When To Split In Blackjack

If we use just one blackjack rule, it would be to study the dealer’s move and get very aggressive when he is weak so that you can earn as much as possible. This means that when the dealer has an upcard of 4, 5, or 6, your best move should be to double down with a wider range of hands than you used to, or better still, split if the opportunity presents itself. 

Always have it at the back of your mind that the dealer’s face-down card is likely 10, which means he won’t have any other choice than to draw again, and he will most likely go bust. One of the most intriguing things about blackjack is that you can sometimes add to your original wager.

Split In Blackjack

If you have a pair of the same card, for instance, two eights and two fours, you can split the two cards and play them like two different hands. You now have twice as much money on the table, which is best if the dealer appears weak, which is the main benefit of the splitting strategy.

Considering the dealer busts, you will earn twice the money you should have won. When splitting in blackjack, you are only allowed to split for an equal amount as your original wager, contrary to the double-down strategy that allows you to bet less. You won’t be able to carry on playing with your split hands if you are experienced with online casinos. You will have to stand, no matter what your card total is. 

The best spitting strategy includes the following;

• Split aces or eights 
• Do not, for any reason, split 10s
• You can split fours, but make sure it is when you can double on split hands.

Can You Split All Pairs?

Don’t be too excited about spitting because you are paying more to split, so you must be sure that the odds are in your favor before you make a move. You already know that the best time to split is when the dealer looks weak; however, even in that situation, do not split if you have two tens. Having two tens means your total is 20, and you will most likely win the hand; if you split and it goes wrong, you are losing twice over. 

You should Split aces because you have a great chance of hitting 21 twice. In addition, irrespective of what the dealer shows, always split eights; starting with an eight will give you a total finishing close to 21. The probability of splitting for other pairs reduces as the pair’s value decreases. 

• If the dealer has 4–7, you can split a 3.
• If the dealer has a six or less, you can split sixes.
• If the dealer has a 7 or less, you can split sevens.
• Avoid splitting 5s, but if the dealer shows 9 or fewer, you can double down.
• You are allowed to split 2s if the dealer has 3-7
• Never split 4s

Basic Rules Of Splitting

Only players are allowed to split; dealers don’t split. To notify that you are about to split, you can point two fingers at your bet or direct an equal amount of chips to your original wager. The dealer will comprehend what you are about to perform if you choose one of the two. 

The Basic Strategy Of Splitting In Blackjack – Details

There are various rules in blackjack games and online casinos; however, below are the basic ones guiding the splitting strategy;

10s

In blackjack, you can split all tens. This means you do not need to wait until you have two jacks, and on paper, you can split your king and queen or a ten and jack. This does not apply every time, but you can. 20 gives you a great advantage, and if the dealer has a 5 or 6 layout, your chance of winning more money is high. 

When you decide to split your tens, the dealer will notify other players and their floor people to determine whether you are an expert or a newbie. 

Two Nines

The basic strategy allows you to split your 9s against any up card value the dealer presents except 7s. This means that it is risky to put up your 18 against the dealer’s 17. Also, it is possible to split your 9s against a dealer’s 10 or ace; however, you need to do your maths well. 

Pairs Of 8s Or Aces

In blackjack, there are situations that require that you split, irrespective of what the dealer shows. For instance, you should split when you have two aces. This is the scenario; if you play your two aces as one hand, you will begin with 12, which means one ace is valued at 11 while the other is valued at 1. Only 9 will get you to 21, and a 10 or face card will force you to play the second ace, worth 1, which will put you back at 12. 

Contrary to that, there are four ways to get a 21 in each hand if you split; by having a 10, J, Q, or K. Apart from aces, any blackjack expert will always advise you to split 8s. The fact is that playing your eights, on the one hand, does not guarantee you a greater hand, and neither does playing it on separate hands improve your chances. However, mathematically, your chance of winning is high. How?

Playing the two eights, on the one hand, will start you at 16, which is weak, and it is not advisable to hit at this point. Any card above 5 will force you to bust, so the percentage of losing the hand is high. However, if you split, you can avoid busting on your first hand, meaning you have a chance of getting a better hand.

Resplit Eights Or Aces If You Got A Second Pair

The dealer gives you two more cards for each hand whenever you split pairs. If the two new cards you are dealt give you a pair of eights or aces, the smartest move is to split again. Before you do this, you need to triple your original bet as you have doubled it the first time you split pairs. 

Depending on the online casino games you are playing or the location you visit, the rules could change. However, most blackjack games will let you split at least three times, which means you can play a total of four separate hands. 

Two 6s And 4s

You can split if you have two 6s or 4s, provided the dealer has between 2-6 as his upcard, otherwise, hit. 

