Double Down Madness

Introduction

Double Down Madness is a blackjack variant created by Light and Wonder that typically lets players double at any point and hit after doubling. However, there's a catch: if the dealer totals 22, all standing bets will result in a push. This game was introduced in July 2024 at New York New York in Las Vegas and at Isle Casino in Waterloo, Iowa.

Rules

1. This game utilizes either six or eight standard 52-card decks.
2. Each card maintains the same point value as it does in traditional blackjack games.
3. Once a bet is placed, players will receive one card, while the dealer will receive two: one card face up and another face down, referred to as the 'hole card.'
4. In cases where the dealer's visible card is an ace, players are given the option to place insurance bets. Similar to conventional blackjack rules, insurance wagers are successful if the dealer's hole card is a ten-point card, paying out at odds of 2 to 1.
5. Should the dealer have a potential blackjack (with a ten or ace face up), they will check the hole card for a blackjack. If the dealer reveals a blackjack, they will show it before players can act, and all players' bets will lose, regardless of whether the player also holds a ten or ace.
6. Players can begin making their playing decisions with just one card dealt.
7. If a player chooses to double down with only an ace, they will receive only one extra card. Otherwise, they can opt to double at any time with any quantity of cards.
8. Once a player has doubled, they have the option to continue making decisions such as hitting, standing, or even re-doubling (with a few restrictions as outlined in rule 7).
9. Players have the freedom to double down whenever they wish, meaning they can double on three or more cards. When re-doubling, the additional wager must always be double that of the last bet placed. For instance, if the initial bet is $10, subsequent double down bets would escalate as $10, $20, $40, $80, and so on.
10. Splitting is not allowed.
11. After all players have made their moves, the dealer will complete their hand. The dealer must hit on a soft 17.
12. If the dealer reaches a total of 22, all standing bets will push.
13. Winning bets will typically pay out at even money, with the exception of blackjacks and insurance bets.
14. Blackjack payouts may vary based on the casino's rules as follows:
    • Version 1: A suited blackjack pays 2 to 1, while an unsuited one pays 3 to 2.
    • Version 2: Both suited and unsuited blackjacks pay 3 to 2.
    • Version 3: A suited blackjack pays 3 to 1, while an unsuited one pays 1 to 1.
15. There is also a 'push 22' side bet available, which pays out 11 to 1 if the dealer reaches 22. The dealer will still proceed to complete their hand even if all players have busted.

At New York New York, the game follows the version 1 payout rules.

Strategy

Players holding a ten-point card as their first card should always opt to double down.

If the player's first card is an ace, they should always double down, except in version 1 where if they have ace vs. ace, they should hit instead.

For any other hard total, players are advised to adhere to the following basic strategy table.

For any soft total, players should also refer to the following basic strategy table.

Analysis

Assuming a setup with six decks along with a cut card, the house edge is defined as follows.

• Version 1: 0.95%
• Version 2: 2.07%
• Version 3: 2.07%

When using a continuous shuffling machine instead of a cut card, the house edge decreases by 0.03%. Conversely, when using eight decks instead of six, the house edge increases by 0.03%.

On average, the final wager in this game stands at 1.57 units. This defines the risk involved, measured as the ratio of player losses to the total value bet.

• Version 1: 0.61%
• Version 2: 1.32%
• Version 3: 1.32%

The likelihood of the dealer busting with 22 points, given they hit on a soft 17 and are using six decks, is approximately 0.073536. For further reference, the Push 22 side bet offers an 11 to 1 payout. Thus, the house edge stands at 11.76%. For more insights into the Push 22 side bet, which can be found in other blackjack games as well, please check my dedicated page. Push 22 .

Written by: Michael Shackleford