Blackjack Double Down Bet – When And When Not To Play It
By its nature, the blackjack double down bet is an exciting wager to place. After all, it can double your initial bet. But conversely, playing it wrongly can have dire consequences for your gambling bankroll. So it’s important to understand the optimal opportunity to place this bet. You’ll need to understand basic blackjack strategy in order for the double down bet to work for you. Don’t do as many players do, and simply place the bet because they are only thinking of doubling their money.
The Blackjack Double Down Bet Explained
Of all the different moves available in the game of blackjack, the blackjack double down bet is probably considered to be the most exciting one. The main reason is that it’s probably the most profitable move you can make. As you can imagine, that makes it one of the most popular bets of this casino table game. But the key to playing it is to know when exactly to double down in blackjack. Today we thought we’d take a deeper dive into this blackjack move. To see both when you should play it, and equally importantly, when you should not.
What Does The Double Down Bet Mean in Blackjack?
In simple terms, you can double your bet during the middle of a hand. But if you choose to do this, then you should keep in mind that the blackjack double down rule means that once you take this bet, then you’re only able to receive one more card. Nevertheless, by taking the blackjack double down bet, you will increase your winning possibilities by up to 100%. So, though on the one hand, it’s a risky bet, It’s also about having confidence. Keep in mind, that if you’re dealt a low card, then you’ll not have the chance to hit again.
This means that you could lose the possibility of doubling your initial bet. It all boils down to knowing when to play this bet, as well as knowing when It’s going to be riskier. We should point out that there’s only one point in the game when you’re allowed to double down, but we’ll get to that later.
When to Double Down in Blackjack
If you’re looking at how to win at blackjack, then there are essentially just three situations that will offer you the ideal opportunity to make use of the blackjack double down bet.
Your Hand Scores 10 or 11
This means that after the first two cards have been dealt out to you, your scores are a hard 10 and 11. It’s important that the dealer’s card is lower, meaning that the odds are in your favour. This means that your cards could be a 2 and an 8, 2 and a 9, 3 and 7, 3 and 8, 4 and 6, 4 and 7, two 5’s, or 5 and 6.
In this scenario, you stand a very good chance of scoring 21. It makes sense to double down in this situation because there’s no way you can go bust. But the dealer, on the other hand, is always at a risk of going over 21. That’s because they have to keep hitting until they reach at least 17, according to the casino rules.
You Have a Hard 9
If once again, the dealer has a low card, then this gives you another good situation in which you can make use of the blackjack double down bet. Having a hard 9 simply means that your hand adds up to nine but does not include an ace. So your cards might be 2 and 7, 4 and 5, or 3 and 6.
Do keep in mind that using the double down bet in this situation might not go in your favour. Nevertheless, if you do decide to use the strategy, then you should be able to beat the dealer over a longer period of time.
When You Have a Soft 16, 17, or 18
As you’re probably well aware, a soft hand means that you have a card plus an ace. This means to say that your initial two cards can be an ace with either a 5, 6 or 7. Now if the dealer happens to have a low-value card, for example, a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, then this represents another great opportunity to make use of the double down bet. Of course, having a soft 18 already puts you in a good position. In this case, using a double down bet could make your position even better. That’s because if you use the blackjack double down bet, then you have the option to use the ace as either a 1 or an 11. All this points to the fact that you can improve your hand with the final card.
To become proficient in the use of this bet, try it out playing online. The best gambling site for blackjack is without a doubt, King Billy Casino. It offers an unparalleled playing experience, along with a $1,000 welcome bonus for all new players. You can look at this money as a chance for some free blackjack practice. As we previously mentioned, making use of the double down bet does not guarantee that you’re going to win every time. We suggest you think about finding a balance as to when you should play this. This also includes when you should refrain from its use.
When Not to Double Down in Blackjack
Knowing when to double down during the game of blackjack is one thing. But it’s equally important to know when it’s not a good idea. Here are the three main situations in which you should really avoid the blackjack double down a bet at all cost.
The Dealer Has an Ace
Okay, we’re the first to admit that this is a very obvious situation that you should, even as a beginner, know about. Common sense should tell you that if the dealer has an ace then he’s already in a good position to score 21. You should consider that the double down bet is really a vote of confidence in your hand. So if the dealer has an ace, they are already in a good position to score 21.
And even if the dealer has an ace and yet he doesn’t score 21, he still has the odds very much in his favour that he’ll score closer to 21 than you and win the bet. Remember that if you choose to double down in this situation, there’s a chance that you’ll lose twice the amount of your original wager.
Your Hand is Higher Than 11
If you happen to have a hand higher than 11, and it excludes a soft 16, 17 and 18, then you have a higher probability of going bust. In this situation, you should avoid using the double down bet. You’re going to be much better off either hitting or standing. And then hoping that the dealer will go bust himself. Simply put, if you don’t have confidence in your hand, then don’t double down. Just stick to your original bet and be safe.
When You Have 21
It’s simply not possible to double down when you have 21 in your hand. Obviously, if you could, then every time the player received 21 he would instantly double down. As a result, the casino would go bankrupt in no time at all. On the whole, if you receive the perfect hand then the dealer will automatically pay out your winnings. So the round will come to an end instantly.
Blackjack Double Down Betting Rules
When it comes to the blackjack double down bet there is only one point during the game in which you can make use of it. And that is directly after you’ve received your first two cards. You cannot hit before doubling down as obviously this would give you a huge edge over the house. The same rules apply if you decide to split. Another fact to keep in mind is that when you decide to double down. It’s that you’ll have to double your bet. You’ll then be able to receive just one more card. After this, you must stand, regardless of the value of the last card you received.
Many novice players make the mistake of assuming that they can still double down after they’ve been dealt numerous cards. This is just not possible. You must wait to see what the dealer has after you have received your 2 initial cards. So now you know that when it comes to dealing with the blackjack double down bet there are just two main rules to consider. One thing that’s important to note, is that the game of blackjack has no guarantees with it.
Though it’s true that you can shift the house odds ever so slightly into your favour by playing perfect blackjack strategy, there is still a huge element of luck involved in the game. We would suggest that the best time to double down is when you have a hand that has a value of 11. But having said that, there is no hard and fast rule of thumb, and every player will play differently.
Conclusion: The Blackjack Double Down Bet
The first thing to think about is to play smartly. In other words, don’t just make the blackjack double down a bet when you have a feeling in your gut. You’ll need to do it when you’re confident that it will be profitable for you based on logic. You might be surprised as to how many players around the blackjack table will use the double down bet without thinking it through. Notice how quickly their bankroll gets depleted. In some ways, we can understand the sentiment behind its regular use, because it’s a very exciting bet to make. But here at Blackjackchamp.com, we are more concerned about your bankroll lasting long enough for you to score some winnings. There’s no point in playing if you’re going to simply throw money away.
To try the bet with an online real live dealer, then head over to King Billy Casino. Their live dealer experience is second to none, and they have every blackjack variation you could ever wish for. Of course, there is no guaranteed way of winning at blackjack. Likewise, there is no secret blackjack winning tips. Just make sure you play with perfect strategy, and only make the blackjack double down a bet at the best possible opportunity. Then it will certainly help you on your journey to victory.
