When should you split 8s in blackjack?
Other experts advise against splitting 8s against anything but a 7, or unless the dealer shows a bust card of 3, 4, 5 or 6. (In the latter case, you likely would split anything short of 9s or 10s.)
Should you always split aces in blackjack?
Always split aces. There are a few situations in Blackjack when it always makes sense to split, no matter what card the dealer is showing. For example, you should always split when you get a pair of aces. Splitting gives you a much better chance to get a strong hand.
What is splitting in blackjack?
Read on to find out. What is splitting in Blackjack? A player can split in a round of Blackjack if their opening two cards are of the same value. This means any pair from Ace through to nine and any two cards valued at 10 (for instance, a 10 and a Queen).
What is the worst number to split in blackjack?
This is good advice because a pair of eights equals 16—the worst total a player can have at the blackjack table. Whenever you split a pair of eights each eight receives a new card and becomes a separate hand. You can then act on that hand according to the rules of blackjack by hitting, standing, or doubling down.
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When should you not split your 8s?
Other experts advise against splitting 8s against anything but a 7, or unless the dealer shows a bust card of 3, 4, 5 or 6. (In the latter case, you likely would split anything short of 9s or 10s.)
What numbers should you split in blackjack?
Always split Cards with a value of ten are plentiful in blackjack, so it makes sense to split a pair of aces. If you don't split your aces, one is given a value of one and the other a value of 11. This means only a nine can take you to 21 on your next card.
When should you not split in Black Jack?
Like aces, always re-split your eights. Don't split when: You get nines or tens: If you have 9 & 9 (18) it's already a strong hand to beat the dealer with. If you split them, you are counting on hitting a ten or ace to make a marginally stronger holding.
Why do you split aces and eights?
The aces are easy—you will have two chances to get 21! With 8s, mathematical analysis shows that splitting them loses less often over the long run than any other move you could make. Still a tough hand though.
Do you split 10s against a 5?
The only way you would know if the unplayed cards are rich in 10s is by card counting. For example, card counters who use the popular Hi-Lo card-counting system will split tens vs. a dealer 5 upcard when the true count (or count per deck) is +5 or greater.
Do you split 3s against a 7?
For example, if you have a pair of twos, threes, or sevens, it's a good idea to split if the dealer shows a seven or lower. However, if the dealer shows an eight or higher, don't bother splitting. Similarly, it's best to split sixes if the dealer shows a two through six, but not if they have a seven or higher.
Do you hit or stay on 16?
It is best to hit when holding a hand of 10 or 12-16, and stand on anything 17 and over. An ace gives you a good chance of making 21 with a hit. When a dealer has a seven, eight or nine card it is impossible for them to make a blackjack, so your chances increase.
Should you always double down on 11?
If the dealer is showing a lower card than a 10, it is good strategy to double down. If the casino rules dictate the dealer must hit soft 17, you should always double down on 11 no matter what the dealers up card.
Do you split 9s against 9?
For example, if you are dealt a pair of 9s against a dealer's 6 upcard, you should split them. Suppose on the first 9, you are dealt another 9 on the draw. You should resplit to form a third hand. If the casino allows resplits up to a total of four hands, then you should resplit again if you are dealt another 9.
Should I split 10s in blackjack?
In Face-up Blackjack, where all the cards dealt are exposed, including both dealer's cards, the correct strategy is to split 10s against the dealer's 13, 14, 15 or 16.
Should you split 7's in blackjack?
In multi-deck games, always split 7s against a dealer's 2 through 7, otherwise hit. In double-deck games, split 7s against dealer's 2-8 if DAS or 2-7 if NDAS; otherwise hit.
Should you split 6s in blackjack?
For example, if you are dealt a pair of 6s against a dealer's 5 upcard, you should split them. Suppose on the first 6, you are dealt another 6 on the draw. You should resplit to form a third hand. If the casino allows resplits up to a total of four hands, then you should resplit again if you are dealt another 6.
