There aren’t that many moves in blackjack, so knowing the best time to utilize each one is paramount to developing sound blackjack strategies. In this guide, we focus on how and when to double down in blackjack. This power move is akin to going all in when playing poker. Once you understand the best times to use it, your online blackjack game will evolve to pro level.
Understanding Double Down in Blackjack
Every blackjack strategy chart shows the best move to make for every scenario; these scenarios compare the cards in your hand and the dealer’s up-card. Every combination has a move that is mathematically optimal for winning the round.
Furthermore, blackjack rules and strategies also play a role. As you’ll see in this guide, when you play versions with certain rules, it shifts the strategy.
What Does Doubling Down Mean?
When you double down in blackjack, you’re doubling your bet and requesting one final card. The classic double down scenario is getting dealt a hard 11 (for example: a Nine and Two); the odds of landing a 10-value card are roughly 30% (increases slightly if the dealer doesn’t have one as their up-card).
The odds are high enough to warrant doubling your bet and requesting one more card. At that point, you must stand.
How Doubling Down Works
When you play blackjack in our casino, doubling down is as simple as pressing a button. Locate the “Double” button and the software doubles your original bet and deals you a third card automatically. If you win, you get a 1-to-1 payout based on your doubled bet.
Almost all of our blackjack games let you double on any two cards. One exception is with European Blackjack, which allows doubling on hard totals of 9 to 11 only. Always check the game rules to see if there are restrictions around doubling.
Why Doubling Down is a Powerful Strategy
If you double down at the right time, you’ll have more success at the blackjack tables. Being able to double down on any two cards improves your expected return by 0.23%. Every percentage point matters when it comes to boosting your winnings playing blackjack.
When Should You Double Down in Blackjack?
Now that we’ve established that doubling down is one of the best blackjack moves in the game, we’ll discuss when to double down. In blackjack, you’re always aiming to beat the dealer without going over 21 points. In the following three scenarios, your odds of pulling this off when being dealt one more card are good enough to double your bet.
Double Down on a Hard 9 Against Dealer’s Weak Cards
Before you go doubling down on a hard 9, check the dealer’s up-card. You should only go forward with the double when the dealer has a good chance of busting; a Three, Four, Five and Six are all dealer “bust” cards. Otherwise, you’re better off hitting.
Double Down on 10 or 11 for Maximum Wins
The top candidate for doubling is a score of 11. Double on an 11 regardless of what the dealer has. The second-best score for doubling is a 10, which you should double with against anything except a dealer 10 or Ace.
Doubling Down on Soft Hands
Soft hands come with different considerations than hard scores. When you have a soft 13 or 14, you should double only when the dealer has the absolute highest chance of busting (Five and Six up-card).
With soft scores of 15 and 16, you can also double when the dealer shows a Four in addition to the Five and Six. Expand that range further to include a Three as a dealer up-card when you’ve got a soft score of 17, and even further to include a Two as an up-card when you’ve got a soft score of 18.
When Not to Double Down in Blackjack
Remember when we said that rule variations can impact the scenarios that you should double in? The suggestions above are for four-to-eight deck variants of blackjack where the dealer hits on soft 17. If you’re playing a version where the dealer stands on soft 17, such as with our Double Deck Blackjack, you shouldn’t be doubling on a hard 11 when the dealer has an Ace as an up-card. It’s better to hit instead.
Blackjack Strategies That Complement Doubling Down
Since doubling down is just one component of basic blackjack strategy, it’s important to consider it in relation to the other available moves. We’ll briefly touch on splitting in blackjack, using the surrender option, and taking insurance on top of the main hit and stand options. Knowing how these moves intersect will improve your blackjack betting strategies.
Splitting Pairs in Blackjack – When and Why to Do It
Splitting a pair is an option every time you’re dealt two cards of the same rank (all 10-value cards are considered the “same” rank in blackjack). Any time you can bump a weak score to a competitive one by splitting, you should. Think of a pair of Eights going from a score of 16 to possibly two scores of 18. That’s a good upgrade.
Surrender – When Folding is the Best Move
Some hands just aren’t worth chasing. For those, there’s a surrender option. Take back half of your bet and forfeit the round whenever you have:
– A score of 16 against a dealer Nine, Ten or Ace
– A score of 15 against a dealer Ten or Ace
– A score of 17 against a dealer Ace
Blackjack Insurance Bet – A Smart Move or a Bad Decision?
There’s nothing worse in blackjack than seeing the dealer flip an Ace as their up-card. There’s a good chance that they have Blackjack—an automatic win. Before they peek, you have a chance to get insurance; this side bet ensures you get your money back if they do have Blackjack.
Most blackjack aficionados avoid taking this bet. It won’t win enough to warrant the modest payout.
Hit or Stand in Blackjack – How Basic Strategy Guides Your Decisions
We talked a lot about doubling down in blackjack, but most of the time you’ll hit or stand. Just like the dealer, you’ll aim for a score of at least 17; what to do when you have less than that will depend on the dealer’s up-card. If the dealer is in bust territory, lean on stand, and vice versa.
