BLACKJACK: SPLITTING PAIRS
Splitting pairs is a major part of blackjack strategy when you have a pair in Blackjack for the most part its going to be to your advantage. If you’re going into the casino and you want to come out a winner try studying this section very carefully.
Splitting cards means making one hand into two. For example, if you make a $10 bet and receive a pair of sixes (6.6), instead of staying with a total of 12 you have the option to wager a further $10 and have two hands of six.
Some casinos will allow a player to split as often as he or she likes, while others will have a restriction on the amount of splits you can make from a single box.
Once you have made the decision to split you will play them like any other hand in blackjack.
There is one exception, a pair of ACES. A lot of casinos will only allow the ACES to be split one time, in addition to this when the ACES are split, they will only receive one additional card to complete the hand. You must also remember that blackjack must be the first two cards dealt to a box. If you split ACES and then get dealt a 10 or face card you have a total of 21, not blackjack. You'll lose if the dealer has a blackjack.
INSIDE THE SWAG BAG
Basic strategy for splitting pairs on a multi-deck blackjack game:
| AA | split every time |
22 | split only when the dealer has 2,3,4,5,6,7 |
33 | split only when the dealer has 2,3,4,5,6,7 |
44 | split only when the dealer has 5,6 |
55 | never split these |
66 | split only when the dealer has 2,3,4,5,6 |
77 | split only when the dealer has 2,3,4,5,6,7 |
88 | split every time |
99 | split only when the dealer has 2,3,4,5,6,8 9 |
If you split a pair of tens expect to get a good old Fashioned smack to the head.