Should you split 7's in blackjack?
In multi-deck games, always split 7s against a dealer's 2 through 7, otherwise hit. In double-deck games, split 7s against dealer's 2-8 if DAS or 2-7 if NDAS; otherwise hit.
Should you hit 16?
It is best to hit when holding a hand of 10 or 12-16, and stand on anything 17 and over. An ace gives you a good chance of making 21 with a hit. When a dealer has a seven, eight or nine card it is impossible for them to make a blackjack, so your chances increase.
Should you split 9s in blackjack?
RESPLITTING 9S If the playing rules allow you to resplit the 9s, it is advantageous for you to do so. For example, if you are dealt a pair of 9s against a dealer's 6 upcard, you should split them. Suppose on the first 9, you are dealt another 9 on the draw. You should resplit to form a third hand.
Should you split 6s in blackjack?
For example, if you are dealt a pair of 6s against a dealer's 5 upcard, you should split them. Suppose on the first 6, you are dealt another 6 on the draw. You should resplit to form a third hand. If the casino allows resplits up to a total of four hands, then you should resplit again if you are dealt another 6.
How many cards can you split in blackjack?
Before we get into specifics, it's only fair to offer a primer for the rookies: In blackjack, when your first two cards match, you're allowed to "split" them, essentially turning one hand into two. When you split aces, you get only one card for each ace.
Who advises against splitting 8s?
John Patrick, who has written books on the subject, advises players against splitting 8s against what he considers to be the dealer's "power" cards (9, 10, jack, queen, king and ace).
Is there a percentage factor in splitting hands?
Mathematicians say that over the course of millions of hands, there is a percentage factor in favor of splitting those hands. But because many of us gamblers likely won't live long enough to see millions of hands, other experts offer different explanations.
Who is the Wizard of Odds?
Michael Shackleford, who calls himself "the Wizard of Odds," says splitting 8s against a dealer 10 has the "smallest expected loss" (as opposed to staying, hitting or doubling) of all moves with a pair of 8s. It's important to note that Shackleford's math indicates there's still an expected loss - likely more than half of your original bet.
Do you split 8s when the dealer shows a 9?
I side more with Patrick on this one, though I do split 8s when the dealer shows a 9. In my experience in Northern California casinos, staying on two 8s usually causes great consternation among the other players at the table. Sometimes, my fellow players even curse me out.
Is 16 a good hand?
Experts say the reason to engage in this tactic is to improve your hand: A 16 is not a strong hand, and the likelihood of turning each 8 into an 18 is relatively strong (as there are 16 10s in each deck). Still, justification for this move is marginal at best.
Is there still an expected loss on a Shackleford 8?
It's important to note that Shackleford's math indicates there's still an expected loss - likely more than half of your original bet. Other experts advise against splitting 8s against anything but a 7, or unless the dealer shows a bust card of 3, 4, 5 or 6.
How do you split an eight in blackjack?
Whenever you split a pair of eights each eight receives a new card and becomes a separate hand. You can then act on that hand according to the rules of blackjack by hitting, standing, or doubling down. You can even split the eights a second or third time.
What are the rules of blackjack?
It is one of the easiest rules to remember at the blackjack table. Always split aces and eights. Well, not so fast. The true professionals of blackjack know that every rule has an exception. If you want to improve your blackjack game you need to know when to break the rules.
What is the basic strategy of blackjack?
Basic blackjack strategy states that you should always split these pairs. There is a prevailing reason for splitting each of them.
How many eights equal 16?
A pair of eights should also be split each time you get them according to basic strategy. This is good advice because a pair of eights equals 16—the worst total a player can have at the blackjack table. Whenever you split a pair of eights each eight receives a new card and becomes a separate hand. You can then act on that hand according to the rules of blackjack by hitting, standing, or doubling down. You can even split the eights a second or third time.
When you should not split an ace?
