I recently had a dealer chastise me for doubling an A8 v 5 in a + count. He said, "you should never double a soft 19." I answered, "isn't this why they call it gambling?"
An AP friend of mine rarely makes this play because he believes it's too attention-getting. What do you think?
If you don't know the best strategy...I don't think you have any business telling someone what to do.
...The gleam in his eye when I grinned at his plays assured me he was onboard with the count.![]()