Originally Posted by
DSchles
"But what if I have a stiff hand? Should I double 15 v. 10? Or 5 v. 5?"
Double both. The 15 v. 10 is a poor example, because, with composition-dependent BS, you aren't going to hit a three-card 16 v. 10 anyway, so, whether you hit or double, it's the same one card that you're drawing. So, it's a no-brainer to try to win double, since you can't lose.
With 5 v. 5, obviously, by doubling and drawing a single card only, you lower your overall win rate on the hand, but not by enough to justify not doubling. If you hit, the e.v. is just slightly negative, indicating that you win more than 49% of the time, which becomes your e.v. (.49+ units) since, again, you can't lose. If you double, forfeiting the right to hit again, you will surely win less frequently (I think it's about 42% of the time, but I wouldn't swear to it), but you win .42 doubled, or .84, which isn't close to the hitting e.v. of +.49.
Don
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