Online Blackjack Optimum Double Down Strategy

• Published: November 6, 2014
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Double down is one of the moves available to the player in online blackjack. Many novice players make to with the common moves like hit and stand and ignore moves like double down because these moves are optional and they have not taken the trouble to understand the optimum strategy. By doing so, they are settling for lower average returns. This article explains the move and outlines optimum double down strategy.

The double down option has to be used by the online blackjack player after he is dealt the first two cards but before his first hit. Once the player activates this move, an additional wager equal to the original one is automatically placed. After that the player will be dealt one and only one card. This is what deters novice players from exercising this option.

Double Down optimum strategy has to be memorized. You have to first check if your dealt hand has a hard total or a soft total. A soft total contains an ace that can be valued as either 1 or 11. A hard total is one that is not a soft total. The double down optimum strategy for hard totals is as follows. You should never double with hard totals of 12 or more. Also you should never double down with a hard total of 8 or less. In the case of the remaining hard totals of 9, 10 or 11, the decision depends on the dealer’s face up card. You should always double down on a hand value of 11, unless the dealer has an ace. In that event the dealer has a chance of getting a blackjack and it is not worth risking the extra bet. With a hard total of 10 you should double down unless the dealer’s face up card is an ace or a 10 value card. With a hard total of 9 you should double down unless the dealer’s face up card is two, ace or valued at 7 or more.

You can be more aggressive while doubling down with soft totals because you have the cushion of converting the ace to a value of 1. The exact optimum strategy is given below. Double down on a soft 17 when the dealer’s face up card is a three, four, five or six. Double down on a soft 15 or 16 when the dealer’s face up card is a four, five or six. Double down on a soft 13 or 14 when the dealer’s face up card is a five or six. In other cases do not double down.