• Double Down Blackjack Pics
• Blackjack Odds Double Downs
• Blackjack Odds Sheet

Blackjack, unlike other gambling games is not considered a game of chance, it is one that you can win if you start applying some knowledge. Unlike many other games where the result depends on player luck only, this game provides probabilities depending on the player decisions. Therefore, in order to win you have to know what your probabilities are now and how and when to increase them.

Double Down Blackjack Pics

In blackjack, the action for a double-down is exactly the same as the action for a split. This is usually not a problem if you are either doubling down or splitting. However, if you want to double down on a pair, you will need to let the dealer know that you are doubling down and not splitting the pair. Blackjack Double Down – A Numbers Game Firstly, however green you are to Blackjack, we can all agree that the highest number you can sensibly get is 21. Secondly, we’re out to beat the dealer, either by having the higher value hand, or watching them go bust. From there on in it’s a case of using statistics to your advantage. Blackjack Double Down; Blackjack Hit and Stand; Best Blackjack Casino Sites; Doubling Down on Soft Hands. Many blackjack players, especially those with little knowledge of the basic strategy for this game, would avoid the Double option altogether. But if played correctly, it can bring them good winnings in the long term. All basic blackjack strategy cards have information on when a player should double down and split their hand. This extra bet amounts will help players maximize returns and lower the house edge for the casino. Let’s first take a look at the hands a player should double down to maximize their return when playing blackjack using the basic strategy.

Before we take a look at player and dealer blackjack odds, we should consider all the parameters that affect the odds in the game.

Blackjack Rules Variations

Blackjack variations were created to entertain players and provide them with a chance to win more money on side bets. Each rule variation affects the house edge, some rules making a big, others making a minor difference. Most common rule variations can be found at our House Edge Calculator in the «Rules» window. Now, let's take a closer look at the rules and see how they affect the odds in the game.

NOTE: The rules chosen in the table below are most favorable for the player.

Number of decks

The first thing a player should consider when choosing a table is the number of decks used in the game. The more decks there are - the less odds the player has. (See the table - Probabilities – Number of decks)

Dealer hits or stands on soft 17

The main rules of the game are usually written on the table felt and it may say either dealer hits or stands on soft 17. If according to the rules dealer hits soft 17, the game gives the house a 0.2% extra edge.

Rules for doubling

This rule is sometimes called the 'Reno' rule, which restricts doubling only to certain hand totals. Double 9 - 11 affects the house edge increasing it by 0.09% (8 decks game) and 0.15% (1 deck game). Double 10-11 increases the house edge by 0.17% (8 decks game) and 0.26% (1 deck game).

Doubling after Split

If the casino allows a player to double after he splits a pair, the player will get a further edge of around 0.12%.

Resplitting

Most casinos allow players to split again after he/she splits a pair and is dealt another card of the same rank. However, if the casino does not, this means the odds favor the house. As the best hands for splitting are a pair of Aces and 8s, there may be a special rule for Splitting Aces. If the casino allows the player to re-split Aces, the player gets a 0.03% extra edge. Moreover, in most cases if the player splits Aces, the casino will deal only one card per hand and that's it. Allowing players to hit on a hand of Split Aces gives the player an edge of 0.13%. We do not consider this rule in our calculator due to the fact it is almost never used, especially online.

Good for player

• 1 deck of cards (house edge 0.17%)
• Doubling allowed on any cards
• Doubling allowed after Split and after Hit (player edge 0.12%)

• Early surrender is preferable
• Dealer stands on soft 17 (player edge 0.2%)
• Resplitting any cards allowed (player edge 0.03%)

Extra Rules Affecting Blackjack Odds

European No-Hole-Card Rule

Some blackjack variations are played with a hole card that is dealt to the dealer only after all the players have played their hands. This rule affects player strategy when playing against dealer up 10 or an Ace. In a typical hole-card game the player would know whether the dealer has a Blackjack or not before he makes any decisions. In this game, however, the player is risking a lot more if he decides to double or split. This rule adds 0.11% to the house advantage. However, there may be some casinos that allow the player to push on all the additional bets (doubling down and splitting pairs) if the dealer happens to have Blackjack.

Another Payouts on Blackjack

The classic payout on player Blackjack is 3 to 2. However, some casinos change the payout to increase the house edge. The payout on blackjack thus may vary from 1:1 to 6:5. As a Blackjack hand frequency is approximately 4.8% (see the table Two Card Hand Frequency), the payout of 1:1 will increase house edge by 2.3% and the payout of 6:5 - by 1.4%. The first rule (1:1) is only rarely found , while the second (6:5) can be found at some tables with a single deck blackjack game. The payout on Blackjack is generally written on a table felt.

Best tip
for odds seekers

The easiest way to choose the game with the highest odds is to play blackjack with no extra special rules. Do not forget where your basic odds are hidden - chance to Split, Double Down and get a 3 to 2 payout on Natural.

Dealer wins Ties

Another disadvantage for the player is when the rules of the game say that dealer wins all ties. This rule is almost never used in the classic games, though it can be found in some blackjack variations.

Insurance

The Insurance bet is a casino trick that gives the house a huge edge. The main factor why many players take this bet lies in the fact it costs only half of the original one. However, when the player takes Insurance every time he plays the game, the house edge may raise up to 7%. Added to all the other rules the casino sets on the game and you will see why probabilities are worth learning if you want to quit winners.

Side Bets

All blackjack games that offer side bets seem to be the biggest attraction for blackjack lovers. However, if you consider blackjack odds on these bets, you will notice that no matter how big the jackpot is (as in progressive blackjack rules) or how great the payout is for the pair (as in perfect pairs rules), the odds still favor the house and you are not likely to win.

