• Double In Blackjack Meaning
• Blackjack Double Down Strategy
• Why Double Down In Blackjack

The following blackjack abbreviations and acronyms are used throughout this book and are typical of those used in the literature. When evaluating a game, you should assume Las Vegas Strip rules which include double on any first 2 cards, re-splits to 4 hands, dealer stands on soft-17, insurance allowed and, of course, a natural blackjack pays 3. The house edge is a statistical way of measuring the casino’s advantage over the player. Deck - a standard deck of 52 cards used in blackjack. Double Down - the option for a player to double his bet with only one card to come. Draw a Card - drawing an extra card, on top of the original hand. Early Surrender - player's option to surrender half his bet while the dealer checks for blackjack.

Double down in blackjack is considered to be one of the most well-known options which are available to the blackjack players. There are only a handful number of aspects in blackjack is going to offer you the same thrill as doubling down the original wager and securing a good profit. Even new players know about this feature and they tend to wait on eagerly for the hands to qualify.

Like the other player options which are available in blackjack, the option can prove to be really profitable if used in the right manner. However, what’s unfortunate is that the players do not really how the doubling works.

Double Down: What is it?

In blackjack, double down is when you actually double the wager when you get the first two cards. As the cards are dealt out, you will have the option if permitted by the rule. In case you win the bet, you will win double your actual wager.

Rules

The rules pertaining to doubling down will differ from one casino to the other. Hence, it is better to find out about the house rules in regards prior to sitting down to play.

These days in the majority of the casinos, the player will be allowed to double down on 2 original cards. In fact, there are some casinos which will allow you to double down blackjack. The rule is applicable whether you are playing online or live. There are few gambling dens which will restrict it to a hard total of 9, 10, or 11. Here, you will be able when the first two cards will together make these amounts.

In most of the US online casinos, you will be also be allowed when you receive a splitting pair. Again, there are some that do not permit this. Thus, it is better to check the casino rules.

Few casinos enable you to double for less, meaning that the wager is half of the actual betting amount.

Tips

If you have to show that you want to play that move, you need to place chips less or equal to the actual wager on the table. This is the method to double. The dealer will come to know that you would like to double and is going to deal with you with another card.

A significant thing that you need to remember when you double down the pair is to say ‘double’ or ‘double down’ when you place the bet. This way the dealer is not going to make the mistake it as a wish to split the pair. The reason is that the action to double and split is almost the same. Make sure that you tell the dealer that you want to make that move when you get a pair.

In case you are playing live blackjack over the internet then you should just click on Double Down and the bet is going to be placed.

The strategy of Double Down in Blackjack

Blackjack players strongly believe that you have to double down a total of eleven. With this, there is a good chance that you will get 10 with 21 as total. Veterans, as well as beginners, tend to DD at 11. However, the question is this the right play?

Generally, this is the right play. However, people who do not know how to count cards will know that you one rule fits all solution in regards to blackjack. Experienced players, who know how to count, will count for deciding if they should go this way or not, even when they have a total of 11.

In case the deck has a negative count then doubling down on any kind of total is going to result in a disaster. If the deck is negative, there are going to be more low cards in a particular deck. Thus, it means that the additional card that you get on 11 might be 4, 5, or 6. When the dealer shows 10, it is going to prove problematic for you. However, if the count is positive, a veteran player will use the option an extensive range of hands. This is because he is aware of the fact that there greater number of tens present in the deck. He will have an opportunity to make 21 from 11 or even a 20 from 10.

The primary doubling down strategy is, in case you can count cards; let the cards decide if or not you will double as per the basic strategy you are going to employ. In case you are a newbie with no experience at all, take a look at the basic rules,

• Make sure to double down a hard of eleven.
• Double down a hard total of ten against 4, 5, and 6 of the dealer.
• Double down hard total 9 against 5 or 6 of the dealer.

You need to abide by these rules till you know how to count cards. As soon as you learn how to count, you will have more opportunities to double down.

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Blackjack Terms and Definitions - A Blackjack Dictionary

This page offers definitions of various blackjack related terms. It's meant to eventually become a complete dictionary or glossary of blackjack phrases, and will gradually grow larger over time as we add more words and definitions below.

Feedback - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

A

A popular variant rule where a bonus payout for the ace and jack of spades is offered.

Changing the size of one's bet based on how many aces are left in the deck.

A simple card counting strategy that only counts aces and fives.

A count of how many aces have been played. This count is a 'side count' because it's kept separately from the main count.

Any card counting system that doesn't track aces. i.e. Aces count as 0 or null in the count.

A situation where the deck has fewer aces left in it than is statistically likely. A deck that's poor in aces.

