Blackjack basics
When to double down in blackjack
Double hard 11 against 2 to 10, hard 10 against 2 to 9, and hard 9 against 3 to 6. Double soft 13 to 18 against the weaker dealer cards shown below. Never double hard 12 or more.
These answers are for a 6 deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17, blackjack pays 3 to 2, and you can double on any two cards, including after a split.
Why
Doubling down puts out a second bet equal to the first and gives you exactly one more card. You want that when your hand is likely to get strong with one card and the dealer is likely to finish weak.
A pair of 5s doubles like a hard 10. After a split you can double too, which is why some pairs are split against weak dealer cards.
The play against every dealer card
| Your hand | Double when the dealer shows |
|---|---|
| Hard 9 | 3 to 6 |
| Hard 10 | 2 to 9 |
| Hard 11 | 2 to 10 |
| Soft 13 (A,2) | 5 or 6 |
| Soft 14 (A,3) | 5 or 6 |
| Soft 15 (A,4) | 4 to 6 |
| Soft 16 (A,5) | 4 to 6 |
| Soft 17 (A,6) | 3 to 6 |
| Soft 18 (A,7) | 3 to 6 |
Questions players ask
- What is the best hand to double down on?
- Hard 11. Double it against every dealer card except an Ace in this game.
- Can I double after splitting?
- Yes, at the tables these pages cover.
- Should I double on 12?
- No. Never double hard 12 or more.
Related answers
- Should I double down on 11?
- Should I double down on 10?
- Should I double down on 9?
- Soft 17 strategy: should I hit soft 17?
- What does double after split mean?
- Blackjack basic strategy chart
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