When You Shouldn’t Split Aces. There are times at the blackjack table when splitting a pair of aces is not in your best interests, and the only way you will ever know that time is by learning how to count cards. In addition, you should be using a counting method which keeps a side count of the aces in play.
Can you split an aces in a casino?
In most casinos, split aces only receive one additional card. This means that after you split them into two separate hands, you cannot act further to improve the resulting hands. You also won’t be allowed to split the aces a second time if another one falls after the initial split.
Is a pair of eights a 16?
You must remember that a pair of eights is still a 16. That is the worst hand you can have at blackjack. Don’t make matters worse by splitting your eights into the teeth of a monster hand by the dealer. It is far better to surrender half of your bet and live to fight another day.
How many pieces of information are cross referenced on a blackjack strategy chart?
You have 2 pieces of information, which are cross-referenced on a blackjack basic strategy chart:
How much does an 8 card give you?
The other, lower value cards don’t help much either. A 9 gives you a total of 14, which is also awful. An 8 gives you a total of 13. Nothing to write home about there, either.
How many cards are worth 10 points?
Remember, you have 16 cards worth 10 points each in the deck—more than any other specific total. Most of the cards aren’t worth 10 points, but enough of them are that you can be optimistic about getting that natural at least some of the time.
How many cards do you need to get a total of 20 or 21?
You have 16 cards worth 10 left in the deck, and 4 aces. That’s 20 cards that will give you a total of 20 or 21.
What is the best hand to beat 20?
You have a hard total of 20. The only possible hand that could beat that 20 is a 21. It’s such a good hand that it’s hard to imagine improving your chances by creating 2 new hands—even though any hand which starts with a single 10 is going to turn out pretty good.
Is a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 a good hand?
Even if you get a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, it’s not the end of the world. You’re liable to get a stiff hand, but it’s not as likely as getting a good hand.
Do you have to put up another bet when you split your hand?
You also must put up another bet when you split your hand. You then play each hand independently of each other.
How many times can you split in blackjack?
House rules may vary here. Most Blackjack games will allow you to split a maximum of three times (to play a total of four hands).
When to split a pair of twos in blackjack?
The best time to split pairs in blackjack is when you're dealt 2 aces or 2 eights, which will increase your chances of getting 21. You should also split a pair of twos, threes, or sevens if the dealer shows a seven or lower. If the dealer shows a two through six, split a pair of sixes.
When you split a pair of cards, what happens?
Always re-split aces or eights if you are dealt a second pair. When you split, the dealer gives you two cards — one for each of the new hands. If this gives you a second pair of aces or eights, treat it as its own hand and split again.
What is the best way to hit an 18?
If the dealer has a seven, ten, or ace showing, don't hit — instead, stand. Hitting on an 18 is borderline-suicidal. Anything but a two or three will make you bust out.
What happens if you split 10s?
If you play a pair of 10s, your hand has a value of 20, which is quite good. If you split 10s, you need to get an ace to improve your stance — anything else will give you a hand that has an equal or lesser value. Statistically speaking, splitting tens is most likely to give you two hands worse than the first one.
What is the highest you can go on a pair of fours?
When you hit on a pair of fours, it's impossible to bust out — the highest you can go is 19 if you get an ace, which is a pretty decent hand. If you split your fours, you're likely to get left with a less-valuable hand (if you get a two or three) or a hand that is possible to bust out on if you hit (if you get an eight or higher). You need to get a five, six, or seven to be better off than you were originally.
When to split sixes?
Split sixes when the dealer shows a two through six. If the dealer has a seven or better, just take a hit. Mathematically, you're more likely to beat weak dealer hands if you split your sixes. If the dealer is likely to have a stronger hand, your best bet is to hit and improve your hand — you'll only bust out if you get a 10 or face card.
How many cards can you split in a blackjack game?
A player can split in a round of Blackjack if their opening two cards are of the same value. This means any pair from Ace through to nine and any two cards valued at 10 (for instance, a 10 and a Queen).
What is splitting in blackjack?
