The opportunity
to double your bet in return for agreeing to accept only one
more card is a very powerful option for the player, if it's
utilized correctly. I can't tell you how often I see players
double hands like 7 or 8 against a dealer's up card of 6 and
then bemoan their fate when they lose. Yes, the dealer is very
vulnerable with a 6 showing, but placing an extra bet changes
the mathematics of the hand, so all doubles must be well-considered.
For example, in a six-deck game where the dealer stands on A-6,
doubling a hand of 8 against the dealer's 6 has a total return
of 10.3% whereas just hitting the hand returns 12.3% and the
risk is lower!
That said, there
comes a time when it is worthwhile to double an 8 against a
dealer's 6 and that's when there's a higher proportion than
normal of 10s left in the deck. That point is determined, of
course, by the true count. As the true count gets more positive,
it becomes more profitable to double. Conversely, as the count
goes negative, it becomes a better play to hit some hands, rather
than double.
Just as you're
using flashcards to learn the hit/stand variations, make up,
a set for doubling. Here are the numbers you need:
Basic Strategy
Variations Six decks, dealer stands on A-6
Soft
Doubling
| A-2 vs. 4 |
Double at
7. |
(Got this?
Basic strategy says to HIT A-2 against a 4, but if the true
count is 7 or higher, you should double.) |
| A-2 vs. 5 |
Double at
0. |
(Don't get
confused here. Basic strategy says DOUBLE A-2 against a
5, but if the count is at all negative, just hit it; double
only when the count is 0 or higher.) |
| A-2 vs. 6 |
Double at
-2. |
(or higher.
As long as the count remains above -2, you'll double; once
it goes lower than -2, you'll just hit --- then hopefully
leave the table if the count doesn't improve.) |
| A-3 vs. 4 |
Double at
6. |
| A-3 vs. 5 |
Double at
-2. |
| A-4 vs. 4
|
Double at
0. |
| A-7 vs. 2 |
Double at
2. |
| A-8 vs. 4 |
Double at
5. |
| A-8 vs. 5 |
Double at
2. |
| A-8 vs. 6 |
Double at
1. |
| A-9 vs. 5 |
Double at
6. |
| A-9 vs. 6 |
Double at
5. |
Hard
Doubling
| 8 vs. 5 |
Double at
6. |
| 8 vs. 6 |
Double at
3. |
| 9 vs. 2 |
Double at
2. |
| 9 vs. 3 |
Double at
-1 |
| 9 vs. 7 |
Double at
6. |
| 10 vs. 9 |
Double at
-2. |
| 11 vs. A |
Double at
1. |
Good Online Casinos
Homework
Make up a set
of flashcards for these variations and begin working them into
your game.
As always,
if you have any questions, e-mail me at
aceten1@mindspring.com
and Ill get back to you ASAP.
