Blackjack is a classic casino game that can be played all around the world. Just about every casino floor that I have ever walked onto is full of blackjack tables, as the game is popular amongst both casual and serious gamblers.
What attracts players to in-person or online blackjack is both the simplicity of the game, as well as the ability to sway the odds in your favor with savvy play.
You hear a lot about card counters or other advantage players, but what you don’t hear a lot about, is specific strategies on how to actually use logic to beat the casino. Counting cards is certainly one way to improve your odds of winning, but just counting the cards isn’t enough to give you an edge on the house. You also have to know how to take advantage of the count in order to leave the table a winner.
In this article, we are going to highlight a strategy that not only will help you win when you are playing blackjack, but also won’t get you tossed out the door by casino security, either! Splitting in blackjack is one of the most underutilized and misunderstood strategies at the blackjack table.
After reading this article, not only will you know what does it mean to split at blackjack, but we will also tell you when to split in blackjack. If you follow these splitting in blackjack tips, you will see an immediate increase in your win rate. Let’s get started by telling you: what does it mean to split in blackjack?
What Does It Mean To Split In Blackjack?
If you are fairly new to blackjack, or the only splitting in blackjack strategy that you know is when some drunk guy at the table in Vegas told you that you should always split with aces and eights, listen up, as this article is for you.
Any time that you are dealt a pair on the initial deal at the blackjack table, you are eligible to split your cards and create a second hand. You can only split when you have a pair with your first two cards and when you do decide to split, you must double your original bet to do so.
Make sure that you ask the pit boss about the specific splitting rules at your table. At most blackjack tables, you can only split your hand one time, even if you draw another pair after the split. But at other tables, the rules are more player-friendly, and you can split multiple times, making up to four total hands. Knowing the rule set of the table that you are playing at will help guide your splitting in blackjack strategy.
Most casual players focus on their hand when they are making the decision on whether or not to split, but in reality, you want to focus more on the dealer’s hand when you are doubling your number of hands and your total money bet. I just told you that any time you get a pair, you are eligible to split, but just because you CAN split, doesn’t mean that you SHOULD split.
Now that you know what it means to split in blackjack, we are going to shift gears and tell you when to split in blackjack! Knowing when splitting in blackjack is the right play, and when it isn’t, is key when it comes to beating the house and getting paid whether playing live dealer blackjack online or in a land-based casino.
When To Split In Blackjack?
When should you split in blackjack? Check out these top-5 tips below on when you should consider splitting in blackjack and when you shouldn’t. Do twice as many cards and twice as much money wagered, mean twice as much fun? You bet it does!
Split: You Have A Pair Of Aces
This is the easiest strategy we are going to talk about today, as I am always going to split when I have a pair of aces. Even if a dealer has an ace showing, as long as they check their hand for a blackjack before I make my decision as to whether or not I want to split, then I’m splitting.
There are more cards worth 10 than any other number and there is just too good of a chance that you will end up with at least one blackjack, if not two of them, when you split up a pair of aces.
And even if you don’t hit to exactly 21 after your split, there are still plenty of cards that will make your hand a potential winner, including any 7, 8, or 9, not to mention the fact that the dealer could always end up busting as well, making you a double winner instantly.
Don’t waste any time thinking about this one. If you get a pair of aces, toss out another bet, split the aces up, and get paid!
Split: The Dealer Has A Bust Card
Any time that the dealer has a true bust card, either a 4, 5, or 6, I am going to take a hard look at splitting my hand. Remember, the dealer is going to bust right around 29% of the time, no matter what their up card is, which means that nearly a third of the time that you split, you are going to win regardless of what cards you draw, as long as you don’t bust.
Against a bust card, those numbers only go up, making it a high-value play to split if the dealer has a bust card showing. Let’s take a quick look at the odds of the dealer busting, depending on the value of their up card.
- If the dealer has a 4, they will bust 40% of the time
- If the dealer has a 5, they will bust 42% of the time
- If the dealer has a 6, they will bust 42% of the time
Those numbers make a very compelling case that you should be splitting any pair against these up cards, as they are going to bust so often, that just about all splits are going to show long-term value. The one thing that stuck out to me about those percentages, as a seasoned and skillful blackjack player, is that the odds that the dealer busts with a 5 showing, are nearly identical to them busting with a 6 showing.
Just about everyone I see that plays blackjack splits against a 6, but many of those same players tighten up against a 5. The statistics say that you should treat that 5 the same way as you would a 6, so if you are one of those players that gets scared away by a 5, you need to trust the math and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Split: You Have A Pair of 8s
Splitting 8s in blackjack is as easy of a decision as splitting aces. Basic blackjack strategy always calls for splitting a pair of 8s.
