Blackjack Double

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Play our free blackjack strategy trainer game, learn card counting, or dive deep in our knowledge base. Section 7: Double Deck Blackjack. Beating the Double-Deck Game – Part 1 Beating the Double-Deck Game – Part 2 Beating the Double. Many players in today’s casinos jump at the chance to double down when their first two cards equal 9 and the dealer is showing anything except a 10. According to odds experts all over the world. Now, in double deck blackjack, we want to double down on soft totals of 13 to 18 if the dealer is showing something weak like a five or six. As for split aces, you can only hit once, but you need to be on the.

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Blackjack Betting Strategies are quite popular, especially since the game has been featured in hit movies likeRain Man, 21 and The Hangover.

No matter what the game, there is one universal rule; if the casino spreads the game, someone has developed the “perfect” betting strategy.

Roulette strategies are perhaps the most prominent as roulette strategies and systems have been offered for sale for centuries.

As a dealer and a player, I have been able to see and try many of the most famous Blackjack Betting Strategies.

Blackjack strategies don’t change around the world but it is interesting to see different perspectives. A good blackjack resource for Canadians is CanadianCasinos.ca.

Play Blackjack Live Online

Want to try playing blackjack online for real money? We recommened playing with live dealers at Bovada casino (US friendly)

The Two Best Systems

There are two strategies that every player should use every time they take a seat at or swim up to a blackjack table.

Play to Have Fun

Napoleon was a fan of Vingt-un (blackjack) near the start of the 19th century. For more than two centuries, blackjack has grown in popularity to become the most popular casino table game.Mathematicians have analyzed the game, hundreds of books have been written about it, and a number of myths and legends have been created.

Earning a place in the Blackjack Hall of Fame at the Barona Casino in California is the only honorary award for players of any casino table game. There is a reason that blackjack has remained popular for a couple of centuries; it’s fun! There are many varieties of blackjack. Mr. Green offers a great selection of 15 blackjack games by 6 software providers, including Double Exposure Blackjack Professional Series by Net Entertainment, VIP Blackjack by Extreme Live Gaming, and 6-in-1 Blackjack by Felt.

Spin Palace offers a remarkable amount of blackjack games. There are over 40 blackjack games in total on offer. They also offer practice play which is perfect for sharpening your blackjack skills before you start playing for real money. Most of their games are developed by Microgaming which are very popular in English speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand, UK and Canada.

Yes, the game has a really low house edge, which makes it appealing, but it is a very social game, so in many cases, the table wins or loses as a group. This builds comradery and makes it fairly common for players to talk with one another. The social aspect of the game is a very important one to most players.

Bet the Right Amount

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Set up a bankroll before you go to the table. This is your total stake.

As has been mentioned numerous times, blackjack is supposed to be fun. Playing with money you can’t afford to lose (what dealers and players call “scared money”) practically guarantees you won’t enjoy the game.

It is fairly easy to find table limits to fit most bankrolls.

The Martingale – Blackjack Betting Strategies

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The Martingale system originated in 18th century France and is one of the oldest systems around. The original theory was used to prove that someone with infinite wealth could always avoid a loss in even money bets by doubling the best after each loss. Most likely the first casino game where the Martingale system was touted was roulette, but it can also be used in other areas, such as in stock market trading.

You will often see players use the Martingale system at the blackjack table, doubling their wager after each loss. In theory, this strategy sounds solid. However, blackjack is not an even money game. And additionally, players will occasionally run into a bad streak of cards. At a $5 table using the Martingale system if you lose 8 hands in a row, you will be wagering $1280 on your next hand, so unless you are a legendary high-roller, you are probably better off taking the $5 loss.

2-1-2 (Manhattan) Strategy – Blackjack Betting Strategies

One of the common laments one hears from players is the one where they were “way ahead” but gave it all back. These players are the same ones that usually talk about “playing with ‘house’ money.”

Here is a fact: Once the chips are in your stack, they are your chips, not the house’s.

The second most common lament you will hear is a player talking about missing out on a hot streak. The 2-1-2 strategy helps address both.

First, there is no mathematical foundation for “hot” or “cold” streaks at the blackjack table. Mathematicians will tell you (truthfully) that there is no such phenomenon. Blackjack players know they exist.

As a player you want to capitalize on a good run of cards and this strategy has some merits. Start with a 2 unit bet. If you win you reduce the bet to one unit. If you win that bet you increase to 3 units. Once the dealer wins you go back to your original 2 unit bet.

A run of 10 hands could look like this:

Wager Result +/-

  • 2 W +2
  • 1 W +3
  • 2 W +5
  • 3 W +8
  • 4 L +4
  • 2 W +6
  • 1 L +5
  • 2 W +7
  • 3 W +10
  • 4 L +6

With the 2-1-2 strategy, players will win a bit more with a hot run yet not sacrifice all of their winnings.

Oscar’s System – Blackjack Betting Strategies

Oscar’s System was proposed in the 1960’s in a book by mathematician Dr. Allan Wilson. It is a fairly decent system. The goal of the strategy is to win exactly one unit per series.

The player starts a series by betting one unit. After a win, the player adds a unit; after a loss, the next bet is exactly the same as the previous one. That’s it.

