Written By: CertifiedGambling.com

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 and against the house. The optimum situation for doubling down is when the dealer shows a face card — this raises the potential for the dealer to go bust. Compare online casinos before you pick one as some have better blackjack limits for your budget.

Here two short and sweet rules that may help you: Doubling after splitting reduces the house edge by .13%, but doubling on 10 or 11 only increases the house edge. Even if you don’t memorize the numbers, you can easily remember the theory.

Here is another rule that you can easily memorize: The house (casino) is at a disadvantage when the dealer is showing a 2 through a 6. Statistically it has been shown that the dealer is more likely to bust when the dealer’s up cards include a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. So remember that when the dealer is showing these cards, this is a good time for you to double!

Though the odds are less significantly in your favor, it is nevertheless considered good strategy to double down when your cards equal 10 and the dealer’s equal 9, or when your cards equal 11 and the dealer’s equal 10. Though the percentages are not as strongly in your favor as in the situation in the paragraph above, they still are tilted toward you. Therefore you should confidently take advantage of them by doubling down in these circumstances, knowing that, though you will not win every time, in the long run you will come out ahead.

Be advised that, as with any other gaming, you will run into times when you hit a losing streak, when you keep busting or when the dealer simply keeps outdrawing you. This is the fabled “luck of the draw”; it can be good luck or bad luck. But it is just that: luck. It does not invalidate the theories we have just explained to you. Luck is what takes place when you prepare for opportunity – and hopefully what takes place when you download the online casino of your choice and sit down to play some blackjack.