Double Back Blackjack

I

instagator

New Member
We're just getting this game on the off shore boats here, so I'm sure its been out there for a while. Double Back allows you to bust then double your losing bet and subtract the value of your next card. If the dealer busts or you beat the dealer, you win the double and push the original bet. Can someone do the math and tell me the house advantage?
Chuck
 
I haven't seen this before. We need a few more details though, and even then I don't know if I can spend the time to do the analysis right away.

OK, here's my example. Correct any inaccuracies please.
I bet $10, and hit my hard 16 vs dealer 10 and bust with a 10 card.
I then put up another $20, and get dealt another card which is subtracted. Let's say I draw a 6, which reduces my busted hand back to a total of 20.

If the dealer makes 21, I lose all $30.
If the dealer makes 20, I push all the bets.
If the dealer busts, or makes 19 or less, I win $20 and push my original bet.
Correct so far?

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Example 2:
Same setup, same bust with a total of 26. Now I draw a 3 as my final card, making my final total 23.

What happens now? Is my hand of 23 still a bust and no good?
Does 23 beat a dealer 21?
 
Presumably it's this ...

www.doubleblackjack.com

There are a number of quirks to the rules.

E.g.
  • 2:1 BJ
  • "Dealer's 22 pushes all remaining bets"
There's a strategy chart on that site, but no house edge figure. I don't know about the accuracy of the chart.

A lot of the standard soft doubles are listed as hits. You can treat a soft total which is > 21 like a bust and double back on it; so the implication seems to be that it is better to leave that option open by just hitting.

E.g., A2 vs 5. If you hit and draw an A, you are allowed to say that you now have 24, rather than 14 (or 4), and double back.

[Actually, on the front page it says you can double and double back, so I'm not sure I understand why the chart is the way it is.]
 
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Are you really that bored?

Instagtor just fly to Tunica, Biloxi, AC, or Vegas the cost would be cheaper then playing this game. Even playing and paying the ante's at the Indian casinos looks more appling then this game.
 
Ken Smith: Your understanding of the game is off a little.

1. If you bet $10 and bust, it costs you $10 more to doubleback. However, 26 vs dealer 10 you would just take the loss and not doubleback...at least that is what the strategy says to do.
2. You are correct in that when you beat the dealer, you win the 2nd bet and save/push the first bet.
3. If you doubleback and not get to 21 or under, you automatically lose both bets.

You can play it for free at the web site. The name is Double Back Jack.

The house edge is 2.3% Some people in the industry want to tag this a blackjack game, others want to tag it a carnival game. The reason the edge is so high is because of the push 22 rule (like in bj switch). This rule was needed to balance the game because without it the player would have had a 7+% edge. The premise of the game is to hit going forward even against the dealer's stiff, trying to better your hand and IF you bust, you can get back into the game. If a player played just for the 2-1 blackjacks and never hit going forward or doubleback, they would lose quickly. This game is very streaky just like blackjack... ups and downs.

PS The game is brand new. It opened on SunCruz Feb 13 and is now being played at Sunset Station in Las Vegas.
 
LC,


I wanted to comment on your post -

"E.g., A2 vs 5. If you hit and draw an A, you are allowed to say that you now have 24, rather than 14 (or 4), and double back."

You are allowed to do that, but you NEVER should. The reason being, you can still hit going forward and it does not cost you anything. However, when you have doubled and now cannot go forward what should you do? The strategy says to never doubleback on a soft hand because you are risking another bet. Here's an example:
You have A 4 vs dealer 5. In this game you should not double, but let's say that you did and you get a 9 for 14/24. You should not risk the extra bet to come back from 24; there are still two cards out of 13 that don't even get you back in the game. The best thing to do in that situation is to wait for the bust.
Many people think that you want to break and try and come back; that is not true. You want to try and better your hand and if you should happen to break, doubleback when the time is right. I have seen people doubleback on every busted hand, that is not wise. I have seen people hit hard 17 v 10 and it worked for them, but it still was not a good choice. This game just provides more options to the player and adds a little excitement.
 
I tried the link originally, but when it did not load (or give an error message), I assumed the site was down for a while. Thanks for the correction rotnevni!
 
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