Blackjack double down: The shortcut to big potential wins

QUICK SUMMARY

• A "double down" in blackjack is a strategic action in which you double your bet and draw just one additional card after receiving your first two cards.
• This option is especially effective when the total number of cards in your hand is 9, 10, or 11, or when the dealer's up card is weak.
• However, you can only add one card, so you need to carefully consider the risks and rewards.
• If you successfully double down, your payout may double, which is a shortcut to a big win.
• By using this strategy at the right time, you can increase your chances of winning at blackjack.

Did you know that Blackjack has a rule called double down? There is also a rule called Blackjack Insurance in Blackjack. If you've ever wondered, ‘What's double down?’ or ‘What are the rules for insurance?’, read this article to find out more.

The probability of hitting a double down in blackjack is high!

Double down is a rule wherein two cards are dealt. Declaring a double down allows you to double your bet, but it also limits the number of times you can hit in blackjack to one.

The rules of blackjack are simple. The characteristic feature is that you can decide whether to act based on your hand of cards . However, every rule has its advantages and disadvantages. In this section, we will explain the advantages and disadvantages of doubling down in blackjack.

Two advantages of playing Double Down Blackjack

There are two advantages to executing a double down:

• Higher win rate
• If you win, you can get double the amount

Higher win rate

Doubling down is best done when the total of the first two cards is 11. The reason is that if you have 18 or more with your hand, the probability of a blackjack double down is 53.8%, and if it is 21 or more, the probability of a blackjack double down is about 30.4%. 

Basically, in blackjack, the ironclad rule for winning is to stand when the total of your cards is between 17 and 21. Even if you don't double down, you should not hit if the total of your cards is between 17 and 21. The reason is that the probability of busting significantly increases. Below is a table summarizing the total points of the cards and the probability of busting.

If you win, you can get double the amount

Doubling down allows you to increase your initial bet. If you win, your winnings will also be doubled, so if you have the opportunity to double down based on the total number of cards, make sure to go for it aggressively.

The disadvantages of doubling down in blackjack

There are two disadvantages to doubling down:

• If you lose, the loss is significant.
• You can only draw one card.

If you lose, the loss is significant

By executing a double down, you can further double your bet. Of course, it's a huge win when you win, but remember that if you lose, you'll lose double your initial bet.

You can only draw one card

As per the rules of doubling down, after declaring a double down, you can only draw one additional card. Depending on the card's number, you may have to play with a very weak number.

Two important times to hit in blackjack

The best time to double down is when you have 11. However, it's not always possible to get exactly 11. In fact, there are perfect opportunities in the game to double down. These are the following times:

• When executing card counting
• When your hand is 9-10

When executing card counting

Card counting is a strategy that involves memorizing the cards that have appeared on the table and predicting the cards that are likely to come next from the remaining ones. In blackjack, once a card appears on the table, it cannot be used again. 

Card counting is a strategy that takes advantage of this rule of ‘never being able to use a card again’. Card counting is not allowed in regular land-based casinos due to its overwhelming effectiveness. However, it is a strategy that can be employed in online casinos.

When holding cards totaling 9-10

As mentioned earlier, the best total for a double-down is 11. Depending on the dealer's card total and other factors, there is a chance of success if the player's card total is at least 9. However, the probability is not very high.

When executing a blackjack double down, use the basic strategy

The basic strategy is a chart that shows how to play blackjack to maximize your chances of winning. There are a total of three basic strategy charts. 

Depending on the situation, you have to master the use of the three charts. In this section, we introduce the three tables you need to know to execute the basic strategy and summarize the terms you need to be familiar with when using the basic strategy.

Terms used in basic strategy

In the basic strategy for using the double down in blackjack, there are several terms you need to know. It's unrealistic to memorise everything all at once, so make sure to check repeatedly.

Hard hand

A hard hand is a strategy chart used when there is no Ace in the combination. For example, if the player's card total is 9 and the dealer's card is 6, it is possible to double down.  

Soft hand

A soft hand refers to a combination where the player has an Ace. In this table, if the player has an Ace and a 4, and the dealer's card is between 4 and 6, doubling down is possible.

Split

A split is a table used when the first two cards are the same. In this table, the player side can only be used when the player side is 5.5 and the dealer's card is 2-9.

Blackjack Insurance 1,000 times: What you should know

In addition to doubling down, there is also a rule called insurance in blackjack. Insurance means ‘protection’, and if the dealer's first card is an Ace, and the next card is a 10 or a face card, the dealer has a blackjack. The player is guaranteed to lose if they don't achieve 21.

Even in such a desperate situation, if you have insurance, your bet will be returned threefold. If you succeed with the insurance, you can end the game at break-even. But aren't you curious about how successful it is? After trying insurance 1,000 times on livecasino.io's blackjack, here are the results:

• The cashback rate decreases.
• There are four types of insurance.

The cashback rate decreases

The cashback rate for insurance is honestly not that high. Rather, it tends to be low. First, the probability of insurance being established is 30%. And the payout rate is 92.6%. Since the average return rate for blackjack is 99%, it can be seen that it decreases by around 7%.In conclusion, insurance is not a choice you should make under any circumstances.

There are 4 patterns of insurance

There are the following 4 patterns of insurance.

1. Insurance succeeds, and the player loses.

2. Insurance fails, and the player wins.

3. Insurance fails, and the player loses.

4. Insurance succeeds, and the player draws.

Among these 1 to 4, the only patterns that can generate profit in the game are 2 and 4. However, case 4 is extremely rare, with only about a 0.05% chance of occurring. Case 2 is the pattern that benefits the most from insurance. If you bet $10, the profit would be as shown in the table below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the rules for doubling down in blackjack?

In blackjack, the rules for doubling down allow you to double your bet after declaring a double down, but you can only hit one card.

What does ‘doubling down’ mean?

In gambling, it means to double your bet, but metaphorically, it means to ‘intensify’ or ‘put in more effort’.

When can you double down?

You can double down after the first two cards are dealt.

What happens if the dealer has a blackjack?

If the dealer has a blackjack, the player must also have a blackjack to avoid losing.