Double Deck Blackjack Basic Strategy

Luckily all 2 deck Blackjack tables come with several basic strategy charts to prepare you for the varying rules applied to double deck games. Below we will walk you through the easy to learn steps you need to take to choose the correct basic strategy chart so you can quickly learn how to play 2 deck Blackjack tables whether you find them at a. Dalton's Soft Double Down Rhyme CORRECT BASIC STRATEGY (GENERIC) This is a generic multi-deck strategy where the dealer stands on soft-17 and double after splits is allowed. Refer to the full charts on this page for all rule variations and fine points for single, double and multi-deck games. It's also important that you appreciate Blackjack Basic Strategy does not mean that whenever you play blackjack, you'll win every hand. What it does help you with is: Making more money in the long run e.g. By knowing when to split or double down when you do have the advantage;.

Basic strategy for double deck blackjack is slightly different to the single deck version. Again mathematics plays its part in changing the way the game is played. Below you will see the value of the dealers hand noted across the top and the player's hand going horizontally on the left. With each different version we have also recapped some of the rules just in case you haven't been over other sections on our website covering the rules that dictate when the dealer must hit or stand.

Basic Strategy: 2 Decks and Dealer Must Stand on a Soft 17

When the dealer has a soft 17, it basically means he/she has an Ace and a 6 card making 17. That basically means the dealer has to stand. In fact, in this style of Blackjack any hand 17 or above the dealer must stand.

• Split-D or Hit means to double after splitting if allowed or if you cannot split, then hit
• Double or stand means to double if you are permitted to do so, otherwise just stand
• Double or hit means double if you are allowed, otherwise hit

Basic Strategy: 2 Decks and Dealer Must Stand on a Soft 17

If the dealer has an A-6 card, then this is a soft 17. On some tables the dealer is forced to hit only when the hand is soft 17; while, any other hand worth 17, the dealer will stand.

• A card between 2 and 4 will be favourable to the dealer as the score will be quite high
• For example, if the dealer is holding an A-6 and draws a 2, 3 or 4, then the Ace counts as an 11 giving scores of (A-6-2) = 19, (A-6-3) = 20 or (A-6-4) = 21
• If the dealer draws another Ace card, then this would be (A-5-A) = 18 because the final Ace drawn would count as 1
• Any other 17 hand dealt to the dealer will be a hard 17 and the dealer will stand; for example, 10-7, J-7, Q-7, K-7
• Any other hand dealt to the dealer that is valued at 17 or above will be will mean the dealer will stand

• Split-D or Hit means to double after splitting if allowed or if you cannot split, then hit
• Surrender or Split/D means to surrender if the table rules allow you to surrender, and if not, then you should split and then double after the split if the double is allowed
• Double or stand means to double if you are permitted to do so, otherwise just stand
• Double or hit means double if you are allowed, otherwise hit

Other rules to take note of when playing basic strategy

As you can see above, with the 2 different types of tables other rules apply that slightly affect your next action on the Blackjack table. For example, you may have a table where the dealer must stand on a soft 17, and the table allows players to double. You could similarly have a table that also states that the dealer must stand on a soft 17, but on this table you are not permitted to double. Then again another table may force the dealer to hit on soft 17, and allow doubles. It entirely depends on the casino you play.

Here some basic strategy tips to go with the above strategy guidelines:

1. Always avoid taking insurance as this bet is heavily weighted in favour of the house
2. If you cannot see a row for splitting; such as, 5s and 10s, you should count your hand as a hard total 10 or 20 and act accordingly
3. When there are limits on splits, and this stops you from re-splitting, then you should count your hand's total as a hard total and use the tables above to determine your next action

Final Word on Double Deck Blackjack

Basic strategy may seem complicated, but honestly all it is a case of is learning a set of tables and sticking to the suggested move. This way you will lose as little as possible; while, you will win as often as possible. Obviously learning these tables correctly and efficiently takes time and practise – but with experience, you will soon master each basic strategy table and be able to play a variety of Blackjack games according to mathematically proven optimal strategies.

Other Casinos.org.uk Blackjack Articles You Might Enjoy

• Best Blackjack Casinos
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• Single Deck Strategy
• Double Deck Basic Strategy

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Blackjack is a diverse casino game with multiple variants, rules, and a different number of decks in the shoe depending on where you play. In this guide, we will look at how to play the two deck Blackjack strategy.

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.

Every casino scrutinises its Blackjack games, and it is this due diligence that helps the gaming team decide which rules to apply to Blackjack tables that make it to their casino floor or an onlinecasino's Blackjack section.

As ‘2 Deck Blackjack' has a lower house edge compared to 4, 6, and 8-deck games, many casinos either avoid this variation, add high minimum bets, and/or apply less liberal rules. The other solution is to not include 2 deck Blackjack tables at all.

You will find out later on in this guide how difficult it is to find double deck Blackjack games, and when you do, you will need to make sure you are ready to take on some of the restrictive rules casinos tend to add to this variant.

Luckily all 2 deck Blackjack tables come with several basic strategy charts to prepare you for the varying rules applied to double deck games.

