In blackjack, doubling down on your first two cards after splitting is a great way to increase your stake and potentially win more money. Depending on the casino, you can double your bet up to 2 times. If you’re confident that you can beat the dealer, you can double your wager. But remember, this strategy is only profitable if you’re confident that you can beat the dealer. In this article, we’ll discuss how to double down on your first two cards after splitting.
Double down on first two cards after splitting
If you’ve recently split, you may be wondering if it’s a good idea to double down on your first two cards after splitting. In blackjack, this is a good option when you’ve split a pair or have a high enough draw. You can double down only if your second pair or third card is higher than your first one. However, there are a few rules that you need to follow when deciding to double down on your first two cards after splitting.
Never hit split aces
You’ve probably heard that the house always has an edge when you split aces. While this is true, if you follow basic blackjack strategy, it will almost certainly increase your long-term disadvantage. The best long-term decision when you have a pair of Aces is to split. In fact, the casino’s rules are very rigid regarding the decision to split an ace. But you can still benefit from the extra opportunity to double your winnings.
Never hit split 10s
When faced with an over-stretching hand, never hit split 10s in blackjack. The only exception to this rule is if the dealer busts. If you hit a split 10 before you’ve gotten all the cards in your hand, you’ll likely end up with a much weaker hand than you were expecting. You may even lose money when the dealer ends up with a better hand than you did.
Never hit split 5s
It may sound counter-intuitive to say that you should never hit split 5s in blackjack, but there is actually a good mathematical reason for this. A blackjack player with a pair of 5s is far more likely to win the game than a player with any other hand, and hitting against a 6 will result in a much smaller expected value. Moreover, hitting against a 6 cuts the player’s profits by almost 30 pence. Nonetheless, some blackjack players have been splitting 5s for years without suffering any adverse effects. These players just don’t keep track of their earnings.
Never hit split 4s
If you have two Eights and are dealt a card of equal value, you should hit the dealer’s upcard. This is a poor hand, but you should play it as one. If you have a four, you should split it instead of hitting it. In this way, you can make more money than you lose. The same rule applies when you are dealt a 4 and are dealt a card of equal value.