A situation where the deck has more aces left in it than is statistically likely. A deck that's rich in aces.

The amount of money that's been bet. Can refer to an aggregate of the total amounts of bets made over a certain period of time, or it can refer to the amount in play on a particular wager.

The statistically theoretical edge one side has over the other, usually expressed as a percentage of the wager. Usually the casino has the advantage, but card counting can give the player the advantage.

A gambler who uses strategy to gain a mathematical advantage over the casino.

B

Counting cards from behind the table as a spectator. Counting cards in blackjack when you're not playing in the game.

A card counting system that has an equal number of cards valued at + and -. The sum of a count of all cards in a deck in a balanced count is always 0.

The amount of funds available for wagering. Sometimes refers to the total amount of money available to gamble with, but can also refer to the amount available in a given playing session.

To ban a player from playing at a casino. This term is almost always used to refer to blackjack card counters.

The optimum playing strategy for blackjack when not counting.

The amount of the maximum and minimum bets a player is making during a blackjack playing session. A 1-5 bet spread means that the player is betting a minimum of 1 unit per hand and a maximum of 5 units per hand.

How well a card counting system can take advantage of the theoretical advantage offered by that system.

A member of a card counting team who makes a big bet when the count is favorable.

A casino chip worth $100.

Refers to the game of 21, but also refers to a natural total of 21 on the first two cards. A blackjack always consists of an ace and a face card or a ten. Blackjack usually pays better than even odds. The most common payoff on a blackjack is 3 to 2, but some single deck blackjack games have a 6 to 5 payout. And sometimes you'll get lucky and find a casino offering 2 to 1 payouts on blackjacks. A blackjack is also called a 'natural'.

The first card of a new deck after the shuffle and cut. The card is discarded and placed on the bottom of the deck.

To get a total greater than 21. Automatically a loss.

C

Where the casino cashier is located.

Any strategy meant to cover up card counting.

A strategy for getting the edge at blackjack by tracking the ratio of high cards to low cards that have already been played. A card counter raises his bet when the deck offers favorable odds to the player, and lowers his bet when the deck offers less-than-favorable odds to the player. There are multiple card counting systems with varying degrees of efficiency.

Refers to a deck with a bad ratio of cards for the player.

To exchange lower denomination chips for higher denomination chips.

Free food, room, beverage, and travel offered by casinos to encourage big players to gamble more.

A plastic card used to cut the deck after shuffling. The dealer reshuffles the deck after reaching the cut card when dealing hands.

D

A dealer cheating method. The dealer deals the 2nd card from the top if the top card would help the player.

The percentage of cards played out of a deck or a shoe before reshuffling.

The cards that have already been played and thrown away.

Blackjack played out of two decks which are shuffled together. (As opposed to single deck, four deck, six deck, eight deck, etc.)

To double the initial bet and take one and exactly one more card. Usually doubling down is only allowed after the first two cards are dealt. Some casinos allow doubling after splitting and some don't. Some casinos only allowing doubling down when the first two cards total 10 or 11.

A blackjack variant where both of the dealer's cards are played face up. Usually players lose all pushes and blackjack pays even money in this variant.

The older area of Vegas. The casinos in Downtown Vegas generally offer better rules for the player, and the phrase is used to refer to blackjack games with those beneficial rules.

Double In Blackjack Meaning

Same as to hit. Taking additional cards in an attempt to get closer to a total of 21.

The total wagered in a casino.

E

Giving up on the first two cards before the dealer checks his hole card for an ace. The player only loses 50% of his wager in this situation.

Expresses the percentage advantage the player or casino has in a given situation.

A bet that pays off at the same amount it would lose. e.g., betting $5 to potentially win $5 is an even money bet.

Usually expressed as a percentage, refers to the amount a player can expect to win or lose, statistically.

The video camera above the casino floor which is used to watch the dealers and players to catch cheating.

F

The jack, queen, and king. They're each worth 10 points.

A dealer cheating method which doesn't really randomize the deck of cards.

The position of the player at the blackjack table who gets his cards first. If you're standing behind the table, the player at the far right is in first base.

To bet the same amount on every hand.

The deviations from expectation in a player's bankroll.

G

A book of suspected card counters and casino cheaters provided to casinos by Griffin Investigations.

A private investigator corporation which specializes in casino cheating and card counters.

H

Any hand without an ace. Also any hand with an ace where the ace must be counted as a 1 to avoid busting.

The total of a hard hand.

Playing alone against a dealer.

Pressure and intimidation used by a casino to discourage card counters.

A card counting system. 2 through 6 counts +1 and faces and aces count as -1.