Below we will walk you through the easy to learn steps you need to take to choose the correct basic strategy chart so you can quickly learn how to play 2 deck Blackjack tables whether you find them at a land-based casino or onlinecasino.

We will cover the following topics in this guide:

• Rules that influence Two deck blackjack strategy
• Using Table Rules To Apply The Correct Basic Strategy Charts
• Two Deck Basic Strategy Charts In Action,
• Where can you play 2 deck Blackjack?
• Play Blackjack at mBitcasino

Rules That Influence Two Deck Blackjack Strategy

Every Blackjack strategy that you apply to your session whether you are playing an 8 deck, 6 deck, 4 deck, or 2 deck Blackjack strategy, you should always be using ‘basic strategy'. This is the key ingrediant to not only playing winning blackjack, but to reducing your losses by playing ‘perfect Blackjack‘.

To figure out which basic strategy charts you should use, you need to understand the different rules applied to Blackjack tables.

Dealer Rules

Nearly all ‘Two Deck Blackjack‘ games use the rule ‘dealer stands on 17' (H17) referring to hard 17 and not a soft 17. For the benefit of those that do not know, soft 17 is any hand that totals 17 using an Ace as one of the cards. That Ace can count as 1 or 11. For example, A-6, A-4-2, or A-3-3 are all soft 17 hands.

Soft 17 counts as an 11 on Blackjack tables that use the H17 rule, and as such, the dealer is perfectly within his or her rights to hit the 11 total. On the other hand, if the table rules state that the dealer must ‘stand on all 17s' or ‘dealer stands on soft 17' (S17), then you are in luck because this rules works in your favour.

In our ‘12 Pro Strategies on how to win at Blackjack' guide, we mention that when the ‘dealer stands on soft 17' this increases your house edge by 0.22%. All that being said, you are unlikely to find a 2 deck Blackjack table with this rule. For that matter, very few 4-deck, 6-deck, or 8-deck tables include the S17 rule.

When you are looking at basic strategy charts, the first clue to which chart you should use is the dealer rules:

• Dealer stands of hard 17 = H17
• Dealer stands on soft 17 = S17

Splitting

When it comes to choosing basic strategy charts, you only need to know whether you can double down after splits.

• Doubling Down After Splits Allowed (DAS)
• No Doubling Down After Splits (NDAS)

Doubling Down & Surrender

There are a few other blackjack rules you may need to adjust your basic strategy to. You may find specific basic strategy charts for 2 deck blackjack strategy or your Double Deck Blackjack, H17, NDAS basic strategy chart will include adjustments/alternatives for the below situations.

Make sure that before you play, you understand how these adjustments affect your double-deck game, or any game of blackjack for that matter.

Double Deck Blackjack Basic Strategy Examples

• DOA = Double Down Allowed On Any First Two Cards
• D10 = Double Down Only On 10 or 11 Totals
• RSA = Re-Splitting Aces Allowed
• ESR = Early Surrender
• LSR = Late Surrender

House Edge

This is not so much a rule, but we thoght we'd include this as an interesting fact. The fewer decks in play on a Blackjack table the lower the house edge which is why single-deck Blackjack is so popular.

When you add just 1 addiitonal deck of cards making the game double deck Blackjack, the addition of the extra deck subtracts 0.34% from the house edge.

Here's how additional decks of cards affect the house edge:

• 2-deck blackjack: subtract 0.34% from the house edge
• 3-deck blackjack: subtract 0.45% from the house edge
• 4-deck blackjack: subtract 0.5% from the house edge
• 5-deck blackjack: subtract 0.53% from the house edge
• 6-deck blackjack: subtract 0.55% from the house edge
• 7-deck blackjack: subtract 0.56% from the house edge
• 8-deck blackjack: subtract 0.57% from the house edge

As 2 deck blackjack has a lower house edge compared to 3+ deck blackjack games, usually the casino will pull back that additional house edge by adding less liberal rules such as no splits on Aces or double down on 10 or 11 only. These rules can then even up the double deck versus 6-deck or 8-deck tables.

Double Deck Blackjack Basic Strategy Games Pc

Another tactic used is to still allow liberal rules on double deck Blackjack tables, but increase the minimum bet.

Using this theory, the casino is banking on the long run outcome of the house edge working in its favour. With the higher losses from lost bets with a high minimum amount, the table will make as much as its 6-deck and 8-deck games with a lower house edge.

Blackjack Pays 6-5

Some casinos see the threat of the lower house edge of 2 deck Blackjack games as so high that they apply the Blackjack pays 6-5 rule. This rule increaes the house edge more than any other rule – 1.4% to be precise which is a sizeable chunk!

No matter what the variation of Blackjack is, unless there is something special about the rules, just walk away from any Blackjack table with the 6-5 Blackjack pays rule.

The only exception that we can think of is Double Exposure Blackjack but even then, most casinos will use 8 decks for this game to make up for the added advantage of seeing both dealer's cards, while also restricting other rules such as double downs, DAS, and H17 rules.

Using Table Rules To Apply The Correct Basic Strategy Charts

The only way to play perfectly sound mathematical double-deck Blackjack is to use basic strategy charts. Players that do not play or learn basic strategy potentially hand over around 2% to 3% back to the house. That's a significant amount when you consider most Blackjack games have a house edge of 99.5%!

