The double down play should be one of the favorite plays of any blackjack player. Unfortunately this particular play isn’t used as often as it should be. So we’re going to take a look at why players tend to shy away from it and why they shouldn’t.
Doubling down in blackjack is most advantageous when you have one of the following hands versus these dealer up cards:
Hard 9 versus 3-6
Hard 10 versus 2-9
Hard 11 versus 2-10
Ace/2 versus 5, 6
Ace/3 versus 5, 6
Ace/4 versus 4-6
Ace/5 versus 4-6
Ace/6 versus 3-6
Ace/7 versus 3-6
5/5 versus 2-9
The biggest downside to doubling down in blackjack is that you have to bet more. To get the most for your money with this play you need to double the amount of your original wager. And this idea makes a good number of blackjack players squeamish. I’m not sure why. This is gambling. You already have money on the line. So why be squeamish about doubling the amount of your wager.
It’s in the wording, how you think of it! Let’s say you’re playing at a $25 table. You make the $25 bet and you are dealt an 11 versus a dealer up card of 7. This is one of those hands where it’s most advantageous to double down.
But you’re hesitant because you have to put down another $25. Well guess what—you’re going to have to put that $25 down on another hand. You’re going to gamble on it anyway. So why not take that second $25 and put it towards a hand with a shot at winning? You know doubling down on an 11 versus a 7 is advantageous; you have no idea what you’re going to be dealt next.
The thing that makes blackjack players hesitant to double down is that one word ‘double.’ It’s that word that makes players squeamish. Oh no, they have to put out another wager!
But why should you not take advantage of a hand that’s got a good shot at beating the dealer?
After all if you are in the position to double down and beat the dealer on what started as a $25, you will be paid $100. If you didn’t double down and won you would only be paid $50. Which amount would you rather have?
What a blackjack player has to do is stop thinking of doubling down as having to put more money on the line, and start getting excited about the opportunity to win more of the casino’s money. Will you win on a double down every time? No. But if you do then you’ll win more. It’s a gamble. But then blackjack as a game is a gamble so stop being afraid of doubling down and do it.
Tags: Basic Strategy, Blackjack, Blackjack basic strategy, Blackjack Odds, Blackjack strategy, Double Down, Online Blackjack