Knowing When to Double Down

On 06.29.11, In Blackjack Tips, By Vivi

Do you know all of the times when it is opportune to double down in blackjack? I know most players, including novices, know that a hard 10 and a hard 11 can be doubled down on in most cases, but doubling down options do not end with hard 10 and hard 11.

While not every variation of blackjack allows for doubling down on hands other than a hard 10 or hard 11, there are other variations with more expansive double down options. For example did you know that there are 18 hands soft hands that have better odds when doubling down than if you were to only hit or stand? There are also 8 pairs whose odds are better as a double down than splitting.

Considering that doubling down can increase your blackjack odds by 1.6%, it pays to know when the best times to double down are—all of your options. It also pays to find the blackjack games which offer few or no restrictions on when a player can double down.

But as for knowing the best times to double down, blackjack players can find that on any basic strategy chart. This is an easy—not to mention free—way of knowing what play to make when. Think of it as an easy to use blackjack strategy tool. Basic strategy can be used in land casinos and in online casinos without fear of being busted and tossed out of the casino or banned from playing. Despite the fact that playing perfect basic strategy can lower the house edge to 0.5%, casinos do not fear it. So print a copy of the chart and take it with you on your next visit to a land casino; or pull it up in another window when playing blackjack online.

With an increase of 1.6% to your blackjack odds, knowing all of the times when it is best double down pays off.

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Why Double Down is Worth the Risk

On 03.31.11, In Blackjack Strategy, By Vivi

Often times in blackjack, players—especially novice players—have a hard time making the move to double down. In blackjack that is one of the best moves a player could make.

Doubling down in blackjack is when the player puts forth more chips in order to double the amount of the original wager. For example, if you were playing blackjack at $10 per hand and wanted to double down, you would have to put out another $10 so that your total wager is $20. Once the doubling of the original wager is complete, the player receives one more card from the dealer at which point the player must stand.

Because you can only receive one more card and because you are doubling your wager, it makes sense not to double down on every turn or even every other turn. There is a certain risky feeling to this play in blackjack, which is why many players tend to ignore the play.

They understand that there are opportune times to double down but because they are only receiving one card, it is somewhat hard to determine when the best times to double down are. The best rule of thumb is when you have a hard 9, 10 or 11. Generally speaking, most casinos will only let you double down on a 10 or 11 anyway. However, if the dealer has a 10 or an 11 when you have a hard 10, or an 11 when you have a hard 11, do not double down.

If you want an even easier way to know when the best times to double down are, use basic strategy. That chart will tell you when the most opportune times are making it easier to take the risk to double down in blackjack.

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Double Down for Your Odds, Hmm?

On 12.28.10, In Blackjack Strategy, By Vivi

Most definitely! I know that doubling down ahs the extra risky feeling, but if you are doubling down at opportune times then you know that the statistics are on your side, and that you have a decent shot of making that double down successful.

Doubling down at opportune times actually increases your blackjack odds, both in online blackjack and in casino blackjack. The play—how it is executed and how it actually works—is the same no matter which format you are playing in.

Yes, doubling down does carry an increased risk, after all you are doubling your wager. But think of the doubled amount in winnings that you will receive if your double down is successful.

Doubling down is not a scary move meant to be intimidating. It is one of the plays built in to the game that is there to help players…that is if they know how to use it. And that is the trick isn’t it.

Actually it is a remarkably easy trick to overcome in all actuality. The key to knowing when it the opportune times to double down are can be found on a basic strategy chart. That nifty little chart will tell you the best times to double down. The majority of them will come when you have a hard 10 or hard 11. Not all, mind you, but most.

One rule of thumb though for doubling down is to never, ever double down against a dealer Ace. Ever. And I do mean ever.

A dealer Ace has the same flexibility that it does for a player—its total can be reduced from 11 to 1 if necessary, and you do not want to have double the money on the line when the dealer has more flexibility than normal. That is a good way to lose your double down wager. Remember, never ever double down when facing down a dealer’s Ace.

Check your basic strategy chart if you are not sure when the best times to double are. At 1.6% in odds added to your blackjack odds, doubling down should be a play to use and not abuse. Use that chart to add successful double down-ing to your blackjack strategy. If you do not have a basic strategy chart of your own to use, you can find a basic strategy chart here for free.

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Splitting Pairs as a Part of Your Blackjack Strategy

On 09.17.10, In Blackjack Strategy, By Vivi

Once a novice player becomes comfortable working with hard and soft hands in blackjack, the next part of their blackjack strategy to work on is pair splitting.

Kind of like how soft hands require a little extra thought to play at first, so too do pairs in blackjack. The biggest trap in dealing with a pair is the just knowing that it is a pair, and that you have an extra playing option that is not available with hands that are not pairs.

Because of having this extra playing option to split a pair into two new hands and possibly win twice as much in a single round, players make the mistake of splitting every pair. Unfortunately this is not good blackjack strategy.

