If you’re playing blackjack at a table, it’s important to understand the basic strategy for doubling down. When you want to double down, you put more money into the table (usually $2 or $3), then draw two new cards.
If you have a higher total than the dealer, you can win money by playing according to your basic strategy. However, if the dealer has a higher total, he or she can either stand and lose the original wager, or hit and lose both wagers.
If you want to double down and are unsure of whether the dealer will allow it, it’s usually safest to ask before making your bet. Many casinos have “doubling allowed” signs in front of certain tables where doubling is allowed.
If the dealer doesn’t allow doubling, simply don’t make the bet – you won’t lose anything by not trying.
There are times when doubling down is not the best option. For example, if you have only two cards and are fairly sure that the dealer has a poor hand (a low total), it may be wiser not to risk it all by doubling down.
Likewise, if you think that another player at the table may be counting cards (looking for telltale signs that he or she is about to hit), it might not be a good idea to risk everything by doubling down. In these cases, simply playing according to your basic strategy is usually best.
Ultimately, there is no “right” way to play blackjack – each player has to find his or her own winning strategy. However, understanding how to double down is an important part of that strategy.
