In blackjack, a “double down” is when a player bets two chips instead of one. When the player hits, they receive two new cards, and if they are still in the lead, the dealer then deals them three new cards.
If the player is not in the lead after playing their original card and the new cards, they then “hit again” and must either match or exceed the total number of points shown on the two new cards to win. The dealer also deals them three new cards at this point. .
If the player doubles down and loses, they receive back their original bet plus any additional chips that were used to make the double down. If the player doubles down and wins, they keep all of their original chips and any additional chips that were used to make the double down.
When a player doubles down, they are signalling to the dealer that they are willing to risk more money – either because they have more confidence in their ability to win or because they are feeling particularly lucky at that moment. Double downs can be a sign of desperation or aggression on the part of a player, so it is important for them to be aware of how their behaviour is perceived by other players.
Double downs should also be considered carefully before being executed – if it is clear that the odds of winning are too high for what is being risked, it may be better to just stick with one chip.
