Some Splitting Pairs Memories
I looked at my cards. Two 9s. Now, most players would stand on this total against a dealer's 9. The average player will split them against a 2-6 probably, but after that he's uncertain of the right play. The correct play is to split the 9s against a 9. After all, the dealer has a theoretical 19, and my 18 is a loser.
I might buy a 10 or ace and really improve to a push or win. And all four aces were still in the damn deck. Then I saw one of the players reexamine his hand. He was holding an ace and an 8. Three aces left. I split the 9s, and held my hand out behind me for more cash. My backer was standing right behind me, and he gave me $1,000. I put down another $900 on the table and told the dealer, "Money plays." He repeated the phrase to the floor-man, who now took an interest in what was going on at the table.
The dealer shot out another card. It was a 2. Now I had 11 on the first hand, and once more my hand went back and another packet of money was placed in it. I put down another $900 on the first hand as I doubled down. "Money plays," I said, and the dealer repeated the term. He dealt me the double-down card face down. I never looked at it. If it was a bad card, such as an ace, I would react and I wanted to keep my wits about me and play the hands the way they should be played. Now he dealt a card to the second 9, and it was another 9! The case 9. I had to resplit this 9. If an initial split is correct always resplit. That's the rules.
Out went my hand again, and another bundle of cash was placed in it. I could hear my partner muttering behind me. He had tested the waters and I knew just what he was thinking. “That fool split 9s, and it doesn't look right to me, and now he's resplitting them. I'm gonna lose a fortune with this jerk.”
heard
of my reputation
spirited
conversation
my
partner muttering
muttering
behind me
a
huge handbag
the
floorman nodded
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