How and When to Split in Blackjack?
Wondering how and when to split in blackjack correctly? Then read further. The beauty of the Blackjack game is that it’s played against the dealer (house). Be aware that the odds of winning increase by twofold and as a consequence, beat the house. Strap in, as you will be doing precisely this by the end of the article.
Fact: The infamous president of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) Dana White was banned from Palms and many other casinos in Las Vegas for beating the house and winning more than $7 million playing Blackjack. White had an immense winning streak that lasted over 6 months, clearly because he had a knack to crack the Blackjack code.
Table of Contents
The Context to Splitting in Blackjack
The simple answer to the question ‘when to split in blackjack’ is when your initial two dealt cards are of the same value. Having said that, it is a whole different ball game to learn what same cards to split, what to keep, and what to double down on.
Splitting in blackjack is much more nuanced than one initially comprehends. To understand the need to split these cards, one must take a glimpse at the wonderful game of Blackjack as a whole.
Understanding Blackjack
As mentioned in the beginning, blackjack is played against the dealer and this fact is more important than the value 21. Most players believe that the objective of the game is to get close to this magic number but the truth is, you simply need to have cards that hold a higher value than the dealer’s cards.
The implication of this is; if your hand holds a value of 14 and the dealer’s card’s value adds up to 13, you win, so the number 21 is moot with respect to this particular game. So the general rule of thumb is to remember the spilling point as 21 but constantly play to obtain 1 more value on cards that you’re dealt against the dealer’s cards’ total value.
Blackjack Card Values & Terminologies
Before ‘when do you split in blackjack’ comes what are the basic values of cards and terms used in blackjack. Knowing these down to your instinct will play to your benefit immensely so let’s learn;
Values:
- Ace – 1 or 11
- 10, Joker, Queen, and King – 10
- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 – hold the value of their number
Terminologies:
- Blackjack – is when the two cards dealt are any 10 value cards and an Ace
- Bust – is when the dealt cards exceed the highest value of 21
- Counting Cards – is memorising the dealt cards to predict the upcoming ones
- Chip Up & Down – is when you increase or decrease your bet from the previous game, respectively
- Double Down – is when you place the same amount bet again to receive another card
- Even Money – is when you split the money evenly with the dealer when you have a blackjack and the dealer has an ace
- Hard Hand – is when the dealt cards don’t have an ace
- Hit – is when you take another card to increase the value of the cards you’re dealt.
- Hole Card – is the dealer’s card that is faced down
- Insurance – is the dealers bet when he has an ace
- Monkey – are cards that hold a value of 10
- Paint – are picture cards
- Pair – two cards that hold the same value and these may be split
- Soft Hand – is when an ace usually counts as 11
- Split – is when you split two cards of the same value into two separate hands
- Stand – is not to hit for another card
- Stand-Off – is when the dealer has the same value cards as the player
- Surrender – is when you give up half of your bet in case the dealer has an assured win
When to Not Split & When to Split in Blackjack?
Most blackjack split rules are based on tried & tested probabilities. Some hands mean that you split immediately, some mean the opposite, and splitting some hands is based on the dealer’s up card. So, following these will statistically increase your chances of winning many folds.
Never Split:
- Fours – A pair of 4s gives you 8 and the highest you score on the next hit is 19. So never split a pair of 4s as only a 5, 6, or a 7 on the next hit can give you higher odds of winning, and just these three cards are not good odds.
- Fives – Never split a pair of 5s because it will increase your chances of hitting a lower hand or busting out of 21 in the next hit. A relatively decent number, two 5s means you have a 10 which means you must either double down, unless the dealers facing cards are an ace, 9 or a 10.
- Tens – An almost perfect hand, some people like to ‘dismantle’ by splitting 10s but the odds of the dealer showing a perfect 21 are low. So stick to your impressive hand of 20 and never split a pair of 10s.
Always Split:
- Eights – If you’re dealt a pair of 8s, split it immediately. Although 16 is a high score, it is a bad one as anything above a 5 value card will bust you on the next hit, and there are great chances of this happening. Splitting a pair of 8s will give you twice the opportunity to win the game.
