Blackjack Basic Strategy: Free Card, Table, Chart, Spreadsheet: Split Pairs; Double Down; Hit Stand. The traditional method of learning the Basic Strategy: all decisions in a table. The dealer up card is listed across (horizontally), while the player's first two cards are listed vertically in the leftmost column. Popular blackjack variations don’t make too much difference to basic strategy and so you should be confident that the general basic strategy presented here is close enough to cover certain common variations such as the dealer hitting soft 17 and double-down after splitting.

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A few months ago, we told you about common mistakes made in blackjack. This week, we are going to cover a basic strategy that many beginners struggle with. You’ll often face multiple situations in a session of blackjack where you can opt to double down on a hand. However, knowing the proper times to do so can make a huge impact on your long-term profitability in the game.

Today you’ll learn more about doubling down in online blackjack at online casinos in Australia and some simple strategies for doing so.

What Does it Mean to Double Down in Blackjack?

When playing blackjack online, you’ll come across certain situations where you can double down on a hand. Doubling down allows you to place an additional bet on your hand that’s equal to your initial bet. However, the catch is that you only get one additional card.

You’ll only have the option to double down after the initial deal. If you split a pair, you cannot double down in most games. After you hit, you can no longer double down.

If you win the double down bet, you will win 1:1 on both bets.

Basic Strategy For Doubling Down

Some online blackjack games will allow you the option to double down after any dealt hand. Doubling down whenever you wish without employing a proper strategy will drain your bankroll quickly. Below are the times you should double down in most blackjack games:

Hard 10 or 9 – If the dealer shows a low card and your cards total nine or ten without an ace, you can double down.

Soft 18, 17, or 16 – When your hand totals 16, 17, or 18 with an ace in your hand, double down when the dealer shows a low card.

11 vs Low Card – When the dealer has a six or under and you have an 11, double down. The reason is that a dealer must hit until they have 17. They will bust more often, giving you better odds for winning.

Don’t Double Down in These Situations

The above strategy is a solid double down strategy for most blackjack games. Like any strategy, there are exceptions. Here are some times where you should avoid doubling up, even if you have the hands listed above:

Dealer Showing an Ace – If the dealer has an ace, don’t double up. When the dealer has blackjack, the best you can hope for is to hit 21 and push. When they don’t have it, chances are they will have a high hand close to 21.

Dealer Shows 7 or Higher – You’ll hear conflicting recommendations here. Some strategy experts say to avoid doubling down when the dealer shows a nine or better. That’s still a bit too loose a strategy. With a 7 or 8, the dealer could have 17 through 19, and you’ll lose your bet more often.

Additional Tips for Doubling Down in Blackjack

When playing blackjack online, pay attention to the table rules. Australian online casinos offer multiple blackjack variants, so don’t assume the rules are all the same.

Blackjack Double Strategy

For example, if your game has the dealer hit up to 16 instead of 17, the dealer will bust less often. As such, the profitability for doubling down drops.

Also, there are some online blackjack games that only permit you to double down when holding 10 or 11. That takes away most of your options for the move and increases the house edge against you. Pick a different game.

All online casinos in Australia offer blackjack, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice your new double down strategy. If you would rather practice without risk, several online casinos such as Joka Room offer free blackjack games. Once you’ve mastered doubling down, you can graduate to real money online casino games. Using the above tips will help you win more while playing blackjack online.

All blackjack players should be aware of the most useful blackjack strategy - the basic strategy. In order to become the person to beat, they should be well versed of this strategy. This basic blackjack strategy equips the players with the best game options based on his total in contrast to the upcard of the dealer. This system has been in the works for several years through countless research and computer simulations. The end result is the best mathematically calculated choices of all time, the true Perfect strategy.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Double Downs

This blackjack strategy's main premise is that the best moves should be based on the player's cards and the cards the dealer shows. A player has to know the simple strategies, when to double down and when to split pairs in order to master the basic strategies.

The simple strategy is the first strategy that needs to be learned. There are 7 rules that can be easily mastered. These rules can be used in 90% of all blackjack games you will play. This is the backbone of basic strategy.

The double down happens when the player receives only one additional card in exchange for doubling his bet on his first two cards.

No player wants two eights in his deck. When this happens, a general rule to follow is to split the two eights to have a bigger chance of getting a 17 or more total. It is also sensible to split aces. Practice playing blackjack and improve your skills for free online. Choose the best casino bonus that suits you from the massive list at the leading bonusbeaver.com site.

Mastering the Basic Strategy

No player can truly master the basic strategy just by simply walking into a casino and playing blackjack. Practice is imperative and the best way to do so is by playing and using these strategies. If you have mastered these techniques, it will be easy to master the basic blackjack strategy.

Basic Strategy Blackjack Game

While going through the deck of cards, decide if you are going to hit, stand, split or double down. Combine a deck of two or more so you can go through the cards swiftly.

Basic Strategy Blackjack Double Deck

To completely master the basic strategy, there are 2 additional refinement areas that you need to pay attention to. These areas are the guidelines for splitting pairs and doubling down. They do not alter any rules you have learned but extend them instead.