How Does Doubling Down Work in Blackjack?

In blackjack, doubling down is a strategy that allows you to double your bet after you’ve been dealt your first two cards. If you believe that you have a good chance of winning the hand, doubling down can be a great way to increase your potential payout.

To double down, you simply place an additional bet next to your original bet. The total amount of your bet will then be two times your original bet.

Once you’ve doubled down, you will only be dealt one more card.

One of the key things to remember when doubling down is that you can only do so if you have a hand total of 9, 10, or 11. This is because these are the only hands where it makes sense to double down – you have a good chance of hitting 21 (or at least getting close to it) with these starting totals.

If you double down and are dealt a 9, 10, or 11, then you can hit and try to get closer to 21. If you’re dealt anything else, then you should stand pat and hope that your original hand total is good enough to win.

While doubling down can be a great way to increase your potential payout, it’s important to remember that it’s not always the best move. In some situations, it’s better to just hit or stand pat instead of doubling down.

If the dealer is showing a 5 or 6, for example, then they have a good chance of busting if they hit. In this situation, it’s better to just stand pat with your original hand instead of doubling down and risking busting yourself.

Additionally, if you have a hand total of 11 and the dealer is showing an Ace, then doubling down isn’t always the best move either. In this case, there’s a good chance that the dealer will make a hand of 17 or better when they hit – meaning that you would lose even if you doubled down.

In general, doubling down is only advisable when you have a strong hand and the dealer is showing a weak upcard. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and just hit or stand pat instead of doubling down.