Double-Down A,10???

[phantom007]

Probably a stupid question, but I will ask it anyhow.

In side-show games, such as SF21, Single21, or God-forbid, 6:5 BJ, wherein most BJ's pay-off at even (or nearly even) money, are there times, i.e., counts, when it is advantageous to DD your BJ rather than take the payoff?

Even at a neutral count, your even-$ BJ has about a 92% chance of winning, 8% of tying, and 0% of losing. However, in my simple mind, it would seem that in strongly Pos. counts, a BJ vs. Dealer Stiff upcard (4,5,6), DD would be the more advantageous play.

Thanks in advance.

phantom007.

 

[Stealth Bomber]

Heat is a big issue to consider.

With a wild and crazy act at the table and a D sort of 'double daring me', I've doubled two soft 21's after split tens and caught tens on each. Left soon after.

 

[gehrig]

joint procedures...

each joint has specific dealer procedures relative to "announcing" certain actions. some require announcement of predetermined level buy-ins, checque changes, color-ups, significant raises in wagers ("checques play"). some shoe games still require announcement of shuffle-ups ("rolling"). checque changes of even $5 require announcement/permission at the western. black checque changes at mirage +, do not. some announcements require a pitstiff response ("permission"), some do not, but are merely advisory.

to this point, *most* require announcement of player: hard 12 double downs or soft 20 (or 21) double downs. if the dealer didn't announce the natural dd, could be that the dealer was lax, could be that the house's procedures didn't require it, or could be that the game was being hawked by surveillance already.

don't know if *any* play at a sf21 table would earn even a raised eyebrow by the 'stiffs since most seem to think that the game is unattackable, short of cheating.

at a "normal" 21 game, only a superior act, or a quick exit seems in order.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Re: joint procedures...

In a regular 21 game, those kinds of plays should never be done by a counter anyway. Even in a shop that lets you DD on a natural, I can't see how that would benefit the EV.

Now in a place that has the DAN or DA3 rule, DD on a drawn soft 21 against dealer 5 or 6? That's a different story, probably enough ploppies do that where it wouldn't draw inordinate attention, but the count would have to be huge.