How to Play Double Exposure Blackjack: Rules, Strategy & Odds
Double Exposure Blackjack (also called Dealer Disclosure) shows you both of the dealer's cards before you act. This massive informational advantage completely changes strategy, but the casino compensates with rules that heavily favor the house.
Table of Contents
- What Is Double Exposure Blackjack?
- Rule Changes
- Strategy Adjustments
- Odds and House Edge
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Double Exposure Blackjack?
Double Exposure is a blackjack variant where both dealer cards are dealt face up. You know exactly what you're playing against—no hidden hole card, no surprises.
This sounds like a huge player advantage, and it is. But the casino adds compensating rules that more than offset the benefit.
Rule Changes
The Advantage: See Both Cards
You know the dealer's exact total before making any decision. This allows:
- Perfect hit/stand decisions
- Optimal doubling and splitting
- No insurance needed (you see if dealer has blackjack)
Rules That Favor the House
| Rule | Impact |
|---|---|
| Dealer wins all ties | +9% to house edge |
| Blackjack pays 1:1 | +2.3% to house edge |
| No surrender | Varies |
| Limited doubling (some games) | Varies |
Net Effect
Even with perfect information, the tie rule alone makes this game difficult. Pushing 8% of hands versus losing them costs significantly.
Strategy Adjustments
Standard blackjack strategy is useless in Double Exposure. Every decision is recalculated knowing the dealer's exact total.
Key Strategy Principles
You know when to hit and when to stand perfectly: If the dealer has 19, you must improve past 19 or lose. If dealer has 12, you only need to avoid busting.
Hit against strong dealer hands: When dealer shows 20, you must hit until you beat it or bust. No safe standing.
Stand against weak dealer hands: When dealer shows 12-16, stand on any made hand—let them bust.
Simplified Strategy by Dealer Total
| Dealer Total | Your Strategy |
|---|---|
| 4-16 | Stand on nearly anything (let them bust) |
| 17 | Stand on 17+ |
| 18 | Stand on 18+ |
| 19 | Stand on 19+ (hit all others!) |
| 20 | Stand on 20-21, hit everything else |
| 21 | Surrender if allowed, otherwise hit hoping for 21 |
| Blackjack | You lose immediately |
Doubling Strategy
Double when you can beat the dealer with one card. Seeing both cards makes this calculation precise:
- Double 11 vs dealer 13-16
- Double 10 vs dealer 12-16
- Avoid doubling against dealer 17+
Odds and House Edge
House Edge
Typical Double Exposure: 0.69% with optimal strategy
This assumes:
- 8 decks
- Dealer hits soft 17
- Double on any two cards
- Split up to 4 hands
Where the Edge Comes From
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Seeing both cards | -10% (player advantage) |
| Ties lose | +9% (house advantage) |
| Blackjack pays 1:1 | +2.3% (house advantage) |
| Net | ~0.69% house edge |
The game barely favors the house despite you having perfect information.