Casino & Table Games
Double down
A double down is a blackjack move where the player doubles the original bet and receives exactly one more card, after which the hand must stand with no further action allowed.
Key points
- The player doubles the bet and receives one extra card, after which the hand must stand.1
- Standard rules allow doubling only on the first two cards, though some variants permit it after splits or on more than two cards.4
- Basic strategy recommends doubling hard 10 or 11 when the dealer shows a weak up-card, such as 2 through 6 for 11.6
- Doubling down differs from splitting: splitting creates two hands from a pair, while doubling adds one card to a single hand.3
How to double down
- After receiving your first two cards, decide to double down if the situation is favourable.
- Place an additional wager equal to your original bet, doubling the total stake.
- The dealer gives you one more card, face up. Your hand now stands automatically — no further cards are allowed.5
Common questions
What is double down in blackjack?
Double down is a blackjack move where you double your original bet and receive exactly one extra card. After that card, your hand is final and you cannot hit again. It is a standard option in most blackjack games, typically allowed only on your first two cards.1
Where this term is used
Not the same as
- Blackjack — the game itself, not a single move within it
Related terms
Casino games
Basic strategy blackjack
A mathematically optimal set of decisions for every player hand against each dealer up-card.
Casino games
Blackjack strategy card
A printed reference that shows the correct basic strategy play for every hand.
Casino games
Blackjack rules dealer
The rules that govern how the dealer plays their hand, including hitting and standing.
Casino games
Insurance blackjack
A side bet offered when the dealer shows an ace, betting that the dealer has blackjack.
Casino games
Blackjack 21
Another name for the game of blackjack, also known as twenty-one.
Casino games
Blackjack odds
The probabilities and house edge associated with different blackjack rules and strategies.
Sources
- Blackjack en.wikipedia.org Defines double down and states the bet increase and one-card rule.
- Glossary of blackjack terms - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Glossary entry confirming the standard rule of first-two-cards only.
- Aces and eights (blackjack) en.wikipedia.org Distinguishes doubling from splitting in blackjack.
- Double Down Madness wizardofodds.com Describes a variant that allows doubling after splits.
- Blackjack rules, part 2 - Wizard of Odds wizardofodds.com Explains the one-card rule and that the hand stands after doubling.
- Blackjack wizardofodds.com Gives basic strategy advice for doubling on hard 10 and 11.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.