Renzey said:
In a few houses, although you can double for less, it must be for at least the table minimum. So if you're at a quarter table betting quarters, in effect you cannot double for less. In most places though, there is no problem with doubling a fifty dollar 12 vs. 3 for 5 bucks when it seems like a good idea. EV'wise, it's $1.25 out of the advertising budget.
My general criterion for splitting 10's is that the TC be high enough that if I immediately catch two more 10's, I can keep resplitting using an EV maximizing index number. So if we're four decks deep into a six deck shoe and I have 10/10 vs. 5, I need a +6 TC to split.
I have never split tens...until yesterday. Always when the situation arises there has been a reason not to do it. One reason not to do it is because it creates heat. Another reason is because you may create dissension and argumentation at the table among the other players, which is another kind of heat, by drawing attention to yourself in a negative manner.
But yesterday, I was playing at a table where everyone had gotten to know each other, and we had been talking and joking with each other for a long time. I was playing third base, the count was super high, the dealer had a five up, and I was dealt two tens. Most of the hands that went before me were made hands, with maybe one fellow hoping for a dealer bust. I split my tens. The other players were very supportive. One player, in fact, a dyed in the wool ploppy, had tried to promote ten-splitting earlier when it was a huge negative count. I had said it wasn't a good idea, he relented, and then out came two tens, him saying, "See, I would have made two twenties!" So when I split my tens, I turned to him and said, "I finally decided to take your advice and gamble!"
The dealer dealt me first a ten and then an ace. Everyone applauded my astuteness. The dealer finished the round by dealing himself a third ten to bust his hard fifteen, so even the player who stood on a stiff was happy. It was the first time I ever split tens, and I told everyone that--no act--it was the truth. And it had a happy ending. It was a mediocre game, up and down, and after three hours I was only one unit up when I quit. You might say, my split made a difference, although I'm sure I could have picked another time to quit when I was up even more.