Splitting is an interesting component of playing Blackjack that allows you to enter two hands in the same round if the first two cards in your initial hand are of the same value. So what is splitting, when can you do it and when should you?
How rare is it to split in blackjack?
In a game of Blackjack, opportunities to split will likely be rare. You have an approximate 0.5% chance of getting any pair from Aces to nines in your opening two cards, and a 9.4% probability of getting two cards valued at 10.
What happens if the dealer's face up card is a 7?
If the dealer’s face up card is a seven, the most likely outcome is that their second card will be worth 10, meaning they will be forced to finish the round with a hand worth 17, less than your hand’s value of 18. If the face up card is worth 10 or an Ace then they have a chance to get Blackjack, meaning standing on a value ...
What happens if you split a card?
If a player decides to split, they must place a second bet for that round of the same value as their original bet, essentially doubling their stake. The two cards are then treated as the first card of two new independent hands that are played out separately. Should one of these hands become a pair, the player is allowed to split again ...
How many decks are in a blackjack table?
NB: This table assumes four to eight decks in play and that the dealer hits on a soft 17.
What is the weakest opening hand in blackjack?
Meanwhile, a pair of eights presents a value of 16. This is widely considered to be the weakest opening hand in Blackjack, by virtue of the fact it is one beneath the minimum value of 17 that the dealer is required to finish on (meaning it is always likely to lose) but has a significant risk of going bust when hitting.
Why do you split 8s in blackjack?
First, to improve weak hands, splitting 8s are a clear example for that. Second, to increase possible winnings on stronger hands, for example splitting Aces. As with every blackjack rule, things are very simple and yet complicated in the same time.
How Splitting in Blackjack Works?
What splitting in blackjack means is that when your hand consists of two cards with similar value, you can split them by placing additional bet, creating two hands that will be played separately. The option to split is of enormous value; if it’s used wisely of course.
How many hands can you split in blackjack?
Common Blackjack Split Rules. Allowed to split twice (up to three hands). You can split non identical 10 value cards. Splits Aces cannot be re-split. Split Aces receive only one card. You can hit and double down split hands.
When to split 4s?
4s – are not a perfect hand for splitting, so you should split them only when the dealer shows 5 or 6 and only when you can double after split. If the casino doesn’t allow to double on split hands – never split 4s.
Is splitting strategy easy?
The good news is that the splitting strategy is rather straight forward and easy to remember, especially if you have a favorite blackjack game which you come back to. Otherwise, it varies according to the specific splitting rules which we will review below.
What is the score of a split pair in blackjack?
This is considered a split pair between the Blackjack Pro Players. Your score is 16 , which is one of the most unliked hands. If you split it, you have much bigger chances to get higher scores.
What does it mean to split cards?
Basically, split means that you want to divide your first two cards into 2 different hands. When you want to split, you must pay for your second hand an additional bet as much as your initial wager. Then you receive 2 new cards for each of your hands automatically from the dealer.
What is a bad score against a pair of 9s?
When you have pair of 9s, your score is 18. This is a bad score against the dealer’s 7-8-9 or 10 as an open card. You should split and try to get a higher score. Because hitting on 18 is not a correct action when you have an option to split.
When should you split a pair of aces?
If the dealer gives you a 10 after the split, there is a big chance you will reach a great score. If the dealer has between 2-6 or 8-9, you can choose to split this pair.
Can you split 5s?
Splitting 5s is not a great idea. Because you already have a score of 10, and you can hit for 20 or 21. So even if the dealer has a lower card than 7, you can try to double down. Which is a much better option than split for this pair.
Is splitting a blackjack card bad?
This option gives a big chance to increase your win. But sometimes using it may be a bad idea. This is one of the things that distinguishes Blackjack from other casino games, strategy! So, you must be careful and watch out for the cards all the time.
Can you split a blackjack game over and over again?
Now you have 2 different new hands. Not all casinos will allow you to split over and over again. However, you can hit or make double per hand as you wish.
