What Hands Do you double down on in blackjack?

Doubling down is an exciting move to make in blackjack – and profitable if you get it right. This is when you double your bet in the middle of a hand, after which you only receive one more card.

When to Double Down

When your cards total 11.
When you have a soft 16, 17 or 18 (this means that you have a card plus an ace).

Consequently, should you always double down on 11?

If the dealer is showing a lower card than a 10, it is good strategy to double down. If the casino rules dictate the dealer must hit soft 17, you should always double down on 11 no matter what the dealers up card.

One may also ask, what does it mean to double down on something? Definition of double down. intransitive verb. 1 : to double the original bid in blackjack in exchange for only one more card. 2 : to become more tenacious, zealous, or resolute in a position or undertaking the administration needs to double down on the call for political reform — Washington Post.

Also know, do you double down on 11 against a 10?

When you double down, you risk losing double your original bet, but with 11 vs. 10, you win double your bet more often, giving you a higher average profit.

Should I split aces in blackjack?

Splitting aces is so favorable to the player that most gambling establishments have rules limiting the player's rights to do so. Regardless of the payout for blackjack, the rules for resplitting, the rules for doubling, the rules for multiple card draws and the dealer's cards, one should always split aces.

36 Related Question Answers Found

When should I double down?

There are three times we'd recommend placing the blackjack double down bet:

When your cards total 11 and the dealer has a low card (6 or lower).
When you have a soft 16, 17 or 18 (this means that you have a card plus an ace).
When you have a hard 9 or 10 (“hard” describes a hand with no ace).

Do you hit on a 12 in blackjack?

One of the more frustrating hands in blackjack is being dealt a 12 when the dealer shows a 2 upcard. Many players don't hit 12 because they believe the dealer has a ten in the hole and, therefore, they won't risk busting when the dealer has a weak upcard. However, when you hold a 12, only four cards will bust you

What is a soft 17?

The Soft 17 Rule in Blackjack. Any blackjack hand that contains an ace counted as an 11 is a soft hand. An ace-6 hand is a soft 17 and so is an ace-3-3 hand. These hands are played much differently than their corresponding hard hands.

How many times can you hit in blackjack?

If you are playing the normal standard game of blackjack, then regular rules state that you can split hands up to a maximum of three times, which means that you're essentially playing 4 hands.

When should you surrender in blackjack?

When to Surrender at Blackjack

Players should surrender 16 against a 9, 10 or ace when the dealer stands on all 17's. The exception is a pair of 8's. Those should still be split against any dealer door card and never surrendered. A 15 hand should be surrendered versus a dealer's 10-value card.

What should I hit on in blackjack?

Blackjack Rules

The goal of blackjack is to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21.
Face cards are worth 10.
Each player starts with two cards, one of the dealer's cards is hidden until the end.
To 'Hit' is to ask for another card.
If you go over 21 you bust, and the dealer wins regardless of the dealer's hand.

Should you hit 16?

That's a hand that does not contain an Ace or if it does the Ace counts as one. Some examples of a hard 16 would be 10-6 or 5-7-4 or 7-8-Ace. The correct basic playing strategy for hard 16 is to stand when the dealer shows a small card (2 through 6) and hit when the dealer shows a high card (7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace).

Can you consistently win at blackjack?

Since the game of blackjack is a game of percentages and edges, the only way you can win consistently would be to use any means at your disposal to reduce the house advantage.

Can blackjack dealers cheat?

Can Blackjack Dealers Cheat You? Of course, cheating does happen occasionally, but usually the casino is the victim. In other words, it's more common for a dealer to cheat the casino, either by colluding with a player, conspiring with another employee, or simply by working alone (usually stealing chips).

Why do blackjack dealers clap their hands?

It's called clearing the hands and the intention is to make it clear to everyone that they have nothing in their hands. It's called clearing the hands and the intention is to make it clear to everyone that they have nothing in their hands.

What cards do you always split in blackjack?

The best time to split pairs in blackjack is when you're dealt 2 aces or 2 eights, which will increase your chances of getting 21. You should also split a pair of twos, threes, or sevens if the dealer shows a seven or lower. If the dealer shows a two through six, split a pair of sixes.

What is the only mathematically beatable game in a casino?

Blackjack

Why does the house always win in blackjack?

It's a basic rule of the casino business that the house only offers games where it has an “edge”. The house's edge is baked into the game. But the edge doesn't guarantee the dealer will always win. Over the long run the dealer should only win slightly more often than a perfect player.

Should you buy insurance in blackjack?

To take it, you must put up half your wager. If the dealer has blackjack, you win the insurance bet, usually at 2 to 1 odds - meaning you break even on the hand. If the dealer doesn't have blackjack, you lose the insurance bet. The verdict: Even if you think you're psychic, it's best to avoid insurance bets.

Do you split eights against a ten?

Splitting is the most statistically auspicious action. A pair of eights is a decided underdog against a 10 and presents an expected loss no matter how it's handled. However, the projected penalty is least ponderous for splitting and gets progressively heavier by surrendering, hitting, and standing.

Is it better to play blackjack with a full table?

Most blackjack players would be better off playing at full tables so that they will at least lose at a slower rate. The number of players at the table will definitely affect the number of hands you play per hour. The table below shows how the hands played per hour will vary with the number of players.

Do you hit 12 against a 3?

There is a rule in blackjack that says you should never risk busting your hand when the dealer shows a weak upcard (weak meaning a 2 through 6 because the dealer could break with a one-card draw). The bottom line is that you will win your hand a little more often by hitting than by standing on 12 against a dealer's 3.