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BLACKJACK: Splitting Pairs

from Southern & Midwest Gaming and Destinations │ May 2023

from Southern & Midwest Gaming and Destinations │ May 2023, page 22

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One of the most exciting and potentially rewarding moves in blackjack is splitting pairs. This strategy involves dividing a pair of cards of the same value into two separate hands and playing them as individual hands.

The first thing to understand about splitting pairs is that it is not always a good idea. Whether or not you should split a pair depends on a number of factors, including the value of the dealer’s up card and the specific rules of the game you are playing. Generally, the best pairs to split are aces and eights, while the worst pairs to split are tens and fives.

When you split a pair of aces, you have the opportunity to create two hands that start with a strong value of 11. In most cases, it is wise to split aces. However, there are some casinos that have rules in place that prevent you from splitting aces more than once. This means that if you draw another ace after splitting, you will not be able to split again and will be stuck with a hand of 12. Make sure you understand the specific rules of the game before you decide to split aces.

Splitting eights is another smart move in most situations. If you have a pair of eights, you have a hand value of 16, which is a weak hand in blackjack. By splitting the eights, you have the opportunity to create two separate hands that can potentially improve.

On the other hand, you should avoid splitting pairs of fives and tens. Splitting fives will give you two hands with a starting value of 5, which is a weak hand in blackjack. Similarly, splitting tens will give you two hands with a starting value of 10, which is a strong hand in blackjack. Splitting tens is generally not recommended because it is difficult to improve on a hand of 20, and you run the risk of getting two weaker hands.

When deciding whether or not to split a pair, it’s also important to consider the dealer’s up card. If the dealer has a weak up card (2 through 6), it’s generally a good idea to split pairs more often. Splitting pairs can increase your chances of winning by creating more opportunities for strong hands. However, it is important to understand when and how to split pairs to make the most of this strategy.

Types of Pairs to Split

Here are the four types of pairs that can be split:

Aces – Splitting a pair of aces is always a good idea because it gives you two chances to get a blackjack. When you split aces, you will receive only one additional card for each ace. If you get a ten or face card, you will have a blackjack on one hand and a strong hand of 21 on the other. If you get a lower card, you can continue to hit or stand to improve your hand.

Eights – Splitting a pair of eights is also a good move in most cases. When you split eights, you have two weak hands of 8, but if you get a ten or face card on either hand, you will have a strong hand of 18. If you get an ace, you can use it as a one or an 11, depending on the other cards in your hand. If you get a lower card, you can continue to hit or stand to improve your hand.

Nines – Splitting nines is not always a good idea, but it can be a smart move in certain situations. If the dealer has a weak upcard of 2 through 6, it is recommended to split nines. This is because the dealer is likely to bust, and splitting nines gives you two chances to get a strong hand of 19. However, if the dealer has a strong upcard of 7 through Ace, it is best to stand on a hand of 18.

Tens – Splitting tens is almost never a good idea because you already have a strong hand of 20. Splitting tens can only result in weaker hands, and it is unlikely that you will improve either hand.

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