Two 5s

Doubling a pair of 5s will give you 10, which is preferable to splitting fives. It is unsafe to split fives, instead just double down, especially if the dealer has 2-9 upcards; otherwise, hit. The blackjack strategy listed above should work 90% of the time while playing blackjack. 

When You Should Not Split

Do Not, For Any Reason, Split Tens

This is one of the blackjack strategies that people need to get familiar with. This mistake is also common in most casino games because when you split tens, you sacrifice a better hand with a low chance of getting a more favorable one. Playing a pair of 10s will give you a total of 20, which is impressive. 

Supposing you split the tens, you will need an ace to improve your hand; anything below that will give you an equal or weak hand. According to the statistics in blackjack, splitting your 10s will most likely give you a weak hand. This is a typical error made when playing at a casino.

Some experts in counting cards have mapped out rare instances where you can split 10s. Supposing you are counting cards and notice many 10s in the shoe, you can split your 10s at this point, provided the dealer’s upcard is 5 or 6 (weak hand). Playing this way will give you a high probability of getting at least a 20, while the dealer will only rely on luck to match your total or beat you. 

Do Not Split Fours

Splitting fours automatically gives you two weak hands, so it is not a smart move. Also, you must always remember that you double your original wager when you split, making splitting fours a money-losing strategy. If you have two fours and get an ace, you will end up with a 19 total, which is advantageous and will help you avoid busting. 

If you split the fours, your chances of obtaining a hand that is less desirable or one that could force you to burst if you receive a two or three are substantial. To get a better hand after splitting fours, you will need a five, six, or seven if you are lucky. 

Do Not Split Your Fives

When you have a pair of fives, zero your mind on the fact that they are five and treat them like single ten, the best move is to double down on a ten, irrespective of what the dealer is showing, provided that it is not a nine, 10 or an ace. Splitting your fives will create the same scenario as when you split your fours; you are sacrificing a better-starting hand for a hand that is most likely unachievable. 

With a pair of fives, your chances of busting are low, and there is a high probability of hitting 21 from the first hit. If you had a two, three, or four, splitting would give you a weak hand; if you had a six or higher, splitting would force you to bust. In most cases, you can’t win by splitting your fives. 

When To Split In Blackjack – Other Instances

If the dealer has a seven or lower, you can split any pair, including twos, threes, and sevens.

The exception to this rule is when the dealer is showing you a lesser card, like as a seven or less. In this case, you can split twos, threes, or sevens. If the dealer has an 8 card or above, the best move is to hit. Depending on whether the dealer has an eight or a two, some experts will suggest splitting twos or threes but not sevens. 

If the dealer has a 2–6 hand, you can split sixes.

It is preferable to take a hit if the dealer has a seven or higher. Mathematically in blackjack, you are likely to beat a weak hand by the dealer if you split your sixes. If the dealer has a better hand, you are to hit to improve your hand, and getting a ten or a face card would force you to bust on blackjack tables. 

No Double After Split Rule In Blackjack

Some casino games have made it impossible for players to double down after splitting. This regulation will add 14% to the house edge but can get that particular casino off business, which is why this rule is not common. If you see this rule, the best thing is to visit another casino; however, if that is the only casino around, you will have to make some changes regarding splitting on blackjack tables. 

The changes include splitting your pairs of 2s and 3s if the dealer has 4-7. If the dealer has 2 or 3, your best move is to hit. Also, if you are unable to double down after splitting your fours, only split if the dealer has 2-4. If the dealer has five or higher, hitting is the best move. If the dealer has a pair of sixes, you should split against 3-6 and hit against and his if the dealer has two. 

Hit again if the dealer has an upcard higher than six. 

Double Deck

If you are playing against two decks instead of a shoe, you just need a little tweak to the basic strategy. If you are dealt a pair of 6s, you can only spit if the dealer has an upcard valued around 2-7. If you have a pair of sevens, you can take the bold risk and split if the dealer has between 2 through 8. 

If the game does not allow doubling after splitting, use the same rules above, excluding splitting a pair of 6s against the dealer’s seven or your sevens against the dealer’s eight. 

Disadvantages Of Splitting In Blackjack

In blackjack, you must weigh the risk you are about to take with the reward whenever you want to split. Splitting will earn you twice in a hand if it goes as planned; however, if it goes wrong, you will lose twice in a hand. This is why most experts do not advise you to split every time with every pair. 

Choose your moment as most champions do, and you don’t have to split once unsure. Also, note that there are rear cases where you split at the right time, but the dealer will still get a better hand and win if they are lucky; the game is the game. You shouldn’t let that influence your next call. 

Conclusion

Those are the best blackjack strategy you need whenever you want to split in blackjack. Note that you must follow the basic strategy to make more money in blackjack when the odds are in your favor.