In order to choose which basic strategy chart you use, you need to get answers to the following questions:

Double Deck Blackjack Basic Strategy

• Does the dealer stand on soft 17? (H17 or S17)
• Is Doubling down is allowed on any 2 cards?
• Is doubling down after splits permitted?
• Is surrender allowed?

Once you know the answers to these questions, you can apply the correct basic strategy rules to your game.

Examples of Basic Strategy Charts To Choose:

• Double Deck Blackjack, S17, DAS
• Double Deck Blackjack, S17, NDAS
• Double Deck Blackjack, H17, DAS
• Double Deck Blackjack, H17, NDAS

Two Deck Basic Strategy Charts In Action

Just to give you an idea of how a basic strategy chart work, we will give you a couple scenrios. You can then find two deck blackack basic strategy charts here at Wizard of Odds to compare.

Basic Strategy Contingency Rules & Legend

Before you begin, make sure you understand the meaning of each letter and combination of letters on a basic strategy chart. You will also see that there are contingency rules in place for games that include additional rules on top of the S17, H17 DAS/NDAS rules.

• H – Hit
• S- Stand
• D – Double
• Dh – Double if allowed, otherwise Hit
• Ds – Double if allowed, otherwise Stand
• P – Split
• Su – Surrender
• Suh = Surrender if allowed; otherwise hit
• Sus = Surrender if allowed; otherwise stand

Double Deck Blackjack, S17, DAS

In this scenario your hand is an A-7 and the dealer's upcard is a 9. On the basic strategy card for a table with the above rules it states you should act using the following sequences when your hand is an A-7:

• Double on dealer upcards 3 through to 6
• Stand on dealer upcards 2, 7, or 8
• Hit on dealer upcards 9, 10, or A

What does call raise check and fold mean in poker. The correct move here is to hit.

Double Deck Blackjack, H17, DAS

Double Deck Blackjack Basic Strategy Tactics

You switch tables and now the dealer rules are ‘dealer stands on 17' and doubling down after splits is allowed. Your hand turns out to be 4-4 while the dealer's upcard is a 5.

There is only one move here accroding to the two deck blackjack H17 DAS basic strategy chart, and that is to split.

Double Deck Blackjack, S17, NDAS

Now in this scenario your hand is a A-2 and the dealer's upcard is a 6. Now this is where basic strategy charts allow for a contingency plan. On this table, let's assume the D10 (Double Down Only On 10 or 11 Totals) is in action.3

You refer to the basic strategy chart it says:

• Double Down if allowed, otherwise hit (Dh)

As you cannot double down on a 3 total or any total (DOA), the correct move in this situations is to ‘Hit'.

Where can you play 2 deck Blackjack?

We had a good look around to see where you can find 2 deck Blackjack games in gambling hot sports such as Las Vegas, at online casinos by checking which software providers offer operators 2 deck Blackjack tables, and we also looked at live dealer casinos.

Here is what we found:

Land-Based Casinos

In places like Las Vegas, there are only a handful of casinos that host 2 deck Blackjack. The lowest minimum bet in Vegas is at Aliante which is $5 while the next in line are the Bally's and 4 Queens casinos with a $25 minimum bet, and Aria, Caesar's Palace, and Bellagio offer double deck Blackjack with a $100 minimum bet.

The reason for the higher than normal minimum bet at many of these casinos is that 2 deck Blackjack has a lower house edge versus the more common 6-deck and 8-deck games.

Virtual RNG Operated Online Casino 2 Deck Blackjack Games

As for online casinos, to date, most software providers avoid developing 2 deck Blackjack games. As such, the only notable onlineBlackjack developer to release 2 deck Blackjack tables is Real Time Gaming (RTG). These are all virtual RNG games that are set by default to 2 decks but most operators change this to 4 decks because of the higher house edge.

Live Casino 2 Deck Blackjack Games

It took a lot of research to find out exactly how many decks each live casino platform offers with their live dealer Blackjack games, and there are no live Blackjack tables from any of the top live casino platforms that offer 2 deck Blackjack.

Play Blackjack at mBitcasino

At mBitcasino, you have the choice of multiple ways to play blackjack. For virtual Blackjack tables, check out our virtual blackjack section.

Games from BGaming include 6-Deck Blackjack Surrender (99.404%) RTP), 6-Deck Multihand Blackjack (99.24% RTP), 6-Deck Multihand Blackjack Pro (99.4% RTP), and 8-Deck Double Exposure (99.3% RTP), and 8-Deck Pontoon (99.503% RTP). There is also 1 virtual table game from Amatic which is 6-Deck Blackjack 21. You can also play 5-Deck Blackjack (3-hand) by Habanero!

There is also a selection of live Blackjack tables from eZugi while the largest number live Blackjack games with the largest variation of tables are from our Evolution live casino games. We recommend the immense fun of Party BJ and a whole new way to Blackjack as Evolution removes 64 cards which are all 9s and 10s from its 8-deck Power Blackjack novelty way to play live Blackjack table games!