House Edge and Doubling Down
Being able to double down on any two cards decreases the blackjack house edge by 0.23%, so it’s an important tool for developing blackjack players. The only way to optimize your blackjack payout odds is by utilizing the double down option when basic strategy advises.
How House Edge Affects Your Blackjack Strategy
There’s no eliminating house edge in casino games, but most shrewd players aim to minimize it with strategy. By simply following a blackjack basic strategy chart that reflects the rules of the game you’re playing, you’ll bring down the house edge to less than 1%.
How Doubling Down Can Work in Your Favour
Basic blackjack strategy advises doubling down every time you have a score of 11, most of the time with a score of 10, and some of the time with a score of 9. By doing so, you boost your payout when the odds of winning are greatest.
Card Counting and its Impact on Doubling Down
Card counting in blackjack is part of the more advanced blackjack strategies and is really only possible in bricks-and-mortar casinos that don’t use automated shufflers after every round. This technique involves keeping a running count that tells you how rich a shoe is in 10-value cards. If it’s not, card counters typically hold back on the double down, or even take a break from the game.
Can Card Counting Help You Win More with Doubling Down?
Keeping a running count of a shoe is the crux of card counting, and it can definitely help you win more in blackjack. Having that extra insight on how rich a shoe is with 10-value cards can lead you to go off course from the strategy chart and double down when basic strategy says to hit or stand.
Card Counting Tips for Beginners and Experts
With card counting, each card is assigned a value of +1, 0, or -1. As the cards go by, you add or subtract and establish a running count of the shoe that will tell you if the rest of the cards are high or low. High (Tens and Aces) is beneficial for the blackjack player, while low cards are beneficial to the house.
While there’s nothing illegal about counting cards, casinos have the right to shuffle the deck if they think you’re doing it, or refuse service.
Online Blackjack vs. Live Blackjack – Does Strategy Change?
We all know that the best online blackjack casinos in Canada start and end at Bodog. We have 16 online blackjack games plus a suite of Live Dealer options. If you’ve been wondering what the Live Dealer blackjack vs. online blackjack comparison is all about, we recommend you try both. The strategy doesn’t change; simply use the chart that reflects the rules of the game you’re playing.
The Key Differences Between Online and Live Blackjack
Online blackjack is best suited for people who are learning to play, or simply enjoy going at their own pace. There’s no pressure to keep up with other players or a dealer, making online blackjack a more relaxing option.
That pace may feel too slow for some. With Live Dealer blackjack, you move with the action of a table, keeping pace with those around you and the dealer.
Doubling Down in Online vs. Live Blackjack
Whether you’re playing online blackjack or Live Dealer blackjack, the strategy is the same. Double down when you have an 11, and also a 10 unless the dealer has a 10 or Ace up-card. When you play Live Dealer Early Payout Blackjack, visual prompts guide you to the optimal decision based on basic blackjack strategy—the perfect training wheels for beginners.
Advanced Blackjack Tips for Winning More Often
After mastering the basics, you can start to fine tune your blackjack betting strategies by memorizing the subtle differences between the dealer hitting vs standing on soft 17. As far as doubling goes, you should only double down on an 11 vs a dealer Ace when the dealer hits on soft 17. Memorize the differences and you’ll really know how to win at blackjack, regardless of the version you’re playing.
Managing Your Bankroll Like a Pro
You can’t learn how to win at blackjack without properly managing your bankroll. Even more significant than all of the above-mentioned blackjack betting strategies, bankroll management will keep you in the game longer and ensure you’re having a good time. Always divide your bankroll into equal betting units, bet one per round, and leave the session when you’ve reached the end of your units regardless of if you’re ahead or behind.
Using a Basic Strategy Chart for Perfect Play
No need to memorize everything mentioned in this guide; blackjack strategy charts take the guesswork out of building your basic blackjack strategy. These are available online and show what move to make based on your score and the dealer’s up-card.
Choosing the Best Blackjack Variants for Lower House Edge
The more you play blackjack, the more you’ll recognize player friendly rules vs house friendly rules. One of the easier ones to remember is in the number of decks in the shoe. When all else is equal, fewer decks in a shoe means better odds for the player. If all the other rules are the same, Single Deck Blackjack could offer as low as 0.464% house edge, while its six-deck counterpart could go as low as 0.618%.
Keep in mind there are slight differences based on single deck vs. multi-deck blackjack strategies. Always pick the chart that accurately reflects the rules of the game you’re playing.
Practicing Online Before Playing for Real Money
The best online blackjack casinos in Canada offer a way to practice before you play with real money. That’s what you’ll find in our casino; launch a session in Practice Play mode to get your feet wet before depositing funds and playing for keeps.
Making the Most of Your Double Down Opportunities
Now that you know how important it is to double down at key times in blackjack, you can test it out risk free in our online casino. Beginners can simply play alongside a basic strategy chart and see how it impacts winnings. Once you learn and implement this approach, you won’t go back to following your gut instinct. Doubling down isn’t the only player in town when it comes to blackjack strategies. Learn all about playing aces in blackjack and more at Bodog Casino.