Double Deck Blackjack Strategy

Double Deck Blackjack Rules. With double deck blackjack, two decks are in play. One interesting rule change is that dealers stand on soft 17s. In standard blackjack, dealer hitting is required there, and dealers have a chance to catch low cards like 2, 3, or 4, to make a strong hand.

1. Double Deck Blackjack Strategy
2. Double Deck Blackjack Strategy

1 and 2 deck blackjack games are sought after by blackjack players. The house is more in favor of the player compared to multi-deck games. It’s also easier for players (to learn how) to count cards, track deck penetration and so on.

But it’s also because of these player advantages that many casinos have done away with their smaller deck blackjack games, or have altered the rules significantly to put the majority of the edge back in favor of the casino. So you’ll be lucky to find a 1 or 2 deck blackjack game, either live or online.

Don’t let that stop you from looking, though. There are many benefits to single deck blackjack games, which I’ve outlined below. Further below I’ve shared some methods that casinos use to lower the player’s edge.

As with any Blackjack system, the two deck Blackjack strategy comes with quite a few variables depending on the casino you are playing at. You may also see two deck Blackjack referred to as ‘ Double Deck Blackjack ’, and needless to say, you play Blackjack on a table with two decks of 52 cards (104 cards) in the shoe. Double deck blackjack basic strategy chart from Blackjack Review. Fine points include whether the dealer hits soft-17 and allows double after splits.

There are a number of benefits to playing at 1 or 2 deck blackjack casinos.

• More player blackjacks. The odds of being dealt a natural blackjack in a single deck game is 4.82%. With 8 decks your odds decrease to 4.75%.
• Less dealer blackjacks. The dealer is less likely to have a blackjack to tie the player if the player has one, because the one of 4 (or 8) aces have been used, drastically lowering the odds of the dealer having one.
• Deck penetration. Assuming the cards aren’t reshuffled every hand, a single deck will be penetrated more than two decks, than 3, 4 and so on. The further a deck is penetrated, the more accurate a card counter’s count, as well as his assessment of how many 10s and aces are left in the deck, and possibly, where.
• Card counting. Single and double decks are easier for players to count and keep track of.
• Great value for double downs. Similar to the reason for more player blackjacks, the chances of a player receiving a good card when double downing increases in a single and double deck.

The difference in any one of these points is miniscule, comparing the odds of a single deck to multiple decks. However, if you combine all of these points together, along with the various rules in favor of the player (like splitting aces, double downs after splits, etc), then it adds up to a significant advantage in favor of the player.

What Casinos Do to Lower the Player Edge

Obviously (it should be obvious, at least), the casino isn’t going to stand around and let players have this massive edge. They’re there to make money, after all. So assuming you can find a single or double deck blackjack game online, be aware that the casino may take the following actions to reduce your odds.

• Bad blackjack odds. In a single or double deck game, don’t be surprised to see 6:5 payouts for natural blackjacks. That reduces the payout from $1.50 to $1.20 per $1 wagered. This adds 1.39% to the house edge.
• Dealer hits soft 17. This adds .22% to the house edge.
• Shuffle every hand. This applies only to live blackjack games, since online games shuffle every hand anyway. But shuffling removes the advantage of tracking deck penetration and getting a (more) accurate count.
• Anti-card counting policies. Some casinos have policies prohibiting card counters from playing. 5Dimes is an example of this. Card counters that try to take advantage of live dealer games may have their accounts closed and winnings confiscated.

In short, casinos will do everything they can to increase their odds in single and double deck games, as well as prevent (or discourage) advantage players from counting cards.

At first glance, it would seem only logical that a smart player will do better at a game that uses fewer decks, but that’s not always the case when you compare double-deck games with six-deck games. A lot of variables come into play, not the least of which are the rules of the games, the minimum bet size required and the amount of scrutiny the games get from casino supervisory personnel. If you do not count cards, it’s very likely that you’ll be better off avoiding the double-deck games out there. I know some of you may be surprised by that comment, but I make it based upon the fact that many casinos have less liberal rules on their double-deck games, yet they require higher minimum bets. As a result, the casino’s overall edge may be similar to that of their six-deck game, but you’ll have to bet more on every hand for the privilege of playing. Because a non-counter cannot get a long-term edge over the casino, you’ll just be betting more on a consistent basis and the casino will eventually get your $$$.

Now don’t get me wrong here; if the rules are the same, a game using two decks will have a lower casino edge than one that uses six-decks, yet the strategies are almost identical. If the minimum bets are the same (or are at least within your comfort level), then go with the 2-decker. That’s a key point, by the way. The proper Basic Strategy for a double-deck game closely resembles that of a four- or six-deck game, much more so than a single-deck game. The few differences between a two-deck and six-deck game with the same rules (dealer hits or stands on soft 17, double after split is allowed, etc.) lie mainly in splitting pairs and, since pairs are the rarest hands you’ll get, the impact is negligible. I might be wrong about this, so check, but I do believe that the only change is to split a pair of 7s against a dealer’s 8 in a double-deck game. In a six-decker, you don’t do that. Not a hand you’re going to see everyday, either way.

My point is that you can move back and forth between DD and 6D games and not worry that you’re playing improperly, but the big question is whether or not you should. We’ve already covered the non-counter situation, so let’s turn our attention to those of you who do count. Even in this situation, the double-deck game isn’t necessarily the hands-down choice and I’ll show you why as we go along.

Double Deck Blackjack Strategy

For whatever reason, many casinos treat their double-deck games as “premium” games, so they have higher minimum bets, may have less liberal rules, less favorable penetration and are usually watched more closely by the “pit critters”, as we lovingly call them here. Some casinos seem to think that counters are showing up in droves at their DD games and carting off chips by the box load, but that’s not necessarily the case. I know of some games that are very easy to beat, but they are few and far in-between. The reality is that beating the double-decker takes extra effort and some sharp play by the counter. But you came here for answers and I have them.

Double Deck Blackjack Strategy

The primary advantage to playing a double-deck game is the volatility of the count. Unlike a 4- or 6-deck game, the running count, which is converted to the True Count (count per remaining deck) in a DD game can rise or fall quickly, but it’s gone almost as fast, due to the shuffle. That’s obviously good when the count is negative, but no fun at all when the count is “up”. Things happen quickly in a DD game and the wise counter takes advantage, but it requires good skills at converting to the True Count and almost needs some ability to anticipate what’s going to happen, while remembering that we never make guesses when counting.