The GameMaster's Blackjack School
Lesson 15: The Advanced Course - Part 3
Basic Strategy Variations: Double?
The opportunity to double your bet in return for agreeing to
accept only one more card is a very powerful option for the player,
if it's utilized correctly. I can't tell you how often I see
players double hands like 7 or 8 against a dealer's up card of 6 and
then bemoan their fate when they lose. Yes, the dealer is very
vulnerable with a 6 showing, but placing an extra bet changes the
mathematics of the hand, so all doubles must be well-considered. For
example, in a six-deck game where the dealer stands on A-6, doubling
a hand of 8 against the dealer's 6 has a total return of 10.3%
whereas just hitting the hand returns 12.3% and the risk is lower!
That said, there comes a time when it is worthwhile to double an
8 against a dealer's 6 and that's when there's a higher proportion
than normal of 10s left in the deck. That point is determined,
of course, by the true count. As the true count gets more positive,
it becomes more profitable to double. Conversely, as the count goes
negative, it becomes a better play to hit some hands, rather than
double.
Just as you're using flashcards to learn the hit/stand
variations, make up, a set for doubling. Here are the numbers
you need:
Basic Strategy Variations Six decks, dealer stands on A-6
Soft Doubling
| A-2 vs. 4 |
Double at 7. |
(Got this? Basic strategy says to HIT A-2
against a 4, but if the true count is 7 or higher, you should
double.) |
| A-2 vs. 5 |
Double at 0. |
(Don't get confused here. Basic strategy says
DOUBLE A-2 against a 5, but if the count is at all negative, just
hit it; double only when the count is 0 or higher.) |
| A-2 vs. 6 |
Double at -2. |
(or higher. As long as the count remains above
-2, you'll double; once it goes lower than -2, you'll just hit ---
then hopefully leave the table if the count doesn't improve.) |
| A-3 vs. 4 |
Double at 6. |
| A-3 vs. 5 |
Double at -2. |
| A-4 vs. 4 |
Double at 0. |
| A-7 vs. 2 |
Double at 2. |
| A-8 vs. 4 |
Double at 5. |
| A-8 vs. 5 |
Double at 2. |
| A-8 vs. 6 |
Double at 1. |
| A-9 vs. 5 |
Double at 6. |
| A-9 vs. 6 |
Double at 5. |
Hard Doubling
| 8 vs. 5 |
Double at 6. |
| 8 vs. 6 |
Double at 3. |
| 9 vs. 2 |
Double at 2. |
| 9 vs. 3 |
Double at -1 |
| 9 vs. 7 |
Double at 6. |
| 10 vs. 9 |
Double at -2. |
| 11 vs. A |
Double at 1. |
Homework
Make up a set of flashcards for these variations and begin working
them into your game.
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