What Is Splitting in Blackjack and When to Use This Strategy?

What Is Split in Blackjack?

For those who do not know what split is in blackjack, we will tell you that it is the option presented to players in this game when the first cards they are dealt in the initial round are equal in value. In the event that a player at the table decides to do a blackjack split (as this option is known in some casinos that use the English term split) they will have to place a bet of the same value as the initial bet on the card that will be separated. of our hand, doubling the bet.

Both cards would be treated as if they were the first card in our hand, in two independent hands, one from the other. If one of these hands managed to become a pair again (two equal cards) they could be split again by entering a third bet, or tripling the bet. And so on until the hand ended.

Normally, doubling or hitting is allowed on a split hand. Although there is one exception, that we have divided two Aces. And in some cases the blackjack achieved in one of these split hands will not count as such. But the 21 points will count in front of the table.

Opportunities to split blackjack in a game are usually quite rare, with a 9.4% chance of getting two cards of the same value 10; and 0.5% of them being Aces.

When to Split in Blackjack?

It is often said among experts in the game of blackjack that splitting cards is generally accepted universally, and that it should always be done in the following cases: having a pair of 8s or a pair of Aces.

While it is true that in the Aces option you can only ask for one more card, this time presents us with a unique opportunity to be able to get two blackjacks. Probability says that there is a 30.4% chance that a hand that started with an Ace will turn into a blackjack. Which means that we would have a 51.6% chance of getting it in one of the two split hands when the strategy is carried out with two Aces.

For its part, two cards with a value of 8 would add up to a total of 16. Within the game, it is usually considered that this hand is weaker when opening because it is a number less than 17, the minimum value with which the dealer could be planted. Splitting two 8 value cards prevents this play from passing.

With a pair of cards of value 9, we should split in blackjack as long as the card that the dealer has visible face up on the table is not a 7, a 10 or an Ace. Since, if the dealer’s card was a 7, The most likely result on the second card in your hand would be a 10, which would mean that the round would be over. In it the dealer would have 17, a number lower than the value of our cards, which would be none other than 18, winning the round.

In the event that his card was a 10 or an Ace, the dealer would have the opportunity to get blackjack, which means that counting 18 in our hand is the best option to win the round.

As for pairs between values ​​2 and 7 (with the exception of 5), it is recommended to do a blackjack split when the dealer’s face-up card has a value ranging from 2 to 7, since they have the risk of going bust according to the probabilities. of this game.

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And When Should We Not Split in Blackjack?

There are several plays in blackjack in which it is recommended to divide our hand. But is there ever a time when we shouldn’t use this strategy? There are, and we will see them below.

It is often said that under neither of these circumstances should we split a hand made up of two 10 cards. If we think about it coldly, a starting hand that has the value of 20 is quite strong. It is because it can only lose against a 21, or blackjack. Furthermore, if we put on the table the probabilities of this happening we will see that it is approximately 12.2%. On the other hand, if we were to split this hand, we would probably end up with two hands with a value lower than 20, disappearing the opportunity to win the round.

Nor should we split blackjack when we get a pair of 5s. In this play the best trick will be to double, which will give us the opportunity to end the round with what is known as a strong hand (that its value is 18 or more). The only exception in this case is if the dealer’s card is a 10 or an Ace, since it could be done with a blackjack.

For pairs of 2, 3 and 7, we should not use this strategy if the card the dealer has in front of us is an 8. And for pairs made up of cards with a value of 4 or 6, if the dealer’s card is a 7 or higher. Likewise, it is often said that in pairs of 4 you should not split if the card on the dealer’s table is less than 5, since a hand of great value could be built with three cards.

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To Sum Up