Doubling on hard 8!

C

Cardcounter

Well-Known Member
I hate making this play because the best I can hope for is an 18 and the best I can get is a 19 even with a 6 showing in a hit soft 17 game I do not feel that comfortable I won't make a hand that often and when I do the dealer still has a good chance to draw out on me. However I love to double on a soft 18 against any drawing card and I feel really good about that play. On hard 8 I feel like I need a positive count of at least plus 2 to consider doubling.
 
K

Knox

Well-Known Member
Double hard 8 v 5-6 is a standard index play from the Illustrious 18 and not basic strategy. There is also an index for 8 v 4 in high + counts. These are pretty good bust cards for the dealer, so even if your best case is a 19 and you have a good shot at an 18, the second chance comes as you hope for a dealer bust.
 
bj bob

bj bob

Well-Known Member
Not so fast!

Knox said:
Double hard 8 v 5-6 is a standard index play from the Illustrious 18 and not basic strategy.
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Knowing where CC plays I believe he's referring to SD where BS H-17 calls for double down on 8 vs. 5-6. This play is no different than splitting 8's vs 7. It's all in the math. Just do it automatically and don't even think about it on a hand by hand basis. It's easier to grasp the math if you look at this play as one time in a hundred. How many 8 vs. 5-6 hands are you going to win in the "longer run"? If you're xChips ahead after that then that's the correct call.
 
K

Knox

Well-Known Member
I am not sure the index for hilo, but it occurs at the pivot point with KO, which is the 2nd high positive tier, a strongly positive deck.

I agree that basic strategy says to double 8 v 5 or 6 with SD, regardless of H or S 17, but obviously it is better to use an index for any double down play and 8 doubling is no exception. I even like to use negative indexes to determine certain hands where not to double, 10 v 9 and 11 v 10 would be good examples.
 
L

letsdothis21

Well-Known Member
ihate is there any certain link where you got those numbers?

The link I had for the illustrious 18 didn't have those numbers in there.

Thanks in advance!
 
ihate17

ihate17

Well-Known Member
Charts

letsdothis21 said:
ihate is there any certain link where you got those numbers?

The link I had for the illustrious 18 didn't have those numbers in there.

Thanks in advance!
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Probably somewhere, but they are in my memory. Check the tables in Wong's book, "Professional Blackjack."

ihate17
 
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