The Science of Doubling Down in Blackjack (Essential Tips & Strategy)

What is doubling down in Blackjack?
In essence, you are betting that the 3rd and final card will give you a hand strong enough to beat the dealer's hand. And this is where the exact science of doubling down comes in. Sure, you could double down on a hard 18 and hope for a three. But you are far more likely to bust.
There's one other factor to consider when doubling down: the dealer's hand. Your hand could show decent potential - but the dealer may have something even better.
Using double down in Blackjack
Not all casinos have the same rules when it comes to doubling down. For instance, some establishments will let you double down on every single hand combo. But some will only let you double down on hand values 9, 10 or 11.
The same also goes for hands valued at 10, with some minor exceptions. If the dealer's up card is a 10 or an Ace - then it's recommended to not double down.
There are more 10 cards than any other card in a single deck. Therefore, there's a good chance that you will land at least one after splitting a pair of aces. That's an instant blackjack win on top of your doubled bet.
What is a soft hand? Basically, it's a blackjack hand that contains an Ace. Aces can either be the value 1 or 11 - making them a flexible and valuable addition to any hand.
Double Down in Blackjack: Summary
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