A pair of 8s equals 16 in blackjack. This is a challenging position to be in as a blackjack player, but if you know basic strategy, this is always an automatic signal to split.
When you hit on a 16, there is a 60% chance your hand will bust. Your only chance of staying in the game is if you are dealt a 4 or less after hitting.
The casino will appreciate you hitting on 8s and don’t split. You are giving them a massive 10% window of opportunity to win. In other words, inform the dealer that you will be splitting your 8s.
There is no chance that you will bust following your first hit on both cards. If you receive a 10 or face card, which is the most likely scenario, you’ve improved your standing from 16 to 18.
What about re-splitting? If the rules allow for re-splitting 8s at your casino, always re-split these cards, as well.
Split: 2s, 3s, 7s Versus Dealer’s 7 or Lower
There is a bit of controversy with splitting low pairs at the casino or on a blackjack app. However, unlike middle pairs, the math in blackjack indicates that they should be split under certain circumstances. Additionally, this advice against a dealer’s 7 or less includes a pair of 7s.
The mathematically correct move is always the right decision, regardless of what anyone suggests. There is an exception if the player is counting cards, but for basic strategy, always follow this rule for splitting pairs.
Splitting a pair of aces and 8s is a stronger play than this move. However, when you have 2s, 3s, or 7s versus the dealer’s 7 or lower upcard, consider clicking the split button.
Split: 6s Versus Dealer’s 2 to 6
There is an exception to the rule for splitting 6s. In most instances, a pair of 6s should not be split. However, there are some scenarios where 6s have the green light for being split.
If the dealer has a low-to-middle card, then consider splitting your pair of 6s. More specifically, 6s should be split against a dealer’s 2 to 6. If the dealer has another upcard, do not split your 6s.
Split: 9s Versus Dealer’s 2 to 6 and 8, 9
9s are generally not viewed as the strongest cards to split. However, there are exceptions that you must consider when playing blackjack in-person or online. Again, a counting card strategy is going to vary based on the count, but this is the correct move for players who want to use a basic strategy.
When you have a pair of 9s against the dealer’s 9 or less, except a 7, then split. This basic blackjack strategy rule can be a bit tricky to remember because if the dealer has a 7, then you hit instead of split.
Split: When The Table Is Hot
The last tip I am going to give you about splitting in blackjack is a tip that isn’t about the statistics, or the math, it is about trusting your gut. I want to preface this final tip by telling you I have taken data science college courses, and I fully understand terms like short-term variance, statistical anomalies, and the law of large numbers.
As a former casino operator, I have watched untold fortunes get paid out when a table is hot, and even more money whisked away when it’s not. Sometimes when you are playing blackjack, you have to go with the flow and take full advantage of a hot table. And on the flipside, if the table is cold, you should trust your gut and tighten up.
Now, to be clear, I am not suggesting you play recklessly and split your 10s into an ace or anything like that. But if it is a close decision, and you aren’t sure which way to go, let the table help guide your decision.
If you are on fire, loosen up just a bit. If the dealer keeps running out 6 card 21s, then know the universe is against you and play more conservatively. The math will never support this claim, but the giant stack of chips you cash out when you are able to ride the lightning on a red-hot blackjack sure will!
When Not To Split In Blackjack
Knowing when to split in blackjack is just half of the battle. The other half requires you to know when not to split.
Don’t Split: Medium Pairs
We have already talked about a couple of times where you should split, but when shouldn’t you split when playing blackjack? For me, I generally won’t split if I have a pair of 5s or 6s, and I will only split a pair of 4s against a dealer’s 5 or 6.
A pair of 5s is a hand that I would much rather double down on if the situation warrants getting more money out on the layout, and a pair of 6s is far too likely to turn into a pair of 16s, to ever want to split them up. Even if I am counting cards and the deck is super heavy with face cards, I will still stay away from splitting 5s or 6s in most situations, as it is just too risky.
Don’t Split: The Dealer Has An Ace
Splitting into the dealer’s ace is just begging to be punished. The only time I will ever consider it is if I have a pair of aces, as the dealer is going to make a hand far too often to make splitting anything else profitable.
We mentioned earlier that splitting your hand has more to do with what the dealer has than what you have, and a dealer makes a hand with an ace as their up card a very high percentage of the time. In fact, the dealer will make a pat hand more than 35% more often with an ace than even a face card
The stats tell us that a dealer will make a hand with an ace as their up card at an alarming 87% clip. That means that you are going to have to make a 17 or higher with your split at an even higher percentage if you want to survive it. And that just isn’t going to happen at anywhere near a high enough rate to justify splitting into an ace.
The most reckless things that you can do at a blackjack table are splits 10s and face cards, hit on 19 or 20, or double down into an ace. Splitting into an ace is just silly and you need to delete that page from your blackjack playbook ASAP.
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