What hands should not be split in blackjack?

Splitting a 10-10 hand is fine, but not a jack-queen hand, for example. After the first split, doubling down and further splitting of hands may be limited. After the first split, an ace and a ten-card may be regarded as a non-blackjack 21. After splitting aces you're generally not allowed to hit more than once.

What is the best hand to split in blackjack?

Always split eights.

Besides aces, the other pair that almost every Blackjack expert will tell you to split on is eights. It's difficult to get a good hand when you play your eights as one hand. Your chances aren't fantastic when you play them separately, but you do stand a better chance mathematically.

Can you split any hand in blackjack?

Good Question! If you hold two cards that are the same number in your hand, like two eights or two sixes, you can split them apart and play each one like two separate hands instead of one.

When and when not to split blackjack?

Should you always double on 11 in blackjack?

For most people, particularly those who are newer to blackjack, it's almost always a good idea to double down when you are showing an 11.

How to Know when to Split Pairs in Blackjack

Should you always hit 16 in blackjack?

When holding nine or less or 12-16 it's best to hit, but stand on a total of 17 or more. If the dealer's card is a four, five or six it is vital you do not bust.

Why is splitting 10s bad?

That's not too surprising because it's tough for the dealer to beat a strong hand of 20. If you split the 10s one time, you stand to win 63% and lose 37% on each split hand. That's a significant decrease in the number of hands won simply because if you split, you will often end up with less than 20 on both hands.

Why do you split 8s against 10?

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.

Should you split 10s against a 6?

As for the arithmetic, the statistical data on how often you will win when you split a pair of 10s against a dealer showing a 6 is 64% of the time. Your profit expectations for every $100 you bet while splitting those 10s will be, on average, a $56 profit.

Do you always split 8s in blackjack?

One of the golden rules of basic strategists is to always split paired 8s in all blackjack variations where the dealer is bound to draw to 16 and stand on all 17s. This applies no matter whether the respective S17 game plays with one, two, four, six, or eight decks.

Should you ever split 6S in blackjack?

RESPLITTING 6S

If the playing rules allow you to resplit, then it is advantageous for you to do so. 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.

Do you always split 7s 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.

Do you hit a 12 against a 3?

That may be true for most stiff hands (meaning, a hard 12 through 16) but it's not the case when you are holding a 12 against a 3. There are only four cards that could bust your 12 — a ten, jack, queen, or king. On the other hand, five cards will get you to 17–21 (a five, six, seven, eight, or nine).

Why not split 9s against a 7?

Players should refrain from choosing this move as the odds are not in their favour. In fact, 9s versus 7 is considered one of the trickiest hands in blackjack and as such, it is frequently misplayed by novices. A total of hard 18 holds well against the dealer's 7 and so does starting two hands with a 9 each.

Do you always split 9s in blackjack?

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 you double down 11 against 10?

When you double down, you risk losing double your original bet, but with 11 vs. 10, you win double your bet more often, giving you a higher average profit.

Should you split 3s against a 10?

The pair of 3s should be split versus the dealer's 4 through 7. Hitting is optimal with 3s when the dealer starts their hand with 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, and ace. This is because hitting slightly overpowers the split where expected value is concerned.

Is it ever OK to split 10s?

Splitting a 10-10 hand is fine, but not a jack-queen hand, for example. After the first split, doubling down and further splitting of hands may be limited. After the first split, an ace and a ten-card may be regarded as a non-blackjack 21. After splitting aces you're generally not allowed to hit more than once.

Should you ever split 5s?

One of the absolutes in blackjack is that you should never split 5s. Most players aren't even tempted, because they recognize they have a much stronger building block for a hand when they start with 10 than starting each of two hands with 5s.

Should you split 4s in blackjack?

However, there's one very important rule that determines whether you should ever split a pair of 4s. It's the "double after split" rule. You see, if the rules allow you to double down on pairs that have been split, then it becomes advantageous to go ahead and split a pair of 4s if the dealer has a 5 or 6 showing.

Do you split 4s against a 10?

Without regard to the S17 and H17 rules, single-deck blackjack players are advised to split their 4s versus the dealer's 4, 5, and 6 and hit versus the rest of the possible exposed cards (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, and ace) but only on condition they can double after they split.

Do you hit a 13 against a 2?

13 stands against dealer 2 through 6, otherwise hit. 12 stands against dealer 4 through 6, otherwise hit. 11 always doubles. 10 doubles against dealer 2 through 9 otherwise hit.

Do you hit on 15 against a 7?

Regardless of the number of decks of cards or the mix of playing rules, the correct playing strategy for a soft 15 is: Hit against a dealer's 2, 3, and 7 through ace.

Is blackjack more skill or luck?

Purely based on statistics, some casino gamblers get lucky and win money. Blackjack, however, can be beaten based on skill—no luck involved.