Splitting is one of the key decisions in blackjack and knowing when to split a pair into two hands (and when not to) will help you maximize your chances of success. Splitting at the right time will keep the house edge – the casino’s advantage over the player – as low as possible and that means you need only the smallest amount of luck in order to clear that casino bonus or make a nice profit from your session at the table.
When playing at your favorite USA online blackjack site it’s easy to refer to basic strategy and unless you have memorized every call then we would recommend using a basic strategy chart to help you. However, if you don’t want to keep checking a sheet, or happen to be playing blackjack in a real-world casino, then knowing the essentials of when to split will help you play more quickly, more profitably and enjoy your entire blackjack experience that little bit more.
The following information is based on standard blackjack rules, assuming four to eight decks, doubling after splitting is not allowed and the dealer stands on soft 17. The easiest splits to remember are aces and eights, which should always, always be split. Even when the dealer is holding an ace himself and you think you might be better off trying to limit your losses, with a pair of eights, for example, splitting is ALWAYS the right choice.
The next simple one is a pair of fours, which should never be split and always hit, even to a dealer showing a six. The same applies with a pair of fives and a pair of 10s – these should never be split, even if you like the idea of taking two hands with a 10 against a five or a six. Basic strategy, math, science, call it what you will, is never wrong, so don’t play with your gut or instinct, make the call that is proven to deliver long-term profit.
The other splits are slightly more complex but:
- Split nines unless the dealer has a seven, 10 or ace
- Split sevens unless the dealer has a higher card
- Split sixes unless the dealer has higher card or a two
- Split twos and threes only to a dealer four to seven inclusive
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