1. How To Signal Double And Split In Blackjack
2. Hands To Split In Blackjack
3. Blackjack Split Rules
4. Blackjack Splitting Cards
5. Blackjack Split Mean

Blackjack seems to be one of the easiest games among all those provided in the casinos. However, this is not quite the case. When you start thinking about this game deeper, you find that there are many tricky spots. One of those relates to the use of special moves available to players. In this article, we are going to provide you with a complete guide on how and when to use (or not to use) the double down move.

Never split 4s, 5s and 10s. Splitting 10s is a common mistake made in Blackjack. By Splitting a total value of 20, you are decreasing your chances of beating the dealer twofold and relying on an Ace to improve your stance. Card counters who have a good knowledge of what cards are left in the deck, may choose to split 10s. To signal that you want to hit, you will use your forefinger and middle finger to scratch the table towards yourself. Another way to signal a “Hit” is to tap on the table with your first two fingers. As a beginner, it is good to say “Hit” when you do this action. Oct 18, 2020 And you never split a pair of 5’s. You can learn more about when to split and not split in the last section on this page. 5 – Understand Insurance. Blackjack insurance is a special side wager the dealer offers the players when the dealer has an ace showing. You have the opportunity to place a second wager of half your original wager.

In addition, when you play blackjack at a land-based casino — there is a way to signal split to the dealer. You simply place the next bet close to your original wager and form the letter V with your index and middle fingers. It won’t hurt to also say ‘split’ if you consider it necessary or the casino employs such alternate rules. Mar 27, 2019 The hand signal for a split, which applies for both face down and face up games, is to raise your index and middle fingers in the shape of a ‘V’.

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What Is Double Down in Blackjack?

There are several options you have in blackjack that allow you to make winning moves during the game. There is also a move that relates to increasing the stakes. One such option is double down.

Double down is a move where the player decides to double his bet and takes one more card. The important thing about this move is that you won’t be able to take a second card further into this match.

Due to the essence of this move, it should only be used, when you feel more confident about your chances of winning in the current match than usual. There are basic principles that we recommend being adhered to by all players who want to use this move. There are also advanced principles if you want to use more comprehensive strategies and get a deeper insight into the game.

In the beginning, it will be useful to start with the basic rules that explain the positive and negative conditions for the double down move.

When to Double Down in Blackjack: Rules

Before you read these rules, consider the fact that any land casino or online casino you play in can have specific limitations on doubling. Get acquainted with the restrictions on the corresponding page before starting the match.

1. Generally, having 9-11is almost always a good position for doubling down. Double down on hard 11 if the dealer’s card is 2-8, on hard 10 in case the dealer has 2-9, and on hard 9 when the dealer has 3-6.
2. In case you get an Ace and another card is 7 or less, it is necessary to be attentive to the dealer’s up card. If your second card is as high as 7, you have more options to double down – do it on the dealer’s face cards 2-6. For Ace and 6 it’s dealer’s 3-6. For Ace and 4,5, it’s dealer’s 4,5,6. And last, for Ace 2,3 double down only if the dealer got 5,6.
3. In some casinos, when doubling down, you can place a bet less than the initial one instead of doubling it. It is better to avoid that, even if you are a cautious player. The thing is that with good initial cards like in the points above, you have the highest chance t0 win. Thus, decreasing the stake would be a loss for you.

When Not to Double Down in Blackjack

Along with the positive scenarios for doubling down, there are negatives as well. These are the basic initial card you shouldn’t double down with:

1. Although 11 hard is one of the best hand for doubling down, that doesn’t mean you should use this move constantly. There are high chances the dealer will have a better position if the upcard is more than 8. That means that your opponent is likely to get a good combination initially.
2. Ace on the dealer’s side means you shouldn’t double down at all. Even if you have positive 11 hard or an Ace as well. Consider that the dealer won’t be limited by one card to add if you double down, so it’s better not to take a risk.
3. No doubling down should be done for the initial hand with the hard sum exceeding 11. Even if you have hard 12 only, this one point decreases your chances of winning with one additional card only dramatically. The reason 11 is the border sum for doubling is the fact that with 11, there is no chance of getting more than 21 points. On the other hand, with hard 12, you can get 10, Jack, Queen, or King. As you can see, there is too much risk for doubling in this case.