Blackjack Probabilities charts

Number of decks	House Advantage %
Single	0.17
2	0.46
4	0.60
6	0.64
8	0.66

The quantity of decks increases the house advantage with each extra deck added to the game. Look for games with the smallest number of decks. However, some games offering a chance to play with 1 deck may only still provide low player odds due to low payouts on Blackjack and other rules. Be sure to check them before you play.

Hand value	% frequency
21	4.8
17-20	30
1-16	38.7
No Bust	26.5

The table on the left describes how often the following hands can appear. The hands are the first two-cards dealt to the player. The frequency stands for the average number of times dealt per deck of cards. As you can see, the most frequent hands dealt are the 'Decision hands' that demand knowledge of blackjack strategy.

Hand value	% of busting
21	100
20	92
19	85
18	77
17	69
16	62
15	58
14	56
13	39
12	31
11 or less	0

In this table you can see the probability of going bust on any hand if the player decides to Hit. This means that with 0% you can never go bust when hitting a hand of 11 or less. As you can see, the table is for hard hand totals as you will 100% bust if you Hit on a hand of hard 21.

Card	House edge % (when cards removed)
2	0.40
3	0.43
4	0.52
5	0.67
6	0.45
7	0.30
8	0.01
9	-0.15
10,J,Q,K	-0.51
Ace	-0.59

You probably already know that in blackjack small cards in the deck favor the dealer while big ones favor the player. In this table you can see that removing 2s from the deck adds a 0.40% of advantage to the player, while if 10's are taken out - the odds are 0.51% for the house.

Dealer Face Up Card	Dealer Bust %	Player Odds % (Using Basic Strategy)
2	35.3	9.8
3	37.56	13.4
4	40.28	18
5	42.89	23.2
6	42.08	23.9
7	25.99	14.3
8	23.86	5.4
9	23.34	-4.3
10,J,Q,K	21.43	-16.9
Ace	11.65	-16

Blackjack probabilities are calculated due to different parameters, including the dealer up card. The table on the left depicts how likely it is that dealer will go bust with certain up cards and what the player odds are in this very situation. For example, the highest player odds are when the dealer shows a 6, as he is most likely to go bust with this hand. The lowest player odds are when the dealer's up card is a 10 or an Ace.

The double down option in Blackjack offers a quick way for Indian online casino players to earn bigger winnings. So, when should you take advantage of this option? We have put together a complete guide on when you should double down in Blackjack.

When Should I Double Down?

One of the hardest and the most important things in the game of blackjack is finding the balance between playing it safe and taking a risk. Indeed, this fine line is what separates the best from the rest. So, if you want to become a serious blackjack player and earn a few rupees when playing in online casinos in India, you will have to master the art of balance.

For example, many Indian players are either intimidated by doubling down, or they overdo it. Therefore, we created this quick guide with the intention of showing when to double down in a game of online blackjack.

What Does it Mean to Double Down?

First of all, to avoid barking up the wrong tree, you need to know what we are talking about. So, doubling down is one of the essential betting options when playing blackjack. The basic concept of this move requires that the players place another bet, equal to the original wager, in exchange for an extra card. After receiving the card, the player cannot hit anymore. In other words, he or she must wait for the showdown against the dealer to see who wins the money.

Blackjack Odds Double Downs

In general, Indian online casinos allow this betting option at their tables. However, some may restrict doubling down on certain hands, so check the rules before joining in. Our friendly tip is to take a peek at our reviews section and make sure that the casino in question allows you to double down.

When Should You Double Down?

To be clear, doubling down is not advisable at all times. To clarify, you should make this move in certain instances, not with every hand you get. So, here is the breakdown of the situations in which it is best to double down when playing online blackjack:

Hard 9 vs. a weak upcard

Players should always double down if they have a hard 9 and the dealer is showing a low card (2 through 6). To clarify, the so-called hard 9 is a combination that does not include an Ace (for example, 2+7 or 3+6). The win percentage with doubling down on hard 9 is around 59%, which are decent odds in the game of blackjack. In case you have a soft 9, the best option is to stand.

Hard 10 or 11 vs. a weak upcard

In case they have a hard 10 or 11, players should always double down in the dealer’s card is weak (2 through 6). Once again, this is a great position for maximizing profits. For instance, players will win 58% of hands if they double down on a 10 vs. 4. Likewise, for every 100 rupees wagered, players will win 48 if they double down on 11 vs. 2.

Soft 16 to 18 vs. a weak upcard

Blackjack Odds Sheet

Players should always double down if they have an Ace + 5, 6, or 7 and the dealer is showing a low card (2 through 6). In those instances, the dealer is vulnerable and players should take advantage of their favorable position. By putting more money on the table, the payoffs could be higher in the end.

Why is Doubling Down so Important?

By now, you should have grasped the basics of doubling down. Also, you probably understand that this particular move can help you earn more rupees when playing blackjack. On top of that, when you double down – you immediately boost the excitement levels of the game.

Due to the fact that this betting decision is somewhat risky, the adrenaline levels rise as you make such bold moves when playing blackjack. Then again, it is imperative that you do not rely on intuition when playing this game in some of the online casinos in India. Instead, you should always follow the guidelines of the basic blackjack strategy.

Conclusion

Even though the rules may vary from one online casino to another, doubling down is a viable option in most Indian casinos. As such, players should make the most out of this possibility. In general, doubling down can make your profits twice as big, but only if you execute the move at the right time. So, make sure to check the dealer’s card before doubling your wager.

Chaya

Head of Content

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