Blackjack is a very popular card game in casinos. It requires thought, a good mind, and above all patience. This game, which pits players against a bank held by the dealer, has proven to be so important that it delights with the ingenuity required to win a game. In blackjack, there are many actions you can take. “Doubling down is one of them that gives you a definite advantage. When can you double in Blackjack?
Doubling in Blackjack
Doubling in Blackjack simply means that the player wants to acquire a new card. This means that the player has to make an extra bet. If the player has a hand consisting of a 3 and a 7, he has a total of 10 points. An additional bet shows the player’s willingness to “Double”. Let us assume that the new card acquired is a Queen. The player will then have a total of 20 points, which is beneficial to him. Note that it is important to “Double” when these two conditions are met:
- The player has 10 or 11 points;
- The dealer’s visible card is low, i.e. less than 6.
Other possible actions in blackjack
There is a multitude of other actions in blackjack besides “Doubling”. Each of them gives the player a definite advantage.
Shooting
The “Hit” is an action that could give the player an advantage in blackjack. It is necessary when he receives two cards of too low value, preventing him from winning. This gives the player the opportunity to draw a new card. It is important to note that this technique is appropriate when the draw of a new card will not take you over the 21-point mark.
Staying
This is one of the most basic actions in blackjack. The player must “Stand” if the draw is favourable. He can’t expect to get any better without going over 21 points. The player decides to stand to see what the game has in store for the bank and the other players.
Split
The ‘Split’ action assumes that the player has two cards of the same value and wants to separate them to form two specific hands. The player, in this case, makes a new bet and is dealt a new card by the dealer. This card is added to the player’s desired hand.
To perform this action, it is important to have only pairs in the starting hand. Splitting creates an extra hand, which increases the chances of winning the game. Remember, however, that this technique works best with pairs of 6s, 7s, and 8s. If you have pairs of 9s or 10s, the action is not beneficial and should be avoided. The player can also split a pair of Aces. This can be just as interesting.
Taking the insurance
“Taking the insurance” is only available in some blackjack variants. However, it is very popular with players. When the dealer has an Ace in his possession, the probability of winning by natural blackjack is very high. To protect themselves, the bank offers to pay half of the player’s initial bet for insurance.
Let’s assume in this case that the player’s fears are correct, i.e. the dealer does win by natural blackjack. The bank then gives him his initial investment back. On the other hand, he will have played 50% more for nothing if the dealer gets another combination.
Surrender
There are cases where the player decides to lose half of his initial bet. This means that he does not want to see the dealer’s face down card: this is the “Surrender” action.
Let’s take a simple example to illustrate this. The player has a hand worth 15 points. The dealer has a jack. The dealer’s face-down card has not yet been revealed. If the player draws too strong a hand, he is certain to lose. Therefore, it is desirable that he gives up in order to limit his losses. In fact, the “Surrender” action gives the player the opportunity to receive half of his original bet. This strategy is therefore important when the player has a hand with too much value. Surrendering is the ideal way to preserve your budget in this situation.
Types of hands in blackjack
Depending on how you react to each action, there is a type of hand you can get:
Blackjack – At this level, no counting is necessary. You win the game.
Hard Hand – This means that you have no Aces in your hand. You can draw as long as you have 12 or less. If the dealer has between 2 and 6, and you have between 13 and 16, it is advisable to stop. If not, pull.
Soft Hand – Here, your hand consists of an Ace. You can choose to draw if the other card is 6 or lower. The dealer must not have any more 6s either. If you have a 7 as your other card, you can double down. This action is not allowed if the card is an 8 or 9.
Pair – Generally, it is advisable always to split a pair of Aces or 8s and stop if there is a pair of 10s.
It is important to double in blackjack when you have a total of 10 or 11 points and the dealer has a weak hand of less than 6. In addition to this action, there are many other actions you can use to win at blackjack. You can draw, stand, split, take insurance, and even surrender. These actions can be used effectively depending on whether you have a soft hard hand, a pair, or a blackjack. This game is truly magnificent and should be promoted.