Double Down on BlackJack

[DimensionX]

I enjoy watching the other players at the blackjack tables when I play and even tho I've been playing for a long time I'm still surprised sometimes at what people do. Yesterday, I was at a full table at a local casino and watched a guy double down on a natural blackjack with the dealer showing a 6. The entire table balked at his move and he insisted it was a winning play. In all the years I've been playing I've never seen anyone deny a guaranteed 3-2 pay-out for a chance to win 25% more. I'm usually a quiet player but when he set his chips out and made the double down signal I blurted out, "I've never seen anyone do that!" The pit boss overheard me and shouted back to the table, " Correction, you've never seen a sober person do that!"

Sadly, the player won the hand and was rewarded for this play. The funny thing is that maybe 5 minutes later a spot opened at the table and a new guy sat down. He immediately got a blackjack with the dealer showing a 6. He joked that he should double down on it and nearly the entire table responded with a collective groan!

Has anyone else seen this move??! Did I miss something when I was learning basic strategy!?

 

[shadroch]

One of the most important things I've learned here is the following.

" There are other players at the table? I've never noticed."

 

[FLASH1296]

"Dumb & Dumber" ...

When I am privy to profound self-destructive irrational nincompoopery like that ...

(and I once saw a Viet' with a HARD 20 double against a dealer 7 - and win - when he draw a 8 and the dealer held 17.

... I hum to myself "Clowns to the left of me. Jokers to the right. Here I am."

 

[BJLFS]

I think that Ed Thorp used to DD on a 21 when the count was in the stratosphere. But I don't think the player you mentioned is an AP.

 

[FLASH1296]

At single deck it can be mathematically correct, although ill-advised.

Of course if you have a big wager and double and WIN you will have worn out your welcome.

 

[alwayssplitaces]

If the next card is an exposed ten and you know that you will get that ten, would doubling down a blackjack be the right move?

Would it ever be right to double down blackjack if blackjack pays even money?

 

[Mewtwo]

If the next card is an exposed ten and you know that you will get that ten, would doubling down a blackjack be the right move?

Would it ever be right to double down blackjack if blackjack pays even money?

I don't know if it would ever be right to double but I know in Triple Up 21 (not the promo that was abused to all hell last year but the version where the triple rules are offset by even money BJs) it's proper only to triple a BJ against a 6 and even then it is miniscule. So if tripling there is barely the right play I doubt doubling would be.

 

[aslan]

"Dumb & Dumber" ...

When I am privy to profound self-destructive irrational nincompoopery like that ...

(and I once saw a Viet' with a HARD 20 double against a dealer 7 - and win - when he draw a 8 and the dealer held 17.

... I hum to myself "Clowns to the left of me. Jokers to the right. Here I am."

Do you mean, HARD 12?

 

[Blue Efficacy]

If the next card was a known ten I am pretty sure it would be correct to double. The only factor working against it is the hard 21 you have now is vulnerable to pushes.

 

[aslan]

If the next card was a known ten I am pretty sure it would be correct to double. The only factor working against it is the hard 21 you have now is vulnerable to pushes.

Good point. Why didn't I think of that? :laugh: