doubling up dilemma - what do you think?

zoidberg

zoidberg

Member
Hi everyone!

i'm into my third month hunting bonuses, although i didn't know much about blackjack before i currently play basic strategy at up to 900 hands an hour on RTG.

I know the exact situations when one should double and have followed them up until now but recently i'm having my doubts.

I know online blackjack cards are supposed to be based on a random number generator but after having played about 20,000 hands i don't believe that it's true.

from my experience, online blackjack is based on a random series of wins losses and balanced periods.
when you are in a bad series your 20 will lose to any dealer up card and your 21 will be sufficent for a push.
on the other hand when in a good series your 16 will draw fives and the dealer will bust anything he gets his hands on.

so i decided that i'll stop doubling up when i'm in a losing series, it's losing more money and it's very bad for my nerves, i'm considering stopping doubling up altogether since i believe that i have lost more than 50% of my doubles and in some 500 hand sessions i've lost as much as 80% of all doubles.

i know that mathematically i give the house a bigger advantage by not doubling but i still think basic strategy isn't always perfect for playing against the computer.

i would appreciate it if other people here contributed their two cents, i'm wondering if different software has different double down effectiveness or which situations are "close doubles" such as an 11 against a 10 and which have a better chance such as 10 against 6.

all the best

zoidberg
 
S

shadroch

Well-Known Member
How do you know when a losing period ends,and a winning period starts?
You've lost six sraight hands,on the seventh you draw an 11-is this a continuation of your losing series or the start of your winning series?If you can answer that,then why not bet small during your losing series and huge during your winning series?Seems pretty simple.
 
T

Tom007

Well-Known Member
I second that shadroch... While no one really knows exactly how the different software works. I used to play streaky games with progression,I know that people say they don't work but after thousands of hands in a streaky game you start to see why so many people disagree. I started using a 1-2-4-6 progression with decent results. Then lately I have just been watching for swings in my ballance when its up 10 units I jump up from 1 unit to 6 and stay there until it starts to go down. I believe thats a better way to play online ( I never use any progression for land based casinos) In the end we will never know for sure but I just can't sit there for hours playing online its just too boaring, but at least these types of stratagies get you through the WR faster!!!
 
EasyRhino

EasyRhino

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't alter basic strategy during streaks.

However, I had a dilemna a while back when I was playing a sticky very aggressively. I had lost half my starting chipcount, and was betting everything left. I had a double-down hand (something like 11 vs 2). Do I go into my own wallet to deposit more money so I can do it? I did, and I got burned on it.

I'm pretty sure the move was +EV, but I think I need to more carefully about my risk-aversion when pulling such a move, as my playing strategy already runs about a 50% chance of busting out... throwing more cash on the fire may not be the wisest move.
 
zoidberg

zoidberg

Member
thanks for the opinions,

if i knew wehn a streak ended and started for sure i'd be a millionaire by now :)

from my experience when i get beat a few consecutive times with 21's and i have a doubling oppurtunity i will most likely not double, nor will i split 8's against a dealer 10.

basically there are two kinds of doubles: against a dealer card of 7 or more when you probably won't be able to draw more than one card anyway and ther's a tiny chance the dealer will bust and the second is to double against a dealer's weak card of 4-6 or the unpredictable 2-3.
i think doubling against a dealer's high card is "safer" since you will never bust but when the cards are against you you shouldn't double against a low card.

normally i will flat bet as long as i'm not winning or losing too much but if i am losing too much and still have a long WR i will start playing oscar's grind until i either bust or get back where i want to, usually i get back where i want to.

i think some software is much streakier than others, maybe i should open a thread about it.

yours
zoidberg
 
Brutus

Brutus

Well-Known Member
Dr. Zoidberg I presume?




Like Shadrock says...
How do you know when a losing period ends,and a winning period starts?
Click to expand...
If there were any way to predict streaks, we would all be doing it.

besides, your a pop culture icon, and star of "futurama".
what do you need blackjack for?

let's face the music, and dance!
 
zoidberg

zoidberg

Member
:)

what do i need blackjack for?
the clams of course!


don't you know all doctors are poor!

enough with the questions already!


et tu brute?
i wonder how many bonus hustling futurama fans are out there, an elite breed to be sure;)

all the best
zoidberg
 
zoidberg

zoidberg

Member
oops sorry about that, i guess they don't allow direct linking.

just go to casinomeister's forum
online casinos
look for the thread Changing house edge at Intercasino


have a lucky day
zoidberg
 
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