The double down is one of the best-known bets in blackjack. Find out what it means and when you should double down here

In the game of blackjack, the opportunity to double down is the chance to increase the value of your initial bet by up to 100 per cent. In return, the player must stand after taking one more card.

Doubling down is a vote of confidence in your hand and there are three situations in which doubling down in online blackjack is the correct decision to make in terms of probability.

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When should I double down in blackjack?

There’s only one point in a game of blackjack when you have the opportunity to double down – directly after your initial two cards have been dealt. 

At this point there are three groups of hands where it makes most sense for you to double down on your initial bet. In each one you can’t go bust and are more likely to win the hand than the dealer.

1. You have hard nine and the dealer’s face-up card is two-six (inclusive)

A hard nine is a hand of two cards that add up to nine but don’t include an ace, so either2 and 7, 3 and 6, or 4 and 5.

2. You have hard 10 or 11 and the dealer’s face-up card is lower

If your first two cards are 2 and 8, 2 and 9, 3 and 7, 3 and 8, 4 and 6, 4 and 7, 5 and 5, or 5 and 6, and the dealer’s card is lower than yours, probability is in your favour.

Double down. You can’t go bust, but the dealer risks going over 21 because they have to hit until they reach 17.

3. You have soft 16, 17 or 18 and the dealer’s face-up card is two-six (inclusive)

Got an ace in your initial two-card hand alongside a 5, 6 or 7? Dealer got a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6?  It’s a good time to double down. With the option of the ace to be a one or an 11 there’s a good chance you can improve your hand with one more card.

Blackjack double-down strategy chart

For those who prefer to have a quick visual reminder of when it’s advantageous to double down in blackjack, we’ve designed the chart below.

Blackjack strategy for 4-8 decks, dealer stands on 17

Blackjack strategy for 4-8 decks, dealer hits on 17

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