Splitting by halving original stake, good or bad for player?

The local FOBT has introduced a form of Blackjack. Since every bet on a FOBT has to be a maximum of £2 due to UK law there is no doubling and splits are calculated by halving the bet first. Obviously no doubling is bad, but Is half bet then split better or worse than normal splitting? It can be used to improve your hand for free when you're behind, but obviously can't increase when you're ahead.

The basic strategy for splitting would be quite different from the standard strategy. You'd be splitting a lot more often vs. strong dealer upcards when splitting gives you a better start hand (but you wouldn't normally because of the increased risk). Conversely, there are probably some hands you'd split under normal BS that you wouldn't here (when splitting weakens your starting position but you split to get more money in action).

Quote: rumba434

The local FOBT has introduced a form of Blackjack. Since every bet on a FOBT has to be a maximum of £2 due to UK law there is no doubling and splits are calculated by halving the bet first. Obviously no doubling is bad, but Is half bet then split better or worse than normal splitting? It can be used to improve your hand for free when you're behind, but obviously can't increase when you're ahead.
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Fecal Occult Blood Test???

Anyway, very interesting question! It’s got to be a hard NO PLAY if you can’t double! But certainly there will be a few advantages to be picked up when you are splitting when behind. I’m thinking (but not 100% sure) you’d split 2’s and 3’s and 6’s and 7’s and 8’s against any dealer up card.

C'mon, Soop. That's a Fixed Odds Betting Terminal.

I spent at least an hour on this question.

No doubling, by itself, costs the player 1.34%.
Diving the bet in two when splitting, by itself, benefits the player by 0.02%.

Yes, I find it very interesting it is almost neutral. It helps the player with otherwise stiff hands like a pair of 8's, but costs him with a good split like aces.

You can add the affects for both at the same time. In other words, a cost of 1.32%.

Here is the splitting strategy if a normal double is allowed as a backup. If not, then hit those situations where it says to double.