Contents
Blackjack Basics
How to Play Blackjack
Blackjack Rules and Variations
Understanding the House Edge
Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack Strategy: Hitting and Standing
Blackjack Strategy: Doubling Down
Blackjack Strategy: Splitting Pairs
Blackjack Strategy: Surrender
Blackjack Strategy: Insurance
Blackjack Money Management
How to Count Cards in Blackjack
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Blackjack Strategy: Splitting Pairs
There are two reasons for choosing to split a pair:
- To turn a bad hand into two better hands: For example, you should always split a pair of 8s. Together they make a very bad hand of 16, but individually they make two reasonable hands of 8 each, which could easily become two solid hands of 18.
- To get more money on the table when you have the advantage: Splitting one good hand into two potentially good hands (as in splitting two 9s) may seem risky, but in blackjack it’s crucial to assert the advantage whenever you have it.
As with doubling down, the best strategy for splitting pairs depends on the rules you
encounter. Both the number of decks in use and whether you can double down after
splitting pairs should affect your pair-splitting strategy. The following four tables indicate when you should split pairs. All of the tables use the following key:
In a few cases, there are exceptions to the guidelines indicated in the table. These
exceptions are indicated by an asterisk (*) in the table followed by a note below the table.
Single Deck, Double Down After Splits
*If you have a 4–4, split rather than double down.
Single Deck, No Double Down After Splits
Multiple Decks, Double Down After Splits
*If you have a 4–4, split rather than double down.
Multiple Decks, No Double Down After Splits
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