Doubling Down in Blackjack: Charts

There can be many tricky situations when you need to make a choice among the strategies available. Double down might be the best choice, though it the right move, might not be obvious. To get a better understanding of the rules listed above, consider the situations you might face when playing blackjack.

Your Hand: 6-3

Dealer: 5

At first, you should count your total that makes 9. Consider that it is a hard nine, which means you do not have an Ace in your hand. This is a very important detail that should have a great impact on your decision.

How To Signal Double And Split In Blackjack

In the meantime, the dealer has 5. Due to the mathematical calculations, in case the dealer has 3-6, you have the highest chances to get better results if doubling down. Thus, your best option would be to make this move and likely to enjoy your winnings.

Your Hand: Ace and 7

Dealer: 5

With your Ace, the hand becomes soft. Here you can get either 8 or 18. This provides you with a wide range of positive combinations, as you can appoint the value of Ace for your benefit.

If the next card is 3 or less, you will get a Blackjack and triple your winnings. And you also can get something like 9-10 (or equal) or even another Ace.

Now, we come to the dealer’s upcard, which is 5. As we can derive from mathematical calculations, the highest chances for you to win with such a hand occur in the case where the dealer’s upcard is 2-6. Thus, in this scenario, choosing to double down would be a good option.

Your Hand: 5,6

Dealer: Ace

You get the 11 hard cap – a very good combination that is the most desired for the initial hand. This is one of the best combinations for doubling down, and you may already be ready to make this move. However, let’s not forget about the dealer’s up card.

We see that it is an Ace. Ace means 1 or eleven, and we do not really know what other cards there is. Maybe, the best option for you would be to surrender; in any case, you should definitely avoid using the double down strategy here. Considering the flexibility of combinations available for the dealer, your chances to win drop dramatically.

This situation can seem really controversial, though. You get hard 11, the dealer gets an Ace, so why not take a risk? That’s what many novice players do, and practice shows that it is usually a mistake. Do not forget that if an Ace is good for you when doubling down, it is even better for the dealer, as he has more options with several hits available.

When to Double Down in Blackjack Sheet

Take a look at these tables to help you remember the best soft hands to double down.

If the card total value in your soft hand is 13 or lower, doubling down would be a good idea.

However, considering the fact double down can be just another move in your strategy, you may want to know the profit for 1 dollar bet per match. Based on the statistical analysis we have managed to calculate the profit where possible.

In the table below you can see a profit per one dollar (if 20, then it means 20 cents).

Doubling down FAQ

As you can see, the best combinations for double down are concentrated when you get hard 10 or 11. These are the most profitable to double down. How can you use this table? The thing is there are other moves available – Surrender, Hit, and Stand, which you can use. Thus, it may be better to use another one, rather than double down. Use this table to make a choice among these moves based on statistical profits.

Can You Double Down After Hitting?

Can You Split And Double Down?

Should You Always Double Down on 11?

How to signal a double down?

Signaling when doubling down: place the additional wager close to the initial bet and point your finger on the chips (not applicable to your favorite live casino blackjack games).

Place the additional bet near the initial one and point your finger on the chips to make sure the dealer has noticed. Note that in some casinos, you are allowed to bet less than 100% of your initial bet when doubling down. Though, many bettors have figured out that it is not the best strategy for this move.

Other Blackjack Strategies

Hands To Split In Blackjack

Double down is not the only strategy you can use in Blackjack. A variety of strategies is something that makes this game so engaging. An ability to define the best moment for the specified strategy can bring you to profitable gambling.

Split

Split is all about dividing your initial hand into two separate hands. When you get your first two cards, it is possible to split them into two hands, that are treated separately afterward. That means that for each hand, you place the same bet. If used right, this strategy can increase your winnings dramatically.

Hit & Stand

Hit means that you take another card from the deck. That card is added to your hand, and the sum is calculated then. There are no limitations to the number of cards you can take until the sum exceeds or makes 21. Stand means that you are done with taking additional cards and that the dealer can make his move. This option is chosen when you feel you have rested on the best combination possible.

Surrender

Surrender is a strategy that allows you to give up losing only half of your bet. This strategy can be used when you see that the dealer’s hand is much better than yours. Thus, if you feel that the chances to win are low, it can be the best option to choose from.

