Down with the Double
Another item of importance in blackjack is doubling down. Remember that the decision to double down must be made before deciding whether to draw or to stand. Only certain card combinations equal a good doubling down outcome.
After looking at a player's hole card, he or she may decide to double his bet and draw one card. A player who chooses to double down then turns up his hole cards and is given by the dealer a third card. This card is handed face down. A player who elects to split pair must do so but not in the case of aces. The player can also double down on one or both of his twin hands after receiving an additional card to each of his or her split cards.
There are various conditions to double down and gain an advantage. It is favorable to decide soft doubling when you have in your hand an ace and either of the following: another ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. You can double down immediately if you have the cards mentioned earlier and the dealer's face up card is either a 5 or 6. Do not double down however, if you have the cards mentioned earlier and dealer's face up card is 2. If you have an ace and 6 and the up card is 2, you can double down without harm.
If the dealer's up card is 3, you may double down if you have and an ace and 6 or 7. If the face up card of the dealer is 5, double down when you have an ace and either numbers 2 to 7.
Now with the soft hand, double down if you have a soft total of 9 to 11 and the face up card of the dealer is either 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. If the face up card is 7, 8, or 9, double down if you have in your hand a soft 10 and 11. And if you have a soft total of 11, double down if the dealer's face up card is from 2 to 11 and even if the up card is an ace.
Hard doubling down is done only on total 11 or less and totals of 13 or more for soft hands. Soft doubling down on a total of 12 is sometimes better than drawing. If you have a pair of aces better to split them rather than doubling them down.
Hard 10 is less than favorable total than hard 11 except when an ace is obtained. Hard 9 is even less favorable than hard 10. Players rarely double down with hard 8 for the gains are slight and it can be neglected with no big deal loss.
Once this strategy on doubling down is learned by heart, house edge is cut to less than 1 per cent.