Here are two examples:

Wager Result +/-

  • 1 L -1
  • 1 L -2
  • 1 W -1
  • 2 W +1

Series complete

Blackjack double down rules

Wager Result +/-

  • 1 L -1
  • 1 L -2
  • 1 L -3
  • 1 W -2
  • 2 L -4
  • 2 W -2
  • 3 W +1

Series complete.

Playing Multiple Spots

Many players feel that playing multiple hands increases their odds of winning. Playing multiple spots can be exciting, but it does absolutely nothing to increase your win rate.

Most of these systems fall under the heading of progressive bets. While these are among the most common, they are by no means the only strategies out there. It is perfectly fine to sit at the table and make the exact same wager every hand. While this strategy is a bit boring for me, if it works for you that is what counts. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking out a deck of cards and developing your own strategy as well.

Blackjack Betting Systems in the Long Run

Blackjack Double Exposure

Ok so we’ve covered the popular blackjack betting systems here and highlighted how they are used but are any of them really useful in the long run? The answer is a resounding NO (this article goes into great depth as to why).

While you might make great short term wins, any betting system will not be a formula for success in the long term. To truly gain an advantage against the casino you must start with learning basic strategy and then moving to card counting.

There are plenty of resources to get started. We recommend:

  • BlackjackInfo’s Blackjack School – A comprehensive free resource that covers both basic strategy and card counting principles.
  • Blackjack Apprenticeship – Run by Colin Jones, a professional counter who featured in the blackjack documentary Holy Rollers, this site provides a paid course offering video training material, private coaching and more.
  • WizardofOdds – The wizard has some great strategy charts but only for 4-8 decks. If you need more customized charts then BlackjackInfo has a good strategy chart builder.
  • HolyMolyCasinos.com – Offers a how to guide on the rules and how to play blackjack as well as other popular casino games.

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There is no perfect system for winning at blackjack. Playing perfect basic strategy, making the right bets at the right times, and counting cards can all help minimize the house edge. A good card counter on a good game can actually swing the edge in their direction.

Most recreational blackjack players aren’t counting cards. However, one of the easiest ways to get caught counting cards in blackjack is with wide bet spreads. If a player continually changes bets from $25 to $1,000 the dealers and pit bosses will usually sense that the player is counting cards. This isn’t the only way to get the most bang for the buck playing blackjack.

Recreational gamblers who are focused on playing with perfect basic strategy can still maximize their betting without getting too crazy or risking time in the casino or more money than necessary. 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:

Player cards total dealt: 9 Total
Dealer showing: 3, 4, 5, 6

Player cards total dealt: 10 Total
Dealer showing: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Player cards total dealt: 11
Dealer showing: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Player cards dealt: Ace-7
Dealer showing: 3, 4, 5, 6

Blackjack Double Down Odds

Player cards dealt: Ace-6
Dealer showing: 3, 4, 5, 6

Player cards dealt: Ace-5
Dealer showing: 4, 5, 6

Player cards dealt: Ace-4
Dealer showing: 4, 5, 6

Player cards dealt: Ace-3
Dealer showing: 5, 6

Player cards dealt: Ace-2
Dealer showing: 5, 6

Player cards dealt: 5-5
Dealer showing: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Doubling down at the right time is one way to reduce the house edge and maximize winnings. Another way to get the most from a blackjack wager when playing with perfect basic strategy is to split hands when it’s appropriate.

Not only does this double the amount of potential winning hands but it also opens up more hands for a potential double down opportunity. Here are the blackjack hands that players should be splitting, according to basic strategy:

Player cards dealt: Ace and Ace
Dealer showing: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Ace

Player cards dealt: 9 and 9
Dealer showing: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 (note: don’t double when the dealer has a 7 showing)

Player cards dealt: 8 and 8
Dealer showing: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Ace

Player cards dealt: 7 and 7
Dealer showing: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Player cards dealt: 6 and 6
Dealer showing: 3, 4, 5, 6

Player cards dealt: 3 and 3
Dealer showing: 4, 5, 6, 7

When to double down blackjack

Player cards dealt: 2 and 2
Dealer showing: 4, 5, 6, 7

Splitting and doubling down blackjack hands at the right time always smart. However, players can get the best returns when allowed to both split and then double down on hands. Unfortunately, this isn’t available at every table in some casinos.

Before sitting down, check the blackjack rules at the table to see if the casino allows players to double after splitting (shorthand for this is DAS) cards. This used to be possible at all tables in all casinos but not today. Blackjack rules may even vary at different tables in a casino. Some casinos only allow players to double after splitting certain cards.

The more changes to the original rules of blackjack usually mean that the house edge is increasing. When the blackjack rules allow players to double after splitting the casino loses a bit of their advantage. Generally, the more restriction on the players making this wager the higher the house edge for the casino.

Always look for the most player-friendly blackjack rules in the casino to get the best returns. Players should learn how to make all the right basic strategy moves. There should probably be a bit of emphasis on learning exactly when to double down and split hands.

One of the reasons many recreational blackjack players don’t learn basic strategy is because the odds and probability take place over time. These gamblers often want to see immediate returns. Making the right moves on these hands can show an immediate bump in the bankroll short term. That’s smart gambling for the short term and long term.