Double Deck Blackjack | Bovada
With only two decks in the shoe, Double Deck Blackjack is your best bet for a profitable blackjack run. But you’ll have to beat the Dealer first. See if you can outscore him without going over 21 points. The Dealer must stand on soft 17, whereas you get more options to help you build a strong hand. Double any two cards, Split one hand per round, and take Insurance when the Dealer’s up-card is an Ace; these options are all available in addition to Hit and Stand. You also get a 3:2 payout for landing a perfect hand of 21.
How To Play Double Deck Blackjack
The goal of Double Deck Blackjack is to get a score that’s higher than the Dealer’s – up to a maximum of 21 points. A score of 22 or higher is a bust – an automatic loss. If you and the Dealer have the same score, you tie and your bet is returned. Scores are tallied based on the following point system:
- Aces are worth 1 or 11 points.
- Tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10 points.
- Everything else is worth face value.
For example, a hand with a Ten, Six and Ace would have a score of 17 points. In this case, the Ace is worth 1 point because an 11-point Ace would result in a bust.
To start the round, both you and the Dealer receive two cards each. You always get to see one of the Dealer’s cards (the up-card), making blackjack a game of incomplete information. Based on the score of your two-card hand and the Dealer’s up-card, you decide if you want to add more cards to your hand or keep it as is. These are your options:
Blackjack Actions
Stand: Don’t add any cards to your hand. You’re ready to face off with the Dealer.
Hit: Add another card to your hand.
Double: Put another bet on the table equal to that of your original bet and receive one more card. After receiving that card, you have no choice but to Stand.
Blackjack Actions for Special Situations
Split: When your two-card hand includes two cards of equal value (ex. a Jack and a Queen), you can Split the hand into two individual hands. This requires another bet (equal to your original bet) and can be done just once per round.
Insurance: When the Dealer’s up-card is an Ace, you can protect yourself from Dealer Blackjack (a perfect score of 21) by purchasing a side bet of Insurance. The bet is half the size of your original bet and pays 2:1.
Rules for Double Deck Blackjack
- You must bet at least $1 and up to a maximum of $250 per round.
- A Blackjack is a score of 21 on the initial two-card hand (Ace, 10-value card). It pays 3:2 instead of the standard even-money payouts. Getting a 10-value card on split Aces is not considered Blackjack.
- The Insurance side bet pays 2:1.
- The Dealer stands on soft 17 (Ace, Six).
- Split once per round.
- Split Aces automatically get one more card and then you’re forced to Stand.
- Double any two cards.
- The Dealer shuffles the two decks after each round.
Betting for Double Deck Blackjack
There are two ways to place bets in Double Deck Blackjack. Drag and drop casino chips onto the betting rectangle in the center of the screen. Alternatively, you can tap (or click) the casino chip and then tap (or click) the betting rectangle.
Tapping the chip placed in the betting rectangle adds another chip of equal value. Use the “Clear All” button to remove all the chips or “Undo” button to remove the most recently-placed chip. You may bet as little as $1 and as much as $250 a round.
Win or Lose
Whoever has the higher score without exceeding 21 points wins the round. Accumulating over 21 points is an automatic loss. Getting dealt 21 right off the bat (Blackjack) is an automatic win – unless both you and the Dealer have a Blackjack, in which case, the result is a push and bets are returned.
Button Descriptions
Clear All: Removes all bets from the betting rectangle.
Deal: Initiates the round.
Undo: Removes the last bet placed in the betting rectangle.
Double: Adds another bet equal to the original bet on the table and gets you one more card.
Hit: Gets you another card.
Stand: Declines any additional cards.
Split: Adds another bet, equal to the original, on the table and divides your two-card hand into separate hands. You can only split pairs.
Insurance: Optional side bet that’s available when the Dealer’s up-card is an Ace. Pays 2:1 when the Dealer has Blackjack.
Rebet: Puts the same wager on the table as the last round.
Rebet X2: Puts double the wager on the table as the last round.