- Aces – When you are dealt 2 aces, one ace holds a value of 1 and the other, 11. This brings the tally to 12 which means that only a 9 card can get you to 21, where multiple 10 cards increase the odds of a bust. But in a situation where you split these two aces, the same 10 cards can lead you to a perfect winning score of 21.
Splitting Based on Dealers Up Cards:
- Scenario 1: When you have a pair of 6s and the dealer’s up cards are 2 to 6, probability dictates that your winning chances increase if you split whereas the dealer most likely will bust.
- Scenario 2: When you have a pair of 9s and the dealer shows cards between 2 to 6, hitting at 18 is ill-advised for obvious reasons, and having split 9s will give you winning odds against the dealer’s good hand.
- Scenario 3: When you have 2s, 3s, or 7s, and the dealer’s up cards are between 2 to 7, the dealer immediately has an upper hand, and these three pairs are famously called ‘stinkers’ as a bust is inevitable in a couple of hits, in most cases.
Rules to Split in Blackjack
General rules while splitting in blackjack varies based on casinos and online casinos. Acquaint yourself with these rules some casinos may put forth, as blackjack is played against the house, and a skilled/seasoned player can always win big.
- Splitting of hands or doubling down may be limited after the first split. So ask the dealer about this rule.
- At some casinos, an ace and a 10 card may be considered as a non-blackjack 21 in which case, your blackjack strategy must change completely.
- Some casinos don’t allow you to hit more than once after splitting your hand of two aces.
- Although Joker, Queen, and King are considered as 10 cards, some casinos prohibit you from splitting Joker & Queen cards for instance.
Blackjack Split Strategy
Finding the above information too wordy? Then, here’s my blackjack split strategy to distil the info.
Basic Blackjack Splitting
| Dealer’s Up Card | ||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
| A,A | Make sure to always split the aces | |||||||||
| 2,2 | X | X | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
| 3,3 | X | X | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
| 4,4 | H | H | H | X | X | H | H | H | H | H |
| 5,5 | Do not split the 5s | |||||||||
| 6,6 | X | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 7,7 | S | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
| 8,8 | Make sure to always split the 8s | |||||||||
| 9,9 | S | S | S | S | S | STD | H | H | H | H |
| 10,10 | Do not split 20 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
Blackjack strategy: 4-8 decks with dealer stands on 17
| Player | Dealer’s Up Card | |||||||||
| Splits | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
| 2/2 | SNH | SNH | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
| 3/3 | SNH | SNH | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
| 4/4 | H | H | H | SNH | SNH | H | H | H | H | H |
| 6/6 | SNH | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 7/7 | S | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
| 8/8 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| 9/9 | S | S | S | S | S | STD | S | S | STD | STD |
| A/A | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
|
||||||||||
Blackjack strategy: 4-8 decks with dealer hits on 17
| Player | Dealer’s Up Card | |||||||||
| Splits | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
| 2/2 | SNH | SNH | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
| 3/3 | SNH | SNH | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
| 4/4 | H | H | H | SNH | SNH | H | H | H | H | H |
| 6/6 | SNH | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 7/7 | S | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H |
| 8/8 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | SUR |
| 9/9 | S | S | S | S | S | STD | S | S | STD | STD |
| A/A | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
|
||||||||||
Make a point to ask the dealer for all the rules before dealing the hands from the shoe or read the list of rules thoroughly while playing Blackjack online.
Try out these tricks at any of these legit online casinos in India:
Online slots are fun and entertains you for hours. Try your favorite progressive jackpot and win a big payout.
100% up to ₹20000 Welcome Bonus
10CRIC has won appreciation for its constant efforts to maintain its casino as a safe environment for guests and youngsters. They offer a wide range of desi and western games with incredible payment options.
140% Welcome Bonus of up to €1500
Campeonbet provides a diverse range of slot and sportsbook games with appealing wagering options. There are appealing bonuses scattered throughout the game, with a combination of low and high-risk wagers to meet the preferences of various clients.
200% up to €500 Welcome Bonus
Customers will be relieved to learn that Cashalot has agreements with some of the greatest casino game producers, including Yggdrasil, Microgaming, Play 'N Go, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Evolution, Pragmatic Play, iSoftBet, and Quickspin.
