Gambling strategy Blog

Introduction

Double Attack Blackjack is a blackjack variant with lots of rule twists. The most interesting of which is that the player may double his bet after the dealer’s up card is dealt, before any player cards are. The game is popular in Atlantic City, where it can be found in about half the casinos.

Rules

1. Eight 48-card “Spanish” decks are used. A Spanish deck consists of the conventional 52 cards, less the four tens.
2. Dealer stands on soft 17.
3. Dealer shall peek for blackjack.
4. Player may double after a split.
5. Aces may not be resplit, all other pairs may be resplit to 3 or 4 hands, depending on the specific casino. The analysis that follows is based on resplitting to four hands.
6. Winning player blackjack pays even money.
7. Player may double or surrender at any time, including after splitting. Any one hand may be doubled only once (no redoubling). Surrender after splitting is done on a hand-by-hand basis.
8. Split aces receive one card only.
9. Insurance pays 5 to 2.
10. The first card dealt is the dealer’s up card. Immediately after this card is dealt, the player has the option to “Double Attack,” by raising his bet. The raise may be up to the original wager. If the player later splits, he must match his Double Attack Bet, if he made one. If the player doubles, he may do so up to the sum of the original wager and Double Attack bet. If the player surrenders, he will be refunded half his original and Double Attack bet.
11. An optional “BustIt” side bet is also available. The “BustIt” bet pays if the dealer busts with exactly three cards. Otherwise, the “BustIt” bet shall lose. Most wins will pay based only on the dealer’s third “bust” card, as follows. There is a premium win if the dealer’s three cards are all eights. Continue reading »