Doubling Down
In many casinos, the player may double down after receiving the first two cards, no matter what these cards are.
We shall now explain how to exercise the option: Assume that after receiving the first two cards, Jack decides to double down. When the blackjack player will say “double down” (or “double”) and will double his in by adding an equal amount (placed to the left or right of tin bet). He will be dealt one, and only one, card. This now consists of three cards. The settlement will be made by comparing the value of this hand with the value of the dealer’s hand.
The “double down ritual” is somewhat different when tin are dealt face down. In this case the player says “double c places his cards on the table, face up, and doubles the initial Again, he will be dealt one, and only one card, face down.
In general, the blackjack dealer will understand that you intend to down, when you double your bet, even if you do not say “down.” There are, however, cases when it is not clear whether Player wants to double, or to split (see the next section).
The player should not double on any hand of hard value more. Hard 11 is, in general, a very good hand for doubling down.
Since, for instance, a four-deck pack contains 64 tens; the player who doubles on 11 has a good chance of ending with a hand of value 21.
Judicious double-down decisions increase the player’s chances. When the player should double down is indicated in the following chapters.
As we said above, in many casinos, the player is allowed to double down on any first two cards. This is not however, a policy universally adopted. For instance, in downtown Reno, the player may double only on hands having the values 10 or 11 (at the MGM, in Reno, the player may double on any two cards). In Puerto Rican casinos, for example, the player may double only on 11. This is very bad. Now it is true that in Puerto Rico the weather is warm, and the blue and white Tropical Ocean and sandy beaches are beautiful. But this has nothing to do with blackjack. I hope that the Puerto Rican casinos will change their rules, so that we can also play blackjack there.