Get 100% Welcome Bonus of up to €500
Casino Days provides amazing desi games, friendliest customer support, maximum payment security, 930+ game selection, and mobile friendly.
150% Bonus up to ₹15000 + ₹101 for 7 Days
Casumo casino offers players several options to choose from when it comes to payments. So deciding between withdrawal methods won’t be a hassle. Licensed under the stringent laws of MGA (Malta Gambling Authority), you can be sure of your security here.
When it comes to their Live Casino section, they have 12 authentic titles that are India-bound and customised to appeal to Indian punters. It starts with Teen Patti live, Andar Bahar live, Cricket Baccarat live, Monopoly live, Crazy Time, Dream Catcher, Three Card Poker, etc.
₹2500 Welcome Bonus
When you make your first deposit at ComeOn Casino, you can claim a 100% first deposit bonus up to ₹10,000 as part of their Casino Welcome Package. You need to make a minimum deposit of ₹1000 in order to claim this bonus.
100% Deposit Bonus up to €100
Be it experience or rewards, Cyber Bet is the place to be. A go-to bookmaker for new and experienced punters with spare money to spend. The wagering requirement for most games at Cyber Bet is reasonable and that is what impresses a majority of customers.
100% Welcome Bonus up to ₹7,000 + ₹1,68,000
Europa’s popularity never ceded since it premiered in 2003. Today, it stands revered among top casinos in 12+ countries, including India. That means you guessed it, ‘Indianised theme and games of desi origin.
Welcome Bonus of up to €1000
Don't sneeze off Fortune Panda as just another rip-off casino pursuing small fry customers to steal them from rival brands. It's not. This is a casino that understands how to flaunt itself in a competitive environment where reputation and collaboration with top-tier gaming companies are the keys to success.
Get Welcome Bonus of up to ₹30000
Genesis deserves applause for synergizing graphics and interactivity to woo desi customers. Not only was I felt infatuated by the space livery, but also equally tantalizing game titles and the very presence of gorgeous desi croupiers.
200% Bonus up to ₹15200
Happy Luke Casino (Indian version: happyindia888.com) offers an extensive and generous welcome package, which makes it ideal for both casual players and ones seeking higher stakes.
Welcome Bonus of up to €1000
For a brand new casino, Haz has an impressive 7400 slots. It’s the homing beacon for slot lovers from all over the world. They can get access to a wide range of slot machines from providers like NetEnt, Playtech, Microgaming, Yggdrasil, and many more.
Welcome Bonus of up to €1000
Horus features a classic casino and live casino segment that has everything from Blackjack and Roulette to Buffalo Trail and Wild Vegas slots. They might deserve a compliment for introducing hundreds of games that are tastefully done with graphics and theme-play.
Get up to £150 Bonus
A plethora of promotions, secure transactions, and most importantly, amazing bonuses are the primary factors that attracted me to try LiveRoulette.
€200 Welcome Bonus
Magic Red Casino review: Licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, you can be assured of this casino's security. The payments are smooth and quick. It surely inspires confidence in navigating the way ahead from the signup form.
Speaking of games, its great if you love slots. The site also has plenty of bonus opportunities for new and returning players but limited options for ardent casino fans, especially when it comes to sportsbook and table games.
Get Up to ₹80000 Welcome Bonus
Regent casino features some of the top-rated game providers and has more than 400 casino games. The withdrawals are fast (0-24h).
Bonus up to ₹100000
Royal panda casino offers players several options to choose from with payments. So deciding between withdrawal methods won’t be a hassle. Licensed under the stringent laws of MGA (Malta Gambling Authority), you can be certain of your payments here. The transactions are encrypted and invisible.
100% bonus up to ₹20000
Twin Casino is all about great offers, excellent games, and an ultimate casino experience for every Indian player. They have excellent welcome offers, nicely packaged with free spins and bonuses. It is licensed by MGA (Malta Gambling Authority) and boasts some of top-notch gaming providers
Welcome Bonus of up to €1000
If you're a casino explorer or a punter looking to take advantage of the no-wager bonus (more on that later), keep the following in mind: Vegaz casino offers everything over and in-between. It's a multiverse of casino slots and live games that will take you on a delightful voyage where you may indulge and collect your rewards.