Conclusion

Correct usage of double down won’t increase your chances to win, and still, it can increase your winnings. Moreover, combining double down with split can bring a cumulative positive effect. The only thing you need to consider – different casinos can have different rules and restrictions when it comes to double down.

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When playing blackjack at a physical or land-based casino, the most frequent decision you’ll have to make is whether to hit or stand. While you can gain a feel for this over time simply through experience, you can expedite the process by studying up on the best moves to make in any given situation. If you’re ready to win more cash during blackjack games, read our handy guide to learn when to hit and when to stand.

Master the Basics

Before we delve into strategies, we want to make sure that you have a firm grasp on the basics of hitting and standing. The main premise of blackjack is to get a hand whose total exceeds the dealer’s hand, but without going over 21. When you hit, this means that you want to draw another card to try to improve your hand’s total. Conversely, when you stand, you are satisfied with your hand’s total and don’t want to draw any more cards. If you signal to the dealer that you want to stand, your hand for the round is completed. If you hit and your hand exceeds 21, you’ve busted.

We have two important gambling terms for you to memorize before learning strategies: hard hand and soft hand. A hard hand is any hand that doesn’t contain an ace, or in which an ace’s value is only 1. A 10-8 and a 7-A-10 hand are both hard 18s. A soft hand contains an ace that’s counted as an 11. For instance, an A-7 hand is a soft 18. If one of the first two cards you are dealt is an ace, you have a soft hand. This gives you an advantage. The ace has a value of 11, but if you take a hit and go over 21, its value reverts to 1. This eliminates the risk of busting after that hit, thus giving you the freedom to make moves that would normally be risky.

Now that you know the basic definitions, we’ll go through the circumstances in which you should hit or stand. We’ll provide you with the best strategies, as well as blackjack hit/stand tables that you can save for future reference.

Hitting and Standing with a Hard Hand

When playing blackjack with a hard hand, we would recommend the following:

• When you are dealt a total of 5-8, always hit.
• When you are dealt 9, hit if the dealer shows a 2 or a 7 through ace.
• If you have 10, hit if the dealer shows an ace or a 10.
• If your hand is 11, hit only if the dealer shows an ace.
• For a hand of 12, stand if the dealer shows a 4 through 6. If they show a 2, 3, or a 7 through ace, hit.
• When you have a hand of 13 through 16, stand if the dealer reveals a hand of 2 through 6. Otherwise, hit.
• When you are dealt 17 through 21, you should always stand.

Reference Chart

Blackjack hit or stand on a hard hand cheat sheet.

If you’re playing a multi-deck game and you have a hard 17, double down instead of taking a hit.

You’ll need to make some minor tweaks to our strategy, depending on the number of decks and rules you’re playing with. If you’re playing in a double-deck game, don’t hit when you have a 9 and the dealer has 2. If you have an 11 against the dealer’s ace, don’t hit either. In both cases, you should double down.

And lastly, if you’re playing in a single-deck game, double down under the following circumstances:

• You have 8 and the dealer has 5 or 6.
• You have 9 against the dealer’s 2.
• You have 11 and the dealer has an ace.

Hitting and Standing With a Soft Hand

Remember, you can’t bust a soft hand with a one-card hit. Taking that into consideration, our strategy for playing with a soft hand is much simpler than our hard hand strategy. Keep the following moves in mind:

• If you have a soft 19 or 20, you should always stand. You are unlikely to get a stronger hand than this.
• For a soft 18 against the dealer’s 2 through 8, stand. If the dealer shows 9, 10, or an ace, hit.
• If your total is soft 17 or less, you should always hit.

What Are Your Other Options?

Hitting and standing aren’t the only options available to you in a game of blackjack. The following moves are also possible:

Blackjack Split Rules

— Split. If you are initially dealt two cards of the same value, you can split your hand. You’ll place an additional wager equivalent to your first one, and then manage two hands rather than 1.

Blackjack Splitting Cards

— Double Down.Gamblers can increase their potential profits with this move, but it comes with some inherent risk. To use this move, you must double the size with your bet and then receive one more card. After that, you must stand.

— Surrender. If you are not confident with your chances of winning the round, you have the option to surrender. When you use this move, you will only lose half of your bet.

Where to Play Blackjack Online

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Blackjack Split Mean