Doubling down is a popular blackjack strategy and one that is favored by most experienced players. It involves doubling your bet after you’ve been dealt your first two cards. Depending on the individual casino rules, you may be allowed to double down on any two cards, or you may be permitted to double down only if your two cards total 10 or 11. You also may be allowed to double down after splitting your two cards. Doubling on anything may also be referred to as “DOA,” and doubling after splitting as “DAS.”

The reason behind doubling down as a favorable strategy for the player is simply that you are doubling your bet (and therefore your winning potential) at a time when the odds are more in your favor. The optimum situation for doubling down is when the casino is holding a favorable game such as the one with the dealer show. As we mentioned earlier, doubling down may be permitted on any of the first two cards, but doubling after splitting is not allowed.

Here are some tips on when and when not to double down:

• Double down when the dealer shows a face card – As we mentioned above, you should double down when the dealer shows a face card. face cards are worth 10 and aces worth either 11 or 1. Because the dealer is more likely to have a face card than any other card, the odds are much more in your favor.
• Double down against the dealer’s seven – If the dealer is showing a card with the value of 7 or above, you are better off staying with your two cards. The odds are much more in your favor than if you draw to a ten and have to double down.
• Double down against a dealer’s card equal to or lower than yours – As we mentioned above, you should double down if the dealer shows a card equal to or lower than yours. Unlike the ten example above, you will have better odds if you draw to a nine.
• Double down against a dealer’s card equal to or lower than your own – You may sometimes double down if you have a better hand than the dealer. Odds are much better if you have a hand worth more than 20 points.
• Never double down on a dealer’s card equal to or lower than 18 – If the dealer has a card which is equal to or lower than your card, you should stand. This is especially true if you are a beginner.
• Double down only if the dealer’s card is a 2 through a 6 – If the dealer has a card which is a two, three, four, five, or six, you should double down. But, if you have a two or three-card hand, you should stand.
• Double down only if the dealer has a 2 through a 9 – If the dealer has a card which is a two, three, four, five, or six, you should double down. But, if you have a two or three-card hand, you should stand.
• Double down if the dealer has a 2 or a 9 – As we mentioned above, you should double down if the dealer has a card which is equal to or lower than your card. In other words, if you have a two-card hand, you should double down, whereas if you have a three-card hand, you should stand.
• Never double down on a dealer’s card of 8 or 9 – If the dealer has a card which is equal to or lower than your cards, you should stand. This is especially true for the Premium Payouts.
• Always stand on a dealer’s card of 4, 5 or 6 – You are more likely to be dealt a high card when you stand than when you hit.
• Hit if the dealer’s card is a 2 through a 6 – Unless the dealer has a card which is worth more than your hand, you should hit. The odds are better than folding.
• Double down if the dealer shows a 7 or higher – You should double down on any hand of 8, 9, or 10. Be careful with 20 and 21 as these are more likely to produce a bust card, and you will be bust if the dealer beats you.
• Stay in the game – As stated above, you should double down if the dealer shows a card of 8 or 9. Do not double down on a dealer’s card of 7, as these are likely to produce a bust card. Also, a dealer’s card of 10 is worth more than a 9.
• Bully the Dealer – It is usually beneficial to play in a short handed game, where there are not that many players. When there are two or three players, some people keep hitting, in an attempt to be the last man standing, hence the term “Egp88.”