Just because it is a power and the player has the power to split it does not mean that every pair should be split.

For example a pair of 5s and a pair of 10s should not be split. The pair of 5s can be played like a hard 10 and be doubled down on. Doubling on a pair of 5s has better odds of winning and making a profit than splitting the 5s does. Likewise, a pair of 10s is stronger as a hard 20 than split. This is because there are only two hands with which the dealer can beat you with: hitting to 21 or having a natural blackjack.

But then there are pairs that should always be split simply because the player has a better chance of building two stronger hands than beating the dealer by standing on the pairs. Those two pairs are a pair of Aces and a pair of 8s. It is more advantageous to split those two pairs.

Basic strategy is a good pair splitting strategy tool. It should be used as the base of your blackjack strategy because it tells players the most advantageous play to make.

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The Importance of Doubling Down in Blackjack

On 08.27.10, In Blackjack Strategy, By Vivi

Unfortunately many novice blackjack player—both online blackjack players and blackjack in a brick and mortar casino—tend to stick to basic plays, limiting themselves to hitting or standing. This is like learning to swim and then never leaving the shallow end of the pool.

But there are other blackjack plays out in there and they do offer benefits that basic plays do not. Again, this is like how you can dive for diving sticks in the deep end of the pool when you really cannot in the shallow end.

One of those other blackjack plays is called double down. With this play, a player doubles that amount of his original wager. So if you were playing blackjack online and were wagering $10 on a hand and wanted to double down, your wager would increase to $20.

Once the wager has been doubled the player only receives one more card before having to stand. There is no more hitting after you double down. It is a play to end your turn.

But it is not a bad play. In fact, it is highly advantageous to use when used at the right moments. And such moments are not difficult to know. All a blackjack player needs to do is look on a basic strategy chart to know when the best times to double down are.

What makes doubling down so advantageous is that when you win you receive the same amount that you would receive if you had won two rounds. This is because your payout is based on that $20 and not the $10, even though you only have one hand on the table.

Because you are making more money in the payout than you would normally have made, the house’s edge is hit harder. Doubling down at the right moments will knock 1.6% off of the house edge. That is how important this play is.

Follow a basic strategy chart to know the best times to double down, and enjoy receiving a larger payout and knowing that you have knocked the house’s edge down. So do not be afraid of the deep end of the pool, swim out and start doubling down

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About Online Blackjack Games and Variations

On 08.13.10, In Blackjack Rules, Blackjack Strategy, Online Blackjack, By Vivi

Those who play online blackjack are bound to see blackjack variations from time to time. They crop up everywhere, in the majority of online casinos. They are out there—Face Up 21, Super Fun 21, Blackjack Switch and more. The problem is that not all novice online blackjack players truly understand these blackjack variations and the impact their rules have on their blackjack odds.

One of the biggest hits to a player’s blackjack odds comes from the payouts offered by these blackjack variations. Whereas in regular online blackjack games, a natural blackjack receives a 3-2 payout, in the majority of variations the blackjack payout is an even money payout.

And an even money blackjack game will take 2.27% off of a player’s blackjack odds. If you are playing according to basic strategy, the house’s edge will go from 0.5% back up to 2.77%. Playing in a game with an even money payout like that is only handing your edge right back to the house.

Another common rule found in blackjack variations pertains to doubling down. Many variations only allow players to double down on 9s, 10s or 11s. This impacts the player’s blackjack odds in a negative way again, taking 0.18% away from the player’s odds.

Typically doubling down can take 1.6% from the house’s edge. That is a big hit to their edge. And that is why many blackjack variations will only allow doubling down on 9s, 10s and 11s only.

The key thing to understand about blackjack variations is that they were created to take players’ money faster. And while they can be fun to play from time to time, they should only be played for fun in practice modes so as not to risk losing any money; or to play blackjack variations at low stakes. That is how you handle your blackjack strategy in regards to blackjack variations.

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Why You Should Double Down

On 06.11.10, In Blackjack Rules, Blackjack Strategy, By Vivi

A lot of the time novice blackjack players are nervous or hesitant about making a double down play in blackjack. It does not matter whether they are playing online blackjack or blackjack in a casino, they still get nervous about it.

The cause behind this is because the blackjack player has to put out more money, he has to double his wager. If he has wagered $10 on a hand and wants to double down, he has to increase his wager to $20. And not all novice blackjack players are comfortable with this right away.

But they need to become comfortable with this play because it can definitely benefit their blackjack odds. Doubling down in blackjack at opportune times can increase a player’s blackjack odds by 0.9%. That is quite the boost to one’s blackjack odds for one type of play.

The reason for this is because the player benefits when the house has to pay them for winning. When the house wins they do not receive a payout. Every time the house pays you, your blackjack odds go up. And if they have to pay you twice as much, it increases you odds even more.

