Spliting face cards without the heat?

Even though the TC index # may often call for it, I'm always worried about the heat it can bring and so I usually don�t do it. However, I just thought of a cover play to defuse it: Why not just split faces with a minimum bet about midway into a shoe when the C is at 0? I'm thinking that if I did this once or twice per session, it would send a message to the pit crew that I'm just another stupid ploppy who's a little bit gutsy and somewhat tweaked . Therefore, later when I do it with a max bet at a high TC, they will just assume it's part of my routine craziness. The same could be done for doubling a soft 19. Any comments???

Stealth Bomber

My opinion is: Never.

Last week when I doubled A,7 vs 3, the dealer called "double on soft 18". My god, that was even part of basic strategy. So I guess I will never double soft 19. Splitting 10 draws too much heat. What if the eye in the sky didn't see your early split? You don't want that meager EV improvement to destroy your longevity.

I have observed ploppy plays. They sometimes double 8 or even 7 vs 6 (without high count, of course). So I guess when count calls it, doubling 8 vs 4,5,6 should be fine.

TJ

but you should still not split at the index. Split at well above the index and the frequency of such splits will be far fewer but you'll capture the lion's share of the ev. I'd look for a +6 true. I'm more likely to do this when I'm losing and believe the the pit is comfortable with my action. I may do it a dozen times per year.

In shoe games, one may get away with using a slightly higher count for this play, but in single-deck games, these counts come up every day. I finally quit splitting tens in SD because the play was coming up too frequently, and drawing too much attention. What do you think about doing it in shoes but not in SD? PV

You may look for +12 true even at SD. This really adds alot despite its lack of frequency because the ev is so great at monster counts. But here also I'd more likely do it when losing and the pit was comfortable and not when I was way ahead and already had the pit watching me closely.

Good point. If we're going to do it, it's best if done when we have been struggling somewhat and the TC is colossal. But maybe also along with the set up I mentioned above.

There have been times where I even engaged other players, D or PC in sort of a "do you dare me to split 'em?" type of question. If anyone does, especially the D or PC, hey it's on! I even once split 10's 'til I couldn't split anymore with even a double on a soft 21. I had the whole table and pit crew sort of spuring and cheering me on to go for it. I just went along with the moment showing a big smile and a go get 'em wild gambler attitude. Everyone, including the PC went wild and congratulated me after the D busted. It was soooooo cool! I think the PC wanted me to even come back and play again. I did beat them but I don't think they knew it because I ratholed some large chips over a long session. This was a casino that I hardly ever visit.

I will admit though, I had no TC index # for the double on the soft 21. I wonder if anyone has ever even ran a sim yet for that one. :-)

Stealth Bomber

An interesting story.

I once played with another ploppy at downtown Reno. Because of machine shuffle, the dealer's hole card happened to be exposed. Oh I loved to play double exposure! The dealer had 6,9 and I had hard 14. I could do nothing. The ploppy had two 10's and "of course" he stood. If I had his hand, I would split those 10's and double soft 21, which were correct double exposure plays!

I was still day-dreaming when unfortunately the dealer caught a 4 and I lost that hand. :-)

I am playing a 6D shoe in Vegas, winning a little and the count jumps. Put out $200 hit a 20 and win and the count still goes higher. Put out $250, other two players get a BJ and 20, I get a pair of 8's, dealer shows a 7. I split and get a 3rd 8 and now have $750 into this monster. Get a 2 and double with a 10 for 20, get a 3 double with a K for 21, and then get an ace on my third 8. Pit type who thinks he's funny dares me to double that one also. Wanted to just say thankyou to him but told him with the other two hands that I have, why not. Hit another ace for 20. Dealer turns a 2 and then a J for a $1,500 win. Not bad for spreading $25-250 and I might not have doubled 19 without the pit egging me on.

I had the whole table and pit crew sort of spuring and cheering me on to go for it. I just went along with the moment showing a big smile and a go get 'em wild gambler attitude. Everyone, including the PC went wild and congratulated me after the D busted. It was soooooo cool!

Can't imagine that happening in Tunica, where the ploppies are very vocal at what they percieve as "dumb plays".

I double A7 vs 6, and hit my 12's vs dealers 2 & 3's...thought the table was going to lynch me....no sense of humor at all!

I will admit though, I had no TC index # for the double on the soft 21. I wonder if anyone has ever even ran a sim yet for that one. :-)

I can't give you an exact number but it's well into the double-digits (Hi-Lo) and it's way down the list in terms of additional EV.