Doubling down is one of the most important moves in blackjack as it can put real profits in your pocket, slashing down the house edge by 0.33%. But the tricky part is that you shouldn’t double down in every hand because you have to know when to double down. Do it wrong and you are throwing away your advantage. When to double down? This guide shows you exactly when, so the next time you play at a top live casino Singapore, like WClub, you can do it with confidence.
What Exactly Is Doubling Down?
Just as there is a perfect time to hit or stand in blackjack, there is also a perfect time to double down. But compared to the first 2 moves, this one is optional, and you can make it after you receive your first two cards. In Blackjack, double down, you are doubling the amount of your initial stake. In return, you will be receiving only one more card, and that means you cannot hit one more card any longer.
So, compared to hitting in blackjack, this is an aggressive move, and you should only be making a decision when your hand total is in a strong position. That means, you will only be doing it when you know that taking another card will not get you busted and the dealer has a weak upcard.
And like when you are deciding to hit or to stand, you must also consider the dealer’s upcard and your total before you decide to double down. See if the dealer’s hand is in a strong or weak position.
| Dealer’s Upcard | Position |
| 2 to 6 | Weak |
| 7 to Ace | Strong |
Table Rules
Before we go any further, let’s establish some ground rules about live blackjack that you can play at WClub Casino Singapore.
The table uses 8 decks of cards
Dealers stand on Soft 17 (favorable for the player)
Choose a table that allows Double Down on Any Card (this is advantageous for you), though some of the Live Blackjack tables only allow doubling on 9, 10, and 11
When To Double Down On A Hard Hand?
Take note that A HARD HAND is a hand without an Ace, or you count it as 1, because this is crucial if you’re planning to double down on your hard total.
You always DOUBLE DOWN on HARD 11.
Why? It’s because you’re in a strong starting point. After all, you have a high chance of getting a 21 since the most common card value in the deck is 10
You DOUBLE DOWN on a H10 when the DEALER’s UPCARD is 2 to 9.
Why? Because you are also in a strong position here, and since the dealer is not showing an Ace or a 10, you can press your advantage.
You DOUBLE DOWN when your hand is HARD 9 and the DEALER’s UPCARD is weak (2 to 6).
You can confidently double down because the dealer’s upcard is in a weak position and they have a high chance of busting. You can take this opportunity to get more money on the table by pressing your advantage.
When To Double Down On A Soft Hand?
You have an Ace on your hand and you count it as 11, then it is a SOFT HAND or have a SOFT TOTAL.
And you can DOUBLE DOWN on your S16, S17, or S18 when the DEALER’s UPCARD is weak.
Why so? It’s because you cannot bust when you take one more card, and you have a chance to improve your strong total. Besides, the dealer is in a weak position that gives you perfect timing to double the amount of your bet.
When you have a SOFT TOTAL of 13, 14, or 15 and the DEALER’S UPCARD is 5 or 6, you can also DOUBLE DOWN.
Why so? The dealer’s visible card is still weak, and they have a very high chance of busting, giving you a great opportunity to press to your advantage.
When NOT To Double Down?
While there are cases that you have a strong hand, you must still consider the dealer’s upcard and avoid doubling down in certain situations like:
Against a dealer’s Ace
Against a dealer’s 10-value card
When you have H12 or higher
If the blackjack rules restrict doubling down after splitting (DDAS) or on certain totals.
Wrap Up
Serious live blackjack players love doubling down because they have an opportunity to make more money. And if you want to follow their steps, you must learn the fundamentals of doubling down. If you are ready to press in your advantage when you’re in a good position, start exploring WClub’s top live casino providers and see what blackjack games fit your style.
FAQs:
What Does DDAS Exactly Mean And How Does It Work?
This is one of the blackjack table rules that allows doubling down after splitting. If DDAS is allowed, you can further reduce the house edge and take the opportunity to double down the amount you bet after splitting your pairs.
What’s The Worst Hand To Double Down?
It’s the H12, because even if the dealer is in a weak position, there is a high risk that one card will get you bust when you hit a 10-value card.
Should I Always Double On 11?
Not all the time, you can double your bet against the dealer’s 2 to 10, but not when the dealer is showing a 7, 8, 9, 10, or ACE, and you have a Hard 11.
