kewljason said:
I posted this on another board but didn't get much feedback and would really like to know others thought. I recently have become reluctant to double A8 vs 5 or 6 at the proper index (+1 for my local game) becuase it seems to be a move that draws alot of attention, much like splitting 10's. If your lucky enough that pit critters aren't watching, someone at the table usually makes some kind of comment about this play that can draw attention. am I being overly paranoid? does everyone else double A8 vs 5,6?
i recently did this in two disctinct + count situations, the first in a split of 8s, the dealer tried to brush past me when they saw the A, so i had to stop them. the other people at the table got pissed, because "i took the dealer's ten", and most of them lost on the hand - NOT ME!
in another heads up case, the dealer very reluctantly let me double to get a hard 19!, and i felt a little bit of hesitation, but just said "i have a feeling." in certain games i believe this is even the correct BS move at all counts, or very close, so you could just say this is what "my BS chart said to do." In H17 games, doubling on A8 v 6 is really borderline, some charts say double, some say hit, i don't think doubling A8 looks nearly as bad as splitting 10s, it's an odd ball move, but my god, people double everything A2 v 2 for example! I say go for it!