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DOUBLE ATTACK BLACKJACK

 


Introduction

Double Attack Blackjack is a blackjack variation offered at Playtech and Wagerworks casinos. I find the game to be more interesting and enjoyable than traditional blackjack, although game play can be slow. Note that other Wagerworks blackjack variations have a lower house edge and lower variance.

 

Rules and Play

Traditional blackjack rules are used, with the following modifications:

-8 decks of 48 cards are used. 10's are removed from 52-card decks to make the 48 cards.

-After the dealer's first card is dealt (before player cards are visible), the player has the option to double his initial bet ("double attack").

-Blackjack pays 1:1

-Insurance pays 3:1

-The player may double down or surrender on any number of cards.

-The player may surrender after doubling or splitting, as well as at the start of the hand.

 

Variations

Land-based Double Attack blackjack games typically allow resplits to 3-4 hands. Playtech follows standard land-based rules and allows resplits to 4 hands. However, Wagerworks does not permit resplits. Wagerworks double attack blackjack also has non-standard insurance rules. Insurance pays 3:1 instead of 2.5:1.

 

Strategy

Take the option to double your bet ("double attack") when the dealer shows an upcard of 2-8. Do not double your bet when the dealer shows 9-A.

Under Wagerworks rules, insurance pays 3:1, making insurance slightly favorable (unlike traditional blackjack). Buy insurance unless 10-cards (J-K) are visible. So you'd buy insurance on 9/9 vs A, but not on J/8 vs A.

The Wagerworks rule changes influence insurance decisions, but I believe other strategy decisions are the same as land-based double attack rules. The table below shows optimal strategy decisions for double attack blackjack. This table is based on Wizard of Odds' analysis of Double Attack Blackjack, using land-based rules. I have confirmed some of the more unique strategy decisions, such as surrendering on only 17 vs A (except after doubles).

Your Hand Dealer's Face-up Card
 2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10  A 
5-8 H H H H H H H H H H
9 H H H H D H H H H H
10 D D D D D D Dr16 H H H
11 D D D D D D Dr16 Dr16 Dr16 Dr17
12 H H H H H H H H H H
13 H H H H H H H H H H
14 H H S S S H H H H H
15 S S S S S H H H H H
16 S S S S S H H H H H
17 S S S S S S S S S R
18+ S S S S S S S S S S

A,2 H H H H H H H H H H
A,3 H H H H H H H H H H
A,4 H H H H H H H H H H
A,5 H H H H D H H H H H
A,6 H H D D D H H H H H
A,7 S S S Ds Ds S S H H H
A,8 S S S S S S S S S S
A,9 S S S S S S S S S S

2,2 H P P P P P H H H H
3,3 H P P P P P P H H H
4,4 H H H H H H H H H H
5,5 D D D D D D Dr16 H H H
6,6 H H P P P H H H H H
7,7 P P P P P P H H H H
8,8 P P P P P P P P P P
9,9 S S P P P S P P S S
10,10 S S S S S S S S S S
A,A P P P P P P P P P P*
H
  Hit
S
  Stand
D
  Double if Possible, Otherwise Hit
Dr16
  Double if Possible, Otherwise Hit
Surrender after Double if total <= 16
Ds
  Double if Possible, Otherwise Stand
P
  Split (Pair)
P*
  Split (Pair), Follow post-double surrender
strategy after A/A splits when hit not possible
R
  Surrender

 

House Edge

Wizard of Odds lists a house edge of 0.62% under standard (Playtech) rules. I estimate the house edge (defined per initial bet) of Wagerworks to be 0.64%, when using the strategy above. The average bet size is 1.8x the initial bet, making the house edge per unit wagered 0.35% under Playtech rules and 0.36% under Wagerworks rules. The latter value of 0.35% is more appropriate to estimate expected loss over a wagering requirement. The large difference between house edge per initial bet and per unit wagered relates to the many raises for "double attacks."

 

Variance and Bet Size

I estimate the standard deviation (defined per initial bet) of Wagerworks Double Attack Blackjack to be 1.73, making the standard deviation per unit wagered 1.29. The latter value of 1.29 is more appropriate for estimating range of return while completing a wagering requirement. Note that the variance is much higher than standard blackjack. See the return & variance calculator for estimating range of return for a specific bonus.

 

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