Doubling Down – When to, when not to
“So I looked the dealer right in the eye and said: ‘I’m gonna’ double down!’”
Sounds like a neat thing to do at the Blackjack table, doesn’t it? But make no mistake; Doubling Down is a lot more than a cool-sounding phrase – it’s a valid, very necessary play if you want to be successful at Blackjack. In fact, almost all winning players will utilize this play liberally, as it allows one to really capitalize on a hand they think is good.
Basically, Doubling Down is done after you get your first two cards. Instead of just taking a hit, players instead “double down” – they double their bet, and take one more (and only one more) card. Basically, when you double down, you are making it clear that you feel you can win this hand, and that you are out to win some money.
What are the advantages of doubling down? Well, it doubles your bet – you think you are going to win the hand anyway, so why not put your money up? Doubling the bet doubles the profit (please note – some casinos will allow you to bet “up to” your original bet, meaning you can “double for less”. But most places won’t – doubling down usually means to double your original bet.)
And remember, you only get one more card – so keep that in mind too – doubling is not smart if you think you will need more than one more card to win.
Ok, now that we know what it is, let’s look at when (and when not) to do it.
When to Double Down:
Essentially, doubling down is usually a “I think the dealer will bust” play. And it’s also a “I can take another card without busting” play. Let’s say, for example, that you get 2 cards that total less than 11. Or one of your cards is an Ace, which in Blackjack is the equivalent of a “1” or “11”. Either of these situations means you can take at least one more card risk free (mathematically, you cannot bust.) In this case, if the dealer up card is in the 3 through 6 range, the odds are more likely that the dealer will bust. You should double down, then. In fact, some will tell you to double down almost anytime you can take a hit AND you think the dealer will bust.
When not to Double Down:
Obviously, do not double down when you have more than 11, because you may very well bust. Also, do not double down when the dealer is showing a strong hand. For example, let’s say the dealer is showing a 10. In this scenario, odds are more favorable that the dealer will have a 20 total. Not exactly “Blackjack” country, but close enough. If you aren’t certain that you can beat a twenty (and you won’t be unless you are seriously counting cards), it’s your funeral. Essentially, you will end up losing twice the money.
Doubling down adds a certain excitement factor to Blackjack, especially when it comes to dealing with larger amounts of money. Remember that when attempting a more aggressive move, the consequences become higher (they don’t refer to it as “gambling” for nothing, after all). But if you feel confident in backing a strong blackjack hand, the rewards are can be that much better. Good luck!
