Would you take a 55% shot at doubling up in the first hand?
 

I discussed this issue with another player with more poker experience than me.
If he had the choice, he would take a 55% coin flip in his favour to double at the start of any SnG if he feels his skills are superiour at the table.
I would not do it initially, but now I dont know for sure.
He agures that the better skills combined the double stack size would more than compensate for the %45 he will be out of the SnG. He points out that his hourly rate would also increase.

Cutting more arguments back and forth, what is your general opinion on this?

Re: Would you take a 55% shot at doubling up in the first hand?
 

I doubt your friend is as good as he thinks he is.

Your variance would go through the roof and the bubble/shorthanded play is where most of your money comes from and while going there as the big stack helps a lot, there is no gauruntee that doubling up early would ensure you being the big stack on the bubble.

Re: Would you take a 55% shot at doubling up in the first hand?
 

You may want to do a search, there has been a lot of discussion on this issue.

Re: Would you take a 55% shot at doubling up in the first hand?
 

I certainly would not take it. Also, what caretaker said.