For soft hands, since you can’t double down on more than two cards, any total that would have resulted in a double down, were it only two cards, now must become a hit or stand decision. For example, suppose you are dealt an A-3 against a dealer’s 4 upcard. You hit (per the blackjack chart or table), and draw a 4. A double down hand is the most favorable situation for the blackjack player. The player wins 55% of his or her doubling down hands (bets). The chart is a graphic (double-down.gif). You can right-click on it and select to print it — always in color!

I was playing 6:5 at a strip casino a while back and had consumed just enough free booze that I doubled-down every time I got a blackjack against a deal 2-6. fortunately, I won evey time. But, I wonder how bad my decision was. Anybody done the math? How about if blackjack paid even money? Would it make sense then?

My blackjack appendix 9 is useful to answer questions like this. For example, assuming six decks, and the dealer hits a soft 17, the expected value of doubling on a blackjack against a dealer 5 is 0.622136, and against a 6 is 0.667063. Both are much less than 1.2. Even if a blackjack only pays even money, as is unfortunately sometimes the case now, you should stand on the blackjack. The only game where you should not stand on a blackjack is in Triple Up 21, where you should triple on a blackjack against a dealer 6.You read the chart wrong. The expected return by doubling table shows the expected value based on ONE unit bet. NEVER Double a Blackjack.
You can verify this by looking at the chart for doubling an 11 versus a six versus hitting. The expected value of doubling is exactly double that of hitting.
The expected value on blackjack is 1.2 on a 6-5 game.
The expected value of doubling and hitting A-10 is as follows:

Dealer	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
Double	.4706	.5178	.566	.6147	.6674	.4629	.3507	.2278	.1797	.109
Hit	.2384	.2603	.283	.3073	.3337	.2921	.23	.1583	.1195	.143

I was playing 6:5 at a strip casino a while back and had consumed just enough free booze that I doubled-down every time I got a blackjack against a deal 2-6. fortunately, I won evey time. But, I wonder how bad my decision was. Anybody done the math? How about if blackjack paid even money? Would it make sense then?

My blackjack appendix 9 is useful to answer questions like this. For example, assuming six decks, and the dealer hits a soft 17, the expected value of doubling on a blackjack against a dealer 5 is 0.622136, and against a 6 is 0.667063. Both are much less than 1.2. Even if a blackjack only pays even money, as is unfortunately sometimes the case now, you should stand on the blackjack. The only game where you should not stand on a blackjack is in Triple Up 21, where you should triple on a blackjack against a dealer 6.
I can't believe I'm going to belabor this, now that the Wizard has spoken, but I simply must. What's wrong with the following analysis?
Expected return on $5 bet resulting in a natural = 5 * 1.2 = $6
Expected return on $5 bet doubled on 11 = 10 * 0.667063 = $6.67063

Expected return on $5 bet resulting in a natural = 5 * 1.2 = $6
Expected return on $5 bet doubled on 11 = 5 * 0.667063 = $3.33

Corrected.
The table shows the expected return for one unit , not two.

Expected return on $5 bet resulting in a natural = 5 * 1.2 = $6
Expected return on $5 bet doubled on 11 = 5 * 0.667063 = $3.33

Corrected.
The table shows the expected return for one unit , not two.
Okay. So I can expect to win $3.33 on my initial $5 unit. And another $3.33 on the other $5 unit. Right?Take a look at the chart above. And let's simplify things and say that you are betting $10 and the dealer shows a 6.
Taking the blackjack wins $12.
Whether you decide to hit or double 21 you would always take one card on a six.
Hitting blackjack wins, on average, $3.337.
Doubling blackjack wins, on average, double: $6.674
You don't win $13.34 (.6674 x 20).
Here is the table that makes up the result of hitting blackjack. It is off a little bit because I am using the Wizard's appendix 2 which takes the dealer probability for 8 decks S17.

