When to Split in Blackjack

What Does Split Mean in Blackjack?

In blackjack, splitting is an option that is available to you if you are dealt a pair of cards of the same value - If you do split, then you are essentially splitting your cards into two separate hands, so one half of the pair is in one hand, and the other half of the pair is in the other.

How it works

Firstly, to split, you need to be dealt a pair.
If you do split, then you will need to place another bet - equal to your original wager
With two separate hands to play against the dealer, the dealer will draw an extra card for each hand
Each hand is played independently against the hand of the dealer
You can continue to hit, stand or double down after choosing to split
When ready, the dealer’s face-down card will be revealed to determine the outcome for your two hands.

Best Scenarios To Split - Splitting Strategy

Whether or not you decide to split your hand in blackjack should be based on a few different factors- primarily the pair that you are dealt and the dealer’s face-up card.

Pair of Aces: Splitting aces is a popular blackjack split. When you split aces, you have the potential to make two very strong hands - both soft hands..

Pair of 8s: Another hand that many players split is a pair of 8s. A hard 16 is one of the weaker hands. If players split eights, they have the potential to turn each hand into a better one.

Pair of 2s or 3s: Players often split this hand if the dealer has an upcard between 4 and 7. This is because they will want to take advantage of the dealer’s potentially weak hand and try for a stronger hand on at least one of their split hands.

Pair of 6: Many prefer to split 6s when the dealer has between 3 and 6. This is simply to try and take advantage of a potentially weak dealer's hand.

Pair of 7s: Statistically, players are advised to split 7s when the dealer's upcard is 7 or lower. By splitting this hand, a player will avoid the weak total of 14 and hopefully get two more favourable hands.

Pair of 9s: Players often consider a split pair of 9s when the dealer's upcard is between 2 and 6 or 8 and 9. Again, the idea of this is to take advantage of the dealer's potential to bust with a weak upcard.

Remember, though, these are just guidelines - based on basic blackjack strategy and statistical probabilities. In any situation, your decision to split should be made by considering your pair and the dealer's upcard in each different game situation. Always bear in mind that splitting can be used as a strategy when you use it correctly, but it should not be applied blindly in every scenario where you are dealt a pair.

When Should You Avoid the Decision to Split?

Here are some situations where avoiding splitting might make more sense:

Pair of 4: It's generally not a good idea to split pairs of 4s. This is because splitting would normally leave you with two weak starting hands, both of which can be challenging to improve. Instead, you are better off hitting and potentially improving the total of your original hand.

Pair of 5s: A total of 10 is considered a strong starting hand in blackjack, and splitting 5s would turn one strong hand into two weak hands. It's better to keep the 10 and potentially double down if the dealer has a weak upcard.

Pairs of 10s: Splitting pairs of 10s is almost always a bad idea. You already have a strong total of 20 - the strongest hand behind a blackjack, and splitting would simply risk turning that into two weaker hands.

Pair of 5s and 10s: Some blackjack variations even have house rules against splitting particular pairs - including pairs of 5s or 10s. So, make sure you know the split rules of the game you are playing and be guided by them.

Any strong pair when the dealer's upcard is strong: If the dealer’s upcard is a 7 or higher, a blackjack split, in this instance, isn’t advisable, no matter what pair you have. The reason is that the dealer has a better chance of having a strong hand, and splitting may result in you having two weaker hands that are both likely to lose.

When playing blackjack splits, there’s no one size fits all, no matter what hand you are dealt with. The decision over whether you split or not should always be based on the scenario you are in at that time.