Doubling Down for Less

[adt_33]

Although I always use BS, I still cringe when I double down on a soft 17 or 18, for instance, against a dealer's 5 (and then it seems like my total always becomes 14).

Is doubling down for less a good idea in this situation, or should I just deal with my inner demons and do what the BS charts demand?

Or, in other words, shouldn't the BS charts specify those hands when doubling down is very advantangeous, and other hands when doubling down is only slightly advantageous (which is when I'd like to double for less 'cause I'm a nervous wreck)?

[zengrifter]

Originally Posted by adt_33

Although I always use BS, I still cringe when I double down on a soft 17 or 18, for instance, against a dealer's 5 (and then it seems like my total always becomes 14).

Get used to it.

Originally Posted by adt_33

Is doubling down for less [ever] a good idea ?

Never

Originally Posted by adt_33

Or, in other words, shouldn't the BS charts specify those hands when doubling down is very advantangeous, and other hands when doubling down is only slightly advantageous (which is when I'd like to double for less 'cause I'm a nervous wreck)?

NO! zg

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by adt_33

Or, in other words, shouldn't the BS charts specify those hands when doubling down is very advantangeous, and other hands when doubling down is only slightly advantageous (which is when I'd like to double for less 'cause I'm a nervous wreck)?

The only way to know for sure whether a play is advantageous or not at this particluar time is to count cards. The BS card is an estimate based on all possible situations. It doesn't know what cards have been played or what your current situation is. A card counter will know if the play is appropriate at any given time based on the cards that have been played. A basic strategy player is helpless in these situations and should follow the BS card in order to minimize their losses.

-Sonny-

[rdorange]

Originally Posted by adt_33

Although I always use BS, I still cringe when I double down on a soft 17 or 18, for instance, against a dealer's 5 (and then it seems like my total always becomes 14).

adt, I'm not the expert, some one may support me on this....
When you hit those soft hands against a dealer five or six, you are not trying to improve your hand as much as you are trying to get as much money on the table as possible when the dealer is most likely to bust. In other words you are just banking on the dealer to bust and you win more moolahh!

[Canceler]

Originally Posted by rdorange

When you hit those soft hands against a dealer five or six, you are not trying to improve your hand as much as you are trying to get as much money on the table as possible when the dealer is most likely to bust.

There are a lot of cards that will help, or not hurt, a soft 17 or 18.

[rdorange]

Hear is a great article on the subject..

http://renzey.casinocitytimes.com/articles/28036.html

I hope I did this right!

[ortango]

These don't even require math, just some logic. First of all if you get a face, you have a 17 or 18 which is still pretty strong against 5 or 6's. An Ace through 4 will make your hands very strong or unbeatable. Even if you get a stiff, the dealers 5's and 6's will bust 42-44% of the time.

[dacium]

You should always double for full. This is how the BS works. Most hands are loosing hands, so even if you have a 0.01% advantage the BS will tell you to double, and you should do it for the full amount. Expect to loose often. Even 11 vs 6 is only about 67% to win. This is the only way you can reduce the house edge. You must double for full just as you must always split 8's even though most of the time you will loose both hands.

Despite what everyone here has told you. Most likely not doubling down on soft hands will increase the house edge maybe 0.1% or less, and save you alot of variance. I play games that don't even allow double downs on soft totals.

[tedloc]

[QUOTE=adt_33;15545]Although I always use BS, I still cringe when I double down on a soft 17 or 18, for instance, against a dealer's 5 (and then it seems like my total always becomes 14). QUOTE]
You have A/7 vs dealer 5.

Sure you want more money on the table. The probability of the dealer busting with a 5 showing is only 41% (6 Decks). Even when the turn over the hole card and it is a 10, the percentages only changes to 53%. So, why do you want to double? The reason is: You are an 8-5 favorite to draw a card that will give you 17 thru 21 (9,10,J,Q, K,A,2,3). 8-5 means you will win 8 and lose five. Doubling the hand wont help you to win, but you will have twice the money when you finish the 13 hands.

Whenever you are the favorite, you should try to get extra money on the table. A lot of people will not double 11 vs dealer 10. You are only a slight favorite to win (6-5), which means you will win 6 and lose 5. When you double this hand, you will have twice as much money after playing the 11 hands.

[adt_33]

OK, I'm an idiot. I can't figure out how to use the "quote" function. Sue me.

I read the replies. And I'm still not satisfied. I really do hate to sound like the bad guy, but am I the only one here that isn't rich? I have a moderate BR but seriously! I mean, I know that gambling in itself is risky, but I take the money and run the SECOND I get $100+ in profits. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, the last time I played in a casino I played for 8 minutes. My concern is quick profit and then flight.

Let's consider the consolations I received:

dacium:
Most hands are losing hands...Expect to lose often...

tedloc:
You are only a slight favorite to win (6-5)...

Sonny:
The only way to know for sure whether a play is advantageous or not at this particluar time is to count cards.

...So never doubling down for less is a good idea, huh? Maybe I'm the only one at this site that's more worried about losing $ than winning $$$$$$$$.

And to Sonny: Why would the BS charts even exist if the only way you could get an advantage is by card-counting? With that assumption, playing solely w/ BS would be ludicrous, and would always be frowned upon.