Doubling down in blackjack is a risky move that can be highly profitable if done correctly. It involves doubling your initial bet in exchange for receiving one additional card. It is generally only recommended to do so when you have a good chance of beating the dealer’s hand. However, players should also understand that they are essentially wagering on the dealer’s up card and thus have to be careful not to overdo it.
The first time you can double down in blackjack is when your total cards are equal to eleven. This is by far the most common time to do it as there is a high probability that you will hit blackjack or at least get very close to 21 with one more card. It is important to remember that you will only receive one additional card and so you should make sure that your original bet amount is high enough to cover the cost of this extra bet.
Another great time to double down in blackjack is when your dealer has a weak up card and your cards are of equal value. This is because you have a higher chance of getting close to 21 and potentially even beating the dealer’s hand with this type of strategy. However, if you are dealt two high cards such as a four and five, it is not recommended that you double down as this will only result in your losing more money than if you had simply hit the hand.
Similarly, you should avoid doubling down if your cards are of low values such as two nines. While this may be a tempting option because it increases your chances of winning the hand, you should not do so as it is likely that you will lose more than you would with just a hit.
When you are ready to double down in blackjack, signal it by pushing a stack of chips the same size as your initial bet next to your current wager. It is best to avoid putting the new stack on top of your initial bet as this can be interpreted as tampering with it and you will not be allowed to do so in some casinos.
It is important to remember that when you double down in blackjack, you are not permitted to hit, surrender or take insurance. This is because you are betting that the dealer will not have a blackjack and so are basically wagering on their up card. This can often be a costly mistake as the dealer will have more information at their disposal and will not have to deal with you as long.
In addition, it is also not advisable to double down after hitting as this will only increase your chances of losing the hand. This is because you will already have more than half of your bet in the air and it will be very difficult to beat the dealer when they are dealing with a full hand.
