Double Down / Doubling Down ( blackjack)


To double the size of one's initial bet before taking one more card.
Once a player doubles down, the player may receive only one more card.
Usually, but not always, a player may only double down after receiving the first two cards.
Occasionally, a casino may allow players to double down after receiving three or more cards.
Normally, the player places a bet equal to the size of the original bet next to the original bet in
the betting square to let the dealer know he wishes to double down.
He does this by placing an amount which may be less than, or equal to (but may not exceed) the original stake,
behind his initial bet. In some casinos the player may double down after splitting and in some casinos the player may only double on 10 or 11.
The blackjack chart tells you when this is a good idea. For example, if you have a hard 10
and the dealer's up card is a bust card, let's say a 5, you would want to double down.
You have a good chance of drawing an 8, 9, or 10, which is a hard hand for the dealer to beat.
And there's an equally good chance that the dealer will go bust. A player may "Double Down" on any two cards except "Blackjack".
If the dealer gets a "Blackjack", only the original bet will lose. If the player is playing in a game where the cards are
held by the players, he places his cards face up in front of the betting square and the dealer places a third card either
face-down under the player's bet or face up on the player's existing cards, usually at an angle opposite to the cards already in play.