Your hand	Dealer	17	18	19	20	21	Bust	Total
Hand	Probability	.16564	.10621	.10639	.10159	.09725	.42292	1
12-16	5/13	Lose	Lose	Lose	Lose	Lose	Win	-.05929
17	1/13	Push	Lose	Lose	Lose	Lose	Win	.00088
18	1/13	Win	Push	Lose	Lose	Lose	Win	.02180
19	1/13	Win	Win	Push	Lose	Lose	Win	.03815
20	1/13	Win	Win	Win	Push	Lose	Win	.05415
21	4/13	Win	Win	Win	Win	Push	Win	.27778
Total	1	.02548	.00000	-.01637	-.03126	-.06732	.42292	.3335

The expected value for hitting is 1/2 as much as doubling.
When you hit or double 11 you have a better chance of getting 12-16 than you do 21. The dealer only busts 42% of the time. On the other 58% of the time, the dealer has a chance of beating or pushing you.

Blackjack is an all-time card game favorite!

It’s popular among both online and physical casino gamers for its combination of strategy and chance. They also exist to help you make the best decisions and win you as much money as possible.

By knowing the rules and mastering the basic strategies for blackjack, I’m sure you’ll find yourself getting a hang of it!

With a lot of experience, beating the dealer will soon come easy peasy.

Blackjack Basic Strategy

The goal in mind when it comes to strategy for blackjack is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21 and to minimize the house edge.

You will however need to put your memory to work and take into heart all the necessary information to increase the probability of winnings.

Also, take note that the strategy also changes slightly depending on some variations to the rules and payout amounts of each table. That’s where a blackjack basic strategy chart comes in handy.

They’re basically cheat sheets you can keep on hand to give you options for best moves in given scenarios. The big advantage of playing blackjack online than in physical blackjack tables is not having to worry if these are forbidden.

Factors to Consider when Implementing Strategy

Blackjack rules often have modifications depending on the casino. To optimize your chances of winning money, identify these rules, and get the blackjack strategy chart variation optimized for them.

Factors that can change the blackjack strategy are:

The Number of Decks Used

The easiest to optimize basic strategy is the single-deck game; however, this also allows for ease in card counting.

Casinos want to reduce players’ chances of winning and increase their house edge. That’s why most games now have 4-8 decks. The most common online variant is a 6 and 8 deck game.

Whether the Dealer Stands on Soft 17

This is important because if a player makes a hand of 17 or better, the best the dealer can do is push.

A dealer that will hit soft 17 increases his chances to make 18 to 21 and win against the players. You should prefer a game that stands on soft 17.

Limitations on Splits and Doubles

Allowing splitting improves your weak hand, and increases your winnings two-fold. Doubling allows you to increase your winning amounts.

The “No Peek” Blackjack Rule

If the dealer pulls an ace from the deck as their up card, they will immediately ask players at the table whether they would like to take insurance.

They will; however, continue to deal cards to all active players, allowing them to make decisions.

The house can take the player’s additional chips for splitting and doubling down, on top of their original bet, before a dealer’s blackjack is announced. This increases the house edge by 0.62%.

Allowable Surrender or Early Surrender

Surrender rules are an advantage for the player, in that you can choose to keep half of your original bet rather than play out your hand and lose the entire thing if you feel you don’t have a shot at winning.

Bonus for Players

Some blackjack games have liberal rules. They have the option for payout bonuses for five or more card 21s, 6–7–8 21s, and 7–7–7 21s. This is advantageous to the player.

Blackjack Payout

Make sure you are paid correctly. Payout affects your strategy to decide whether to double down or not. The most common payout is 1:1. Whatever blind wager the player placed at the beginning of the hand is matched and paid out.

Blackjack Strategy Charts

A blackjack strategy chart is a paper or digital guide that tells you how to play your hand based on the game you’re playing, your hand, and the dealer’s hand.

They’re free and can be easily found in every computer search engine. Brick and mortar casinos give them away, too.

