, at the start of a blackjack game you place your bet, before being handed two hole cards by the dealer. In the most basic of blackjack variants, you would now have the choice of hitting or standing.
However, in many other blackjack versions, you can split pairs or – most pertinently for this article – double down on your hand.
The blackjack double down play lets you add one more card to your hand, with the aim of increasing your score to as close to 21 as possible. You have to effectively ‘buy’ the card, with the amount charged the same as your pre-deal stake.
There are particular scenarios when doubling down is the percentage play, as well as other times when you should avoid it at all costs. We’ll reveal which is which over the course of the rest of this guide.
When should you play double down in blackjack?
Knowing when to double down in blackjack really can be an excellent weapon to have in your arsenal.
The art of doubling down is, in essence, considering the value of what an additional 10 points does to your score, in relation to the dealer’s upturned card. Why 10? Because this is the most common card in blackjack, when you consider the 10 as well as all of the picture cards in a deck.
Imagine that the value of your hole cards is 9. You know that by doubling down, there’s a chance that you will land a 10 and take your score to 19 – this might be considered a winning score by many, depending on what the dealer is showing as their upturned card.
In that spirit, some players will double down when the dealer’s card is anything from 2 to 6. Why? Because their full hand might be anything from 12 to 16, at which point hitting holds a major risk of busting.
You shouldn’t blindly double down – consider the possibilities of your hole cards, and what the dealer might be holding, before deciding to double down.
Remembering some of the scenarios detailed below may prove helpful.
When your card value is 11
This is arguably the golden opportunity to double down in blackjack.
As we’ve discussed, any consideration of doubling down should start by analysing what a 10-scoring card does to your hand – so, if your hole cards add up to 11, you stand an excellent chance of scoring an unassailable 21 (assuming that the dealer doesn’t have a natural blackjack).
Even if you double down and don’t get the 10-value card you’re hoping for, you may still get a 7, 8 or 9 – all valuable additions that will take your hand up to a solid total.
Holding a soft hand
A soft hand in blackjack is one that contains an ace, as they can be worth 1 or 11 points depending on how you want to play them – hence the name ‘soft’.
Soft hands can be useful when doubling down, particularly A6 (soft 7/17) or A7 (soft 8/18). Getting a 10 will take them up to a winnable score, while a low-value card will also help you to stand on a potentially winning combination.
The trick with soft 17 and 18 is to first examine the dealer’s upturned card. There’s not a great deal of value in doubling down if the dealer is in a potentially advantageous situation with a 7 or above showing.
However, if the dealer’s upturned card is between 3 and 6, the percentage play is to double down and take them on.
Holding a hard blackjack hand
With hard hands, there’s not a great deal of nuance – you know exactly where you stand.
Hard hands in the low teens are the worst nightmare of some blackjack players, knowing that hitting will likely see them bust.
But hard 9 or 10? This is an excellent position to double down from, as you’ll only need a high-scoring card (or ideally a 10 or an ace) to gain authority in the hand.
Again, you should consider the dealer’s upturned card, but only an ace or a 10 on show would be enough to put off most players from doubling down in this situation.
When not to place a double down bet
Knowing when to double down in blackjack is important, but knowing when not to is equally vital to preserving your bankroll.
If you’re in any doubt, don’t take the risk – after all, a loss will come at the cost of double your stake. And if any of the situations arise as below, you should certainly avoid being too hasty in doubling down on your hand.
An ace in the dealer’s hand
Clearly, an ace is the most dangerous card in blackjack – a potential shortcut to the best hand in the game.
If the dealer’s upturned card is an ace, there’s a chance that they have the unbeatable natural blackjack – and, even if not, a strong likelihood that they will be in a commanding position in the round.
Discretion is the better part of valour when the dealer has an ace – tread as carefully as you can in this situation.
Total of 11 or more
Most blackjack players use 11 as a cut-off point when considering whether to double down or not.
A hand in the region of 7 to 11 will not be upset should you double down and a 10 is dealt. Conversely, if your hand is 12+ and a 10 is your double down card – remember, this is the most likely outcome given the nature of a deck of cards – then you will bust and hand the house the easiest of victories.
Refusing to double down on hand scores of 12 or more is a sensible ploy.
Why should you double down in blackjack?
The definition of doubling down in any walk of life is to maximise your advantage – when you consider this notion from a blackjack perspective, you get a better sense of why you should double down on your cards.
By doing so, you can essentially double your potential payout for a win – and if you’re doubling down on the right combinations of cards, while being respectful of the dealer’s upturned card, then your win probability for that particular hand will increase exponentially.
Doubling down when you’re in the driving seat of a hand is key to adding leverage to your position – in the long run, these 2x wins are so important to negating the impact of a losing streak of hands.
Double down in blackjack FAQs
Should I double down in blackjack?
Doubling down in blackjack is almost a mechanical process – there are situations in which you should double down, while other times you absolutely shouldn’t double down. Learning each of these scenarios, before committing them to memory, will help you to maximise your most advantageous positions, while ensuring that you don’t make costly mistakes when the dealer is in the box seat.
What are the different hands in which I should double down?
As a general rule, you should double down when you have a hard 9 or 10 hand, when you have a soft 17 or 18, or when your hand equals 11 either hard or soft. You should avoid doubling down when the dealer has an ace showing, or your own hand value is 12 or higher. If you’re in any doubt, don’t double down – your only outcome might be to double your loss.
Is there a specific strategy to follow when doubling down?
It’s essential that you only double down when doing so enhances an already strong position – if you’re holding a weak hand, doubling down will only likely serve to double your subsequent loss.