A card counting system promoted in The World's Greatest Blackjack Book. 3-6 count as +1, and tens (including faces) count as -1.

Also known as a 'whale'. Someone who bets a lot of money.

To take another card.

The dealer's face down card.

A deck where the player has an edge or favorable situation.

The percentage advantage the casino has over the player on a particular bet.

I

The total count that warrants a deviation from basic strategy.

A side bet that the dealer has a blackjack. The maximum insurance bet is half of your original wager. Insurance is almost always a negative expectation bet.

J

A casino subsidized travel package for a group of gamblers.

K

Betting a percentage of your bankroll equal to your percentage advantage. This is the optimal bet size.

An unbalanced card counting system promoted by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs. 2-7 count as +1 and aces and tens count as -1. The count does not start at 0 but starts at a number determined by the number of decks in play. Also known as the 'KO count'.

L

The rules most commonly used on the Las Vegas strip, as opposed to Downtown Las Vegas. These rules are generally less favorable to the player and use more decks.

An optional rule where the player can surrender after seeing the dealer's hole card.

The number of values used in a card counting system. A level one counting system only uses +1 and -1, but a level two system would use +1, +2, -1 and -2, and so on. The higher the level, the harder the system is to use in practice.

M

Someone who uses sleight-of-hand in order to cheat at cards.

A system a player uses to decide how to handle his bankroll. Kelly betting is one money management system that works. Stop loss limits is a money management system that doesn't work.

A casino rule which allows players to wager actual cash instead of chips.

Using more than one deck in a game of blackjack. As opposed to a single deck game.

N

A blackjack.

O

P

A face card. (Jacks, queens, and kings.)

A method of cheating where a player posts additional money to his wager after seeing the results of the hand.

A total of 17 or more. Don't hit pat hands.

Blackjack Double Down Strategy

The area in the casino which is surrounded by the table games.

A casino employee in the pit who oversees the table games and the dealers.

The rules variations in effect at a casino. Playing conditions include whether or not a player can double down after a split, how many decks are in use, etc.

Another name for the Hi lo counting system.

The total value of the count, positive or negative, at any given time.

Refers to the player and the dealer having the same total. Usually the player's bet is returned when there is a push.

Q

R

Putting chips in your pocket or purse so the casino doesn't see how much you're winning.

Describes a player who's a professional. Card counters prefer NOT to be rated. Can also refer to a rating given by casino hosts based on the amount lost, in which case the rating determines what comps are awarded to the player.

$5 chip.

Splitting a second pair after receiving another pair after the initial deal. (Resplitting is often not allowed.)

A bet made by another player on someone's hand. This bet is placed behind the original bet.

The mathematical chance of losing one's entire bankroll.

Same as the point count.

S

A period of time spent gambling.

A casino employee who pretends to be a player. Shills often play at empty tables in order to attract action.

A blackjack game dealt from a shoe. Multiple deck games are almost always shoe games, while single deck games are often dealt by hand.

A company which manufactures automatic shuffling machines which constantly shuffle the blackjack decks. Shuffle Master machines generally prevent card counting, since the deck is shuffled after every hand.

An advantage play technique in blackjack where a player keeps track of where the high cards are in the deck, then cuts into the deck so that the concentration of high cards is played by the dealer.

An additional count of a particular set of cards, kept in addition to the point count. Aces are often tracked in a side count.

A hand in which an ace can be counted as an 11 or as a 1 without the hand being considered a bust.

To double down on a soft hand.

To decline additional cards and keep your existing total.

The amount of deviation from the statistical expectation.

Hard hands that total between 12 and 16. Stiff hand are likely to bust when drawn to.

An amount of money that a gambler is willing to lose in a situation. Once the stop loss limit is reached, the gambler stops playing that session.

Deciding not to play the hand you've been dealt. You get to keep half your bet if you surrender. Not all casinos offer surrender as an option.

T

Advantage play or card counting when executed by multiple people who often share a single bankroll.

The person who receives cards last in a blackjack game. If you're standing behind the players, the person in third base is the farthest to the left.

Any tip to a dealer or other casino employee.

Why Double Down In Blackjack

The running count divided by the number of decks in he shoe.

U

The dealer's card that is played face up. This is the first card the dealer plays to himself.

An amount of a bet.

A card counting system where the number of positive cards and negative cards is not equal.

V

The amount of deviation from the expectation you can expect.

The house edge on a bet.

W

To back count and only bet when you have the edge. Named for Stanford Wong.

How much a player wins per hour.

See high roller.

XYZ

A card counting system made popular by Arnold Snyder. The zen count is a level two counting system.

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