In any given instance, these charts serve as a guide whether you should hit, stand, or double. These will give you the basic strategy you need to reduce the house edge from 6-9% to as low as 0.5%.

With lots of practice, you can definitely maximize your winnings.

These charts also serve as the foundation for card counting techniques. All of your more advanced plays and decisions are just based on them.

What do the Abbreviations on the Blackjack Chart Mean?

These are what the abbreviations mean:

• H = Hit
• S = Stand
• Dh = Double if allowed, otherwise hit.
• Ds = Double if allowed, otherwise stand.
• P = Split
• Ph = Split if double after hit is allowed, otherwise hit.
• Pd = Split if double after hit is allowed, otherwise double.
• Ps = Split if double after hit is allowed, otherwise stand.
• Rh = Surrender if allowed, otherwise hit.
• Rs = Surrender if allowed, otherwise stand.
• Rp = Surrender if allowed, otherwise split.

Be keen. Some charts may have differences in abbreviations. They should be listed on the chart to provide order and guidance, though.

How Do I Read the Charts?

The left-hand side of the chart will be your hand. Take note if your hand is a hard, soft, or a pair. Then find it on the left side of the chart.

The top of the chart is the dealer’s up card. Find that on the chart.

Find where your hand and the dealer’s upcard line intersects. This will give you an abbreviation, which will guide you into the move you need to make.

How do I Memorize Strategy Charts?

This could take a lot of time. This is perhaps one of the reasons why people give up on card counting. There’s got to be a lot of work and time involved if you want to take the game seriously.

Experts recommend using flashcards. You can create a flashcard for every hand or group of hands that you may be dealt with along with a dealer up card. The correct action would be on the backside of your flashcard.

You can start by focusing on one type of hand. Like you can memorize all the plays for when you have a soft 18, or all the plays for when the dealer shows a ten.

Do this until you go through them all. It’s up to you how you wish to build your own system of memorization. What’s important is you remain consistent and practice.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart

Here are the charts outlining the basic strategy. They tell you what to do given the value of your hand found on the left, and the card the dealer is showing (right two columns).

Additional Rules

1. If surrendering is allowed, surrender if you have a 16, and a dealer’s up card is a 10. Otherwise hit.
2. If the strategy suggests to double but it is not allowed, then hit. If you get a soft 18, always stand.
3. Never split 4s, 5s, and 10s. Split always your Aces and 8s. This gives you a better hand.
4. Always hit a hard hand of 8. Alternatively, you could go for less than 8 too.
5. Insurance bets are sucker bets. Never take it. It’s far more profitable to risk losing your original wager in the long term than protecting it against a dealer that hits blackjack.
6. Similarly, don’t take even money when you get blackjack. If you’re dealt a blackjack and the dealer is showing an ace, you’ll be offered an even money payout in case the dealer has a blackjack. This instead of more money in the case for example of a 3:2 payout. If you decline and the dealer has blackjack, you’ll push and just get your original bet back anyway.
7. Be keen on side bets too. They rarely offer value.

Blackjack Perfect Strategy Charts

Mastering and following the basic strategy will almost always help you get the right play. However, there are occasions it won’t too.

The perfect blackjack strategy charts depend on slightly different versions of the game.

Blackjack can be played with a single deck or with 4-8 decks. Most casinos nowadays have a dealer deal with one deck or most commonly with six decks.

The other rule to consider is that some casinos require the dealer to stand with a soft 17, and some mandate hitting with a soft 17. it will give you better odds if the dealer has to stand with a soft 17.

Rules to Watch Out

You could actually enjoy a 1% advantage over the house edge with an early surrender option, and other allowable rules if you use the perfect strategy.

There isn’t much standardization for blackjack though. Casinos constantly mix and match rules and payout amounts to create profitability for them, yet remain appealing to players.

