Blackjack Double Down Rules

• Double down on 10, 11 - Almost universal, this rule allows doubling down on two cards totaling 10 or 11 without using an Ace. On extremely rare occasions, you might find a casino that only allows double down on 11. These games should be avoided as the penalty is .45-.52.
• Double down on 9 - This Blackjack rule adds two cards totaling nine to the double down opportunities. Player advantage of .08-.13.
• Double down on 8 - This rule adds two cards totaling eight to the double down opportunities. The gain is minimal if not counting cards.
• Double down any hard count - This rule adds all other totals without an Ace. The gain is minimal.
• Double down after split - This rule allows doubling down on hands that have been created by splitting a pair. This is common in Atlantic City, fairly common in Las Vegas and available at about 30% of the world's casinos. This rule has an advantage of .12-.14.
• Double down on soft count - This common option allows doubling down on any first two cards, even if one of the cards is an Ace. This rule has an advantage of .08-.13.
• Soft Double A9 or A8 only - This limits the soft double hands.
• Ace Counts as 1 - In a soft double, the Ace always counts as 1. So, if you double an A8 and draw an Ace, the hand counts as 10, not 20.
• Double down on three cards - This rare option allows doubling down on two or three cards.
• Double on any number of cards - This rare Blackjack rule allows doubling down in almost any circumstance. Advantage of .23. Common in Spanish 21 and SuperFun 21; but the advantage is different.
• Redouble - Here you can double and then double again after drawing a card on the first double.
• Soft Double Down counts as hard hand - With this lousy rule, an Ace in a hand to be doubled always counts as eleven.
• Discard Double - Very good but not common rule that allows you to throw away your Double Down card and draw another. This requires two strategies. The first strategy specifies when you will Double. The second specifies when you will throw out the DD card.
• Hit after Double Down - This rule does not actually exist. However, in some casinos Surrender after Double Down does. Inexperienced dealers will sometimes allow you to Hit after a Double in these casinos. This is very valuable.

Blackjack Rules main page