Double the Pleasure
One thing that is important to always keep in mind about blackjack is that the odds are against your being a big winner at the tables. More often than not, you will not have the edge, and the dealer will have cards that will beat yours. This simple fact has been mathematically proven time and time again, and there is no way around it.
However, it is also important to remember that there are things you can do to attack the casino's edge over you and to help you come out a winner more often. As you'll soon see, doubling down is one of the more effective weapons in your edge-slashing arsenal.
It bears repeating: when you are playing blackjack, you stand to win less than 50 percent of the hands dealt to you — 47 percent, as a matter of fact. Over the long term, you'll lose more hands than you win. So betting wisely when you have a better chance of winning is crucial.
What is doubling down? It's exactly what it says it is — doubling your bet after you are dealt your first two cards. Doing so gives you the opportunity to increase your profit mid-hand if you feel you are in a good position to beat the dealer's hand.
Doubling down is simply a move designed to help you make more money — in other words, maximize your winnings and cut your losses — when you play blackjack. It does not improve bad hands, nor does it improve your chances of winning hands.
