Blackjack is a world-famous table game, both at land-based casinos and online casinos. It holds a special place in the hearts of gamers because it is so easy to learn the rules and strategies, create your own combination, and just enjoy the game.
If you know the history of blackjack, you probably know that the game was once rooted in a single deck. Now it has side bets, jackpots, and multiple decks — the very heart of today’s conversation — which shows how far the game has evolved.
What Is Double-Deck Blackjack?
First things first: what is double-deck blackjack? When you step into a double-deck game when playing live dealer blackjack, it simply means, as the name suggests, that two decks are used. But, in the real sense of it, the number of decks that can be allowed in a blackjack game has no limits. Also, don’t get double-deck blackjack confused with double-up blackjack.
Here’s a secret, though: fewer decks means better blackjack odds and a friendlier house edge.
Your next question may be, “How do you play double-deck blackjack?” What are the rules and strategies? Read on to find out.
Standard Rules of Blackjack
Your next question may be, “How do you play double-deck blackjack?” What are the rules and strategies? Read on to find out.
So, you’re in a live dealer blackjack game, and you’re wondering how to play the double deck. First, get a clear understanding of the standard blackjack rules and how the math works.
Step 1: Place Your Bet
You get started playing blackjack by placing your bet first before the dealer starts dealing out cards to all the players. The basis of how betting works in blackjack is that you bet blind, and you may be able to raise the stake later during specific situations.
Step 2: Dealing ‘Em Out
The dealer hands each player two cards face-down. They deal themselves only one card, which faces up. You can then hit or decide to stand or split — hand signs are the most common form of blackjack dealer and player communication.
Step 3: Keep Hitting or Stand
Do you know when to hit or stand? You hit when you receive a second card without exceeding 21 (or without going bust), while you choose to stand when you decide to keep your current card.
Step 4: Evaluating the Cards
So you’ve reached crunch time, and it’s time to evaluate blackjack hands. You compare your card total to the dealer’s, and you win if you’re closer to 21. You lose if the dealer is closer and the house claims the round.
Step 5: The Ultimate Goal
As is widely known, 21 is the holy grail in blackjack. If you go over, it’s a bust, and the dealer takes that round. If you total 21 due to an ace and a face card, this is called a natural blackjack, and you win the round.
Each card in blackjack has a value:
- Each number card carries the value of its number, e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc.
- A face card is a 10.
- An ace is either 1 or 11.
You might also encounter the five-card Charlie rule, where you hit three times without going bust, resulting in a hand of five cards that totals less than or equal to 21. In this case, you’ll often get an immediate payout from the bank.
What Is Double-Deck Blackjack
Depending on the type of online blackjack, the number of decks in blackjack can vary. Most casinos offer blackjack with multiple decks, often four or more. But double-deck blackjack uses just two standard decks shuffled together.
The rule of thumb is that the fewer decks in use, the better the odds are for players. This is because each draw has more variation with fewer decks, resulting in bigger swings, which, over the course of several hands, benefits players more than the house.
How Does Double-Deck Blackjack Work?
Beyond the standard blackjack rules, double-deck rules are a bit nuanced. It’s essential to know them to understand how to play double-deck blackjack. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
- Double-deck blackjack is a game using two decks.
- The dealer has no hole cards.
- The dealer’s action on a soft 17 will vary from casino to casino.
- If you don’t have a blackjack in sight, it’s your choice to hit, stand, or double down.
- This can be a no-surrender zone, meaning surrender is not an option; you can use insurance instead. Again, this will depend on each casino.
- You’re allowed to double up even after splitting your cards.
- You beat the dealer by getting a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer’s.
Basic Double-Deck Blackjack Strategy
Now that you’ve dealt with the basics of double-deck blackjack, take a look at double-deck blackjack strategy and learn how to play soft and hard hands.
Soft 17 Strategy
A hard 17 is a hand totaling 17 without an ace card. A soft 17, however, includes an ace that can be counted as 1 or 11. A soft 17 calls for calculated moves. Here’s how to approach a game where the dealer must stand on 17.
No matter what happens, always hit if you’re dealt a soft 17. An ace can only be worth 1 or 11, so the soft 17 blackjack rule and edge help reduce the risk of hitting. If you hit, regardless of what transpires, your outcome will be better than the dealer’s. So it’s better to count your ace as 11. In addition, hit when the dealer’s face-up card is 9, 10, or an ace. Opt to hit if the dealer’s soft total is 17 or less.
Stand firm when the dealer’s card falls between 2–8, and you have a soft hand of at least 18.
You should double down if the dealer’s face-up card is 6 and a soft hand of 19 or more. Also, double down if the dealer’s face-up card is 5 or 6, even with a soft hand of 13–18. Split is reserved for special occasions of dual aces being dealt.
Hard Hand
Hard blackjack hands are less flexible, so their strategy is a bit more complicated compared to soft hands.
Hit when:
- The challenging total is between 5–8.
- The dealer’s face-up cards are any value from 2–7 or an ace.
- You have a confirmed dealer’s ace, and the hard hand totals 11.
- The face-up card is an ace, 2, 3, or 7 alongside your hard total of 12.
- The dealer’s face-up card is between 6–10, with a hard total between 13–16.
Stand when:
- The hard total is 12, and the dealer’s face-up card lies between 4–6.
- The hard hand total is between 13–16, while the dealer’s face-up card falls between cards 2–6.
- The hard hand is between 17–21.
Double down when:
- The hard total is 11.
- A dealer’s face-up card is 2, with a hard hand total of 9 and above.
- The hard hand is 11, and the dealer’s face-up card is an ace.
Split when:
- It’s a pair of 7s, aces, or 8s.
Play Double-Deck Blackjack and Other Games at BetMGM
Double-deck blackjack is preferred by many players, thanks to its unique advantage of winning on both hands. But is double-deck blackjack better than multiple-deck blackjack?
In many ways, yes. The number of decks directly impacts the table’s house edge; fewer decks lowers that edge. In addition, double-deck games have better odds than most games, bettered only by single-deck counterparts, although double-deck games are becoming more frequent in casinos.
Thinking of putting this knowledge to the test and playing blackjack online at BetMGM? Try double-deck blackjack or live blackjack games at BetMGM today. Register and dive in to experience online blackjack games firsthand.