Before going into any of the charts, do take note of the following rules below that could possibly tweak the expected return in favor of the casino:

• Blackjack pays 6 to 5, 7 to 5 or even money
• Dealer hits on soft 17
• Player can only double on certain numbers or no doubling at all
• Player can only split to two or three hands or no re-splitting at all
• Doubling after splitting is not allowed
• Seven or more decks used
• House wins in the event of a push

Single Deck Blackjack Charts

The first set of covers what to do if the dealer stands on soft 17. The second set shows the strategy if the dealer expects to hit on a soft 17.

Each includes three charts that are free for you to use. This also depends on whether your hand is hard, soft, or split.

Blackjack Double Down Chart Example

Single Deck, Dealer Stands on Soft 17

Single Deck, Dealer Hits on Hard 17

4- to 8-Deck Blackjack Charts

The most common multi-deck blackjack is a six-deck. The same strategies; however, may be applied for other multi-deck games.

Again, the first set is for a situation wherein the dealer is required to stand on a soft 17. The second set is for a situation wherein the dealer expects to hit on a soft 17. Each set includes three charts for hard, soft, and split hands.

4-8 Decks, Dealer Stands on Soft 17

4-8 Decks, Dealer Hits on Soft 17

Strategy in Text

Perhaps a strategy chart gives you an eyesore. If you’re not a visual learner, fret not. Memorizing these phrases could still help you learn blackjack strategies and play the game better!

Surrender:

• Surrender a hard 16 when the dealer shows a 9, 10 or an ace.
• Surrender a hard 15 when the dealer shows a 10.
• Never surrender a pair of 8s.

Split:

• Always split pairs of aces & 8s.
• Split 2s and 3s if dealer shows a 4-7
• Split 4s if dealer shows a 5-6*
• Split 6s if dealer shows a 3-6 (and 2s*)
• Split 7s if dealer shows a 2-7.
• Split 9s if the dealer shows a 2-6, or 8-9.
• Never split a pair of 5s, or 10’s.

* Only when doubling after splitting is allowed.

Double down on:

• Hard 9 when the dealer has 3-6.
• Hard 10, but not when the dealer shows an ace or 10.
• Hard 11, but not when the dealer shows an ace.
• Soft 13-14 if dealer has 5-6.
• Soft 15-16 if dealer has 4-6.
• Soft 17-18 if dealer has 3-6.

Hit:

• Always hit when you have a hand that is a hard 11 or less.
• Always hit when you have a hand that is a soft 17 or less.
• Hit on a hard 12 if the dealer does not have 4-6.
• Hit on hard 13-16 if the dealer does not have 2-6.
• Hit on a soft 18 unless the dealer shows A, 9, or 10.

Stand:

• Always stand on a hard 12 when the dealer shows 4-6.
• Always stand on hard 13 to 15, when the dealer shows 2-6.
• Always stand on hard 17 or greater.
• Stand on soft 18, otherwise hit when the dealer has 10, 9 or an ace.
• Always stand on soft 19 or greater.

The amount of information we’ve provided could be overwhelming. There’s a lot to remember.

Perhaps starting with learning basic strategy is the best way to go. And when you do feel like moving on from basic strategy, then the perfect blackjack strategy is just waiting for you to get your player’s hands on them!

Blackjack Double Up System

If you don’t however have much time to learn, I recommend sticking with basic strategy. With basic strategy, you’ll almost always make the right play. If you do encounter a few mistakes, it won’t cost you too much.

Some casinos will allow you to refer to a blackjack strategy chart while you’re playing. You can print them out ahead and refer to them. This is again a big advantage for online gaming.

Some players in a land-based casino might be thrown off. Also, do focus on the charts that are applicable to the game you’ll be playing.

Let’s get started!

By mastering the blackjack strategy and by playing tons of hands, you’ll be drilling them into your head. Just remember that if ever you forget the perfect strategy, you’ll always have a basic strategy to the rescue!

Double Down Blackjack Meaning

We hope this article has broadened your knowledge on blackjack, and hopefully increased your chances of winning hands. For any questions, feel free to contact us right here on njnodeposit.com.