Double with Blackjack

When you want to play Blackjack it’s important to know the different options that are available to you. One of the most common choices is the double. This is also known as double down. Whatever you decide to call it, it’s a simple tactic that should only be used by confident players. Indian players will be well aware of the double option as it gives them the opportunity to grab even bigger wins when they use it at the right time. So, what is the double and when should you use it?

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What does it mean to double in Blackjack?

The first thing you need to know about choosing to double down is when you can do it and how many times you can do it. Firstly, you can double at any point during a game of Blackjack. All it takes is for you to carry out the instruction. You can only double one in any hand, the reason for this you will soon find out why. Doubling means that you will be dealt one additional card and your turn is then over. In order to get this you must double your total stake. This is why it’s called doubling down.

You can only double down once in each hand, this is because, as previously mentioned, once you have chosen to double down your turn is over.

When should you double down?

Choosing when to double down is all based around confidence and strategy. These are the two ways to look at it. The first is how confident are you that your next card will give you a winning hand? If you believe that the next hand to be dealt will give you an unbeatable hand, and your gut instinct is often right, then doubling down is the best way to maximise your returns. This is because if you are correct in your feelings you will double the amount that you win.

The second is through strategy. There are two hands that will tend to give you a good chance of winning if you choose to double down. The first is a hard 10. A hard 10 is when your hand has a value of 10 without including an Ace. The second is a hard 11. A hard 11 is when your hand has a value of 11 without including an Ace. In terms of why these are common hands to double down on it’s because no matter what card you draw next, you will not go bust. With 10 being the highest value card, not including the Ace, then the highest score you can get with a hard 11 is 21. If you do get an Ace then your score will just increase by 1 instead of 11.

Doubling down when you have a soft hand is less common. This is because the Ace can change in value depending on the next card that you draw. So if you have a soft 16, then doubling down would be a risky move. This is why most people only tend to double down on hard hands.

Can I always double down?

This all depends on the Blackjack game that you are playing. Some Blackjack games don’t offer the ability to double at any point. Some only allow the ability to double when the player is dealt a hard 10 or hard 11. If doubling is part of the strategy that you use to play, then it’s important to check before you begin playing. There is nothing worse than starting to play your game and then finding out afterwards that you can’t use a specific part of your tactics.