But you only increase your blackjack odds with a double down if you are making the play at the most advantageous times. And when are those?

It all comes back to basic strategy. A basic strategy chart can tell you when the most opportune times to double down are. Usually it is when you have a 9, 10 or 11 as follows:

9 vs. dealer’s 3-6
10 vs. dealer’s 2-9
11 vs. dealer’s 2-10

If you are still learning your basic strategy, take a chart with you or have it open in a window next to the online casino’s window. Utilizing blackjack tips that go along with basic strategy can help increase your blackjack odds.

Make the most of your bankroll and increase you blackjack odds by knowing when to double down and making a double down when basic strategy tells you to.

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Playing First and Busting

On 05.28.10, In Blackjack Strategy, Online Blackjack, By Vivi

Like any casino game—does not matter if it is online or not—blackjack is constructed so that the house starts off with the edge. While the 3-2 payout helps to boost the player’s online blackjack odds, the game has two aspects that feed into the house’s edge more naturally than rules that favor the house.

Those two aspects are playing out your hand before the dealer and busting. And they can go hand in hand really.

Let’s look at an ordinary game of online blackjack. It is just you and the dealer. You are dealt your two cards and the dealer has an up card and a hole card. Once the cards are dealt you must play out your hand before the game can continue. There is no way around it.

I know, this seems so trivial. How can playing out your hand first impact your online blackjack odds?

Well, let’s say that you hit and hit again and wind up busting. At that point your wager, your money, belong to the house. And it does not matter whether or not the dealer busts. In fact, the dealer can bust when playing out its hand after you have already busted and your money will still be collected for the house.

And that is the disadvantage of playing out your hand first. And because you are playing first and could lose your money before the dealer plays out its hand, it is considered a disadvantage. Disadvantages are what lower the player’s blackjack odds, while advantages, such as doubling down, increase the player’s odds.

In a way you could consider playing first the trade-off to receiving 3-2 on a natural blackjack. But then that really is not that fair of a trade since you play first in every game while you do not receive a 3-2 payout in every game. And that is why playing first and busting feed into the house’s odds.

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A Trick for a Pair of 4s

On 04.23.10, In Blackjack Strategy, By Vivi

It is best to play blackjack according to basic strategy. While using basic strategy is the best way to impact the house edge and make the best statistical play possible each round, it does not often allow for a lot of maneuvering or for any little tricks.

But there are times that a blackjack player can deviate from basic strategy a little bit to take advantage of a house rule. One such rule is being allowed to double down after splitting pairs, but there is only one real hand that can take advantage of this rule, and that hand is a pair of 4s.

Normally basic strategy advises to hit on a pair of 4s rather than split them. This is because there is not advantage to splitting them.

However if you are allowed to double down after splitting there are two instances with a pair of 4s that you should split, and that is when you are faced with a dealer’s 5 or 6.

Once you split those 4s you will receive another card so that each hand will have two cards again. If you are dealt a 5, 6 or 7 you will have a hand total of 9, 10 or 11. If the dealer is showing a 5 or 6 it stands that there is a pretty good chance the deck is running with lower cards, which will help when splitting those 4s.

If, after splitting and receiving a second card for each hand, you have a new hand total of 9, 10 or 11 it is time to double down. Again, if you look at a basic strategy chart you will see that the best play for a hard 9, 10 or 11 is to double down. This is because doubling down on a 9, 10 or 11 is offensive in blackjack and you stand a good shot at making twice the winnings.

So to review, when the house allows you to double down after splitting pairs and you are dealt a pair of 4s, it the best play to split those 4s. If after splitting those 4s either one of your new hands has a total of 9, 10 or 11 you need to double down.

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Best Times to Double Down in Blackjack

On 03.10.10, In Blackjack Strategy, By Vivi

Regardless of whether blackjack is played online or in a land-based casino doubling down is a highly advantageous play to make. The key is knowing when to double down and why those times are the best to do so.

First the double down play is a blackjack play in which the player doubles his or her original bet and receives only one more card before standing. Because only one more card is received it is important to already have a good starting hand total.

Doubling down, per basic strategy, should be done when dealt the following hard hands against the specified dealer up cards:

- Hard 9 vs. dealer’s 3-6
- Hard 10 vs. dealer’s 2-9
- Hard 11 vs. dealer’s 2-10

The reason it is most advantageous to double down on these hands is because, statistically speaking, this hands have good potential of becoming strong hands with one card. And even if the blackjack player receives a low card and their hard hand becomes a stiff hand, the dealer still has a decent shot of busting—which is what is desired when faced with a stiff hand.

Doubling down allows a blackjack player to earn double their payout if they win. It is taking full advantage of being dealt a good starting hand total.

If you had bet $10 and been dealt one of the above hands, would you rather be paid $10 for winning or $20?

If a blackjack player is in the position to take full advantage of their hand and make the more on a payout, then he or she should. And that is the point of doubling down in blackjack.

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