Splitting pairs in blackjack is a standard basic strategy that can significantly impact your gameplay. Understanding when to split in blackjack and why it works with specific pairs better than others can turn challenging situations into potentially winning hands from the same cards.
This article explores what happens with a split hand, the best scenarios for splitting, and how and when it will enhance your chances of winning the game.
Read on to gain the knowledge you need to make smarter blackjack game decisions and boost your odds of success when playing blackjack at EVO.io.
What is splitting?
Splitting pairs in blackjack is one of the most common strategies for improving your chances of winning. When your first two cards are of the same value, according to house rules, you can split them into two hands, doubling your chances of winning.
When you split a pair, you place an additional bet equal to your original wager on the second hand and proceed to play the two hands independently. This move can significantly impact your gameplay by maximizing your potential winnings, especially if the dealer has a weak up card.
It’s worth noting that this also increases the risk, as you now have two hands to play and two bets on the table, which means you can lose twice what you intended to play when you started your game.
When considering splitting your pair, it’s essential to do so strategically, considering the rank of the cards you have been dealt.
How to split pairs
Splitting pairs in blackjack is as easy as one, two, three:
- After the first deal round, check your cards to see if you have a pair worth splitting based on their face value and the dealer’s up card.
- If you decide to split, lay a second bet equal to the value of your initial bet and separate your cards to show two separate hands.
- The dealer will then deal an additional card to each hand and ask you to play each hand as usual. Play each hand independently for double the chance of beating the dealer’s hand.
When to split in blackjack?
Now that we understand why and how to split your pairs, let’s look at when is the best time to split your hand:
Split aces
To split aces in blackjack is a highly advantageous move because it gives you two chances to hit a strong hand, specifically aiming for a blackjack, which is 21.
When you split your two aces, each can be paired with a 10-value card—which in blackjack is a 10, jack, queen, or king—to produce a blackjack hand of 21.
This basic strategy can significantly increase your win potential compared to keeping the aces together, where you’d start with a value of 2 or 12, which are both less favorable hands in the game. Make the most of your second ace by creating a second hand and double your original wager.
If you always remember to split aces, you will maximize your chances of creating strong hands and improve your chances of winning.
Splitting eights
Splitting two eights in blackjack is a strategic move to avoid ending up with a poor total hand value like 16, one of the worst possible hands in a blackjack game.
By splitting your pair of eights, you transform a weak position into two potentially stronger hands as each eight gives you a fresh start to form a stronger hand. This significantly increases your chances of hitting 18, which is a more competitive hand.
Splitting eights leverages the opportunity to improve your hand rather than sticking with a hard-to-win total hand value of 16, enhancing your overall gameplay and minimizing loss potential.
When not to split in blackjack?
Equally, there are times when it is not strategically wise to split your pairs, and it’s essential to identify those situations and refrain from slitting other pairs that won’t give you a strategic advantage:
Never split tens
Splitting a pair of tens in blackjack is generally a poor strategic move because you need to break up a hand with a total of 20. This is a strong hand and has a high chance of winning.
When you split tens, you risk breaking up a favorable hand for the chance to draw two potentially weaker hands. The odds of improving on a pair of tens are low, so keeping your original hand will improve your chances of beating the dealer’s hand.
Strategically, it is wiser to stand on a total of 20 than to gamble on splitting tens and end up with two weaker hands.
Avoid splitting fives
Splitting fives is another no-no in blackjack. A pair of gives a solid starting hand with a total of 10, making it an excellent option for doubling down and aiming to hit another 10-value card for a total of 20, which is a strong hand.
If you split a pair of fives, you could end up with a far weaker hand, like a total of 15, which is harder to play and more likely to lose. Keeping your fives together will maximize your chances of ending with a high-value hand and potentially winning the round.
Strategic splitting based on the dealer’s up card
It’s also worth remembering that what the dealer holds as its up card can factor into your strategy when deciding whether to split your pairs.
Weak dealer hands between two and six offer an opportunity to split pairs like sevens, eights, and nines, as the dealer has a higher chance of busting out.
If the dealer shows a strong hand, like a seven or higher, it’s wise to avoid splitting since the dealer’s potential of getting a strong hand increases—especially if you are holding a pair of tens.
By assessing the dealer’s up card, you can make better-informed decisions, maximizing your chances of winning and minimizing unnecessary risks.
Practice basic strategy to split pairs at EVO.io
So, there are your options for splitting pairs in blackjack. The best way to determine which strategy works for you is to trial a few tactics when playing your favorite blackjack games at EVO.io and see which garners the best results.
Get started by signing up for a new EVO.io account and exploring our blackjack tables today. Don’t forget to head to our promos page for your chance to score 150 free spins and up to $50,000 in bonus funds.
