Dbl Down on BJ - Legal Move?

StandardDeviant

Well-Known Member
#1
Is doubling down on a natural a legal move?

This move would have an EV of (I think) just over 1 with a high TC, lower than taking a sure 3:2, and would probably get one thrown out of the casino on short order, but is it a legal (albeit crazy) move?

I suppose an even crazier move would be to surrender on a BJ. Is that a legal move? I ask this because once before when I was using "crazy surrender" as camo, a dealer, who was tired of me surrendering all the time, asked me if I wanted to surrender my BJ. I just laughed, of course, but one day, maybe, with a minimum unit bet out, I might say "yes" just to "prove" that I've had to much to drink as part of my act. (Yes, I know this would be a very, very expensive camo move, but it would be fun in a sadistic sort of way.)

Thoughts?
 

Grisly Dreams

Well-Known Member
#2
I think I remember Ian Andersen talking about doubling on "11" one time. Might have been somewhere else. But I've seen it discussed as legal, but retarded.
 

johndoe

Well-Known Member
#3
I think it's technically legal, but is probably up to the individual store's policy (or floor permission). I've heard dealers talk about "morons" who did that (and lost).
 

sabre

Well-Known Member
#4
Doubling on BJ in a 3:2 game is almost never a +EV move. You need an absurd TC in an ace reckoned count. You can probably do better with an ace-neutral count ... but it would still be rare.

Doubling in a 6:5 game is a bit more realistic. But if you're playing one of those, then counting isn't that big a part of your advantage.
 

StandardDeviant

Well-Known Member
#5
Grisly Dreams said:
I think I remember Ian Andersen talking about doubling on "11" one time. Might have been somewhere else. But I've seen it discussed as legal, but retarded.
Yes, "retarded" would be about the way to describe it. The only practical use I can see for it would be to look like a drunken fool, but one can do that without making such a bone head move.

Another "practical" use I can think of is to use it as a way to say f*** off to someone else at the table who keeps telling me how to play my cards. Especially if I snatched a 10 that would have helped someone else at the table. But then again, it's not in my personality to do such a thing.
 

itrack

Well-Known Member
#7
I think a better scenario would be you split two 10s or face cards against a dealer 6. After this, you hit an ace for 11/21. Since you don't get paid 3:2 for the natural, do you double down?
 
#8
itrack said:
I think a better scenario would be you split two 10s or face cards against a dealer 6. After this, you hit an ace for 11/21. Since you don't get paid 3:2 for the natural, do you double down?
There ARE indices for THAT double. zg
 

StandardDeviant

Well-Known Member
#9
itrack said:
I think a better scenario would be you split two 10s or face cards against a dealer 6. After this, you hit an ace for 11/21. Since you don't get paid 3:2 for the natural, do you double down?
I did watch a guy do a mid-shoe entry on a low count, draw 10-10, split, draw 2 aces. Next hand, he makes a table-limit bet and draws a BJ, then walks away. I was stunned, particularly since he wasn't there backcounting.
 
#10
DD on BJ

StandardDeviant said:
I did watch a guy do a mid-shoe entry on a low count, draw 10-10, split, draw 2 aces. Next hand, he makes a table-limit bet and draws a BJ, then walks away. I was stunned, particularly since he wasn't there backcounting.
I have actually performed this move on a few occasions, usually to show off or piss someone off, I do know I have never lost doing it and would, under the right circumstances do it again. That is.. Doubling on a natural.;)

CP
 

ihate17

Well-Known Member
#11
Give the guy a suite

StandardDeviant said:
Is doubling down on a natural a legal move?

This move would have an EV of (I think) just over 1 with a high TC, lower than taking a sure 3:2, and would probably get one thrown out of the casino on short order, but is it a legal (albeit crazy) move?


Thoughts?

You double your blackjack. You risk twice as much money when you no longer had any risk to win 33% more? (You bet $100 and won $150 but instead you are now risking $200 to hopefully win back the $150 you threw away and an additional $50) You get dinner, a suite and the thanks of the casino. Keno or the Big Wheel are much much better games for you.

ihate17
 

ihate17

Well-Known Member
#13
Legal and a horrible camo move

StandardDeviant said:
Like I said in the earlier posts, I know it is a stupid move. I was asking if it was a legal move (that could be used for camo or for other purposes).

There may be a casino that will not let you double a blackjack but that would be foolish on their part.
For camo, the best camo costs you nothing quite often and I might find it difficult to find another camo move that costs you more. Additionally, remember that many pits are not that smart and your doubling a blackjack will give you one thing for sure....attention from the pit. He may indeed decide that you are an easy target for the casino or he might continue watching you and spot things that put you in danger.

ihate17
 
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