Blackjack Hands To Split

Splitting in Multi Hand Blackjack. Splitting is yet another popular feature of blackjack that is also present in Multi-Hand Blackjack. When you are dealt a hand of identical cards, you will be given the option to split them into two separate ones. Once you split hand, you will place one more bet and the resulting hands will operate. Most styles of blackjack will let you double down on split hands, and also re-split your hands further if the possibility arises. However, as explained, some casinos have rules which restrict additional options. Here are the two common rule variations. Of course if you play blackjack online things are much easier and all you have to do is press the split button. 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. Hitting and Standing with a Hard Hand. When playing blackjack with a hard hand, we would recommend the following: When you are dealt a total of 5-8, always hit. When you are dealt 9, hit if the dealer shows a 2 or a 7 through ace. If you have 10, hit if the dealer shows an ace or a 10. If your hand is 11, hit only if the dealer shows an ace.

Every card game has lots of combinations, especially if more than one deck is used. Blackjack can be played with multiple decks which makes the whole game very challenging and interesting. Players who want to know how to manage to beat it and gain an advantage over the casino, need to acquire the needed knowledge and skills to do so.

One compulsory thing is to follow a reliable strategy and adhere to it throughout the game as this is the only way they can be in an advantageous position from time to time. It is also of great importance to have solid knowledge regarding all of the possible hands they can get in order to make the best move in every situation.

One of the choices players need to make is to decide when to split. Most casinos allow splitting of two cards of the same rank, for instance two aces, two 2s, and so on. However, players need to make sure that this is the case before playing as some places have certain restrictions on this move and the number of times players can split.

A few crucial questions come to mind – what pairs to split, when, and why. In this chapter, we will have a look at two pairs of these possible combinations in particular – a pair of 2s and 3s.

Reasons for Splitting

First of all, let’s use the occasion to remind what the reason for splitting is in general. The motive behind this move is the same as the one for doubling down – players need to get as much money as possible whenever the dealer is in a weak position. This is extremely important to be considered since splitting is only beneficial if applied correctly.

Splitting pairs against weak face-up cards, like 4, 5, and 6, is considered an offensive play since it gives players the opportunity to capitalise on the dealer’s disadvantage. This dents the casino’s edge and leads to higher average earnings for the player.

With that said, splitting is sometimes used as a defensive move, as is the case with paired 7s against the dealer’s deuce in shoe-dealt S17 games without doubling after a split. Hard 14 is generally a lousy total for the player and produces a negative expectation against this upcard when one stands. Meanwhile, hitting this total yields even higher long-term losses for the player as the odds of busting are higher with hard 14.

Splitting the pair of 7s is the best way to go since it allows you to start two new relatively strong hands, each with a 7, and cut your inevitable losses. Sadly, the concept of increasing one’s wager for the purposes of loss reduction is counterintuitive and confusing to many novice players, who end up frequently misplaying such tricky pairs.

Finally, the third major reason why you split is that you can transform a lousy starting total into a winning one. The most prominent example for this is splitting paired 8s against the dealer’s deuce through 7 in multiple-deck games. Out of all possible playing decisions, splitting the 8s is the only move that improves your odds and gives you positive expected value.

Players need to follow their chosen strategy and understand why a particular move should be done. Otherwise, they are bound to lose over and over again. They need to bear in mind that blackjack is a card game and as such, it is logically driven. Thus, gamblers can predict the outcome of their moves to some extent and make better choices. Splitting can be really beneficial if players know how to take advantage of it.

When To Split Pairs of 2s and 3s

Whenever players are dealt two cards from the same rank as their first two cards, such as a pair of 2s and 3s, most casinos allow the move to split. The same strategy goes for both pairs and players should apply it throughout the game. It takes into account their hand value as well as the dealer’s upcard.

The choice of play here is based on how many decks the game is dealt out of as well as on whether the house allows you to double down after you split. There are only two viable moves the player can make with these two pairs, splitting or hitting.

In double-deck and shoe-dealt blackjack variations that support doubling after splitting (DAS), paired 2s and 3s should be split in cases where the dealer’s upcard is from a 2 through a 7, or in other words, whenever the dealer is in a weak position.

This way they will be able to bet extra money when the dealer is in a disadvantageous position which should be every player’s goal. The dealer has higher chances of ending up with a breaking hard hand when their first card is 2 through 7. Splitting the 2s and 3s has a multi-fold purpose for the player, though.

It provides you with the opportunity to catch a good card that could potentially allow you to make a successful double down following the split. Then again, a starting total of hard 4 (2-2) or hard 6 (3-3) is not particularly strong for the player. By splitting these pairs, you get to transform a losing total into a winning one.

As for the rest of the dealer’s upcards, the 2s and 3s should be hit versus 8 through ace in multiple-deck blackjack with DAS. These cards put the dealer in a stronger position. They are less likely to break their hand and have better chances of reaching their standing total of 17 or higher.

Outcomes of Splitting Pairs of 2s

Let’s have a look at one of the possible outcomes of splitting pairs of 2s and when this move is a good option. As already mentioned, players usually make it on condition that the upcard of the dealer is a 2 through 7.

In this sense, it will be best to consider a particular situation in order to illustrate the possibilities of this case better. For instance, if players have a pair of 2s in their hand and the dealer’s upcard is 4, the chances that they will draw a card that will allow them to double down are very high.

If they are dealt with an 8, their hand will be totalling 10 and they will be able to double down. The same goes for when they get a 9, 7, 6, or an ace. The above-mentioned case shows that splitting 2s gives multi-deck DAS players the opportunity to double down and take advantage of the dealer’s weak position.

There are five cards in a deck that lead to this option and whenever players get lucky enough to have them, they need to know how to make the most of this situation. As the chart below demonstrates, hitting your paired 2s produces negative expected value for the basic strategy player. Splitting your deuces versus the dealer’s 4 helps you overcome your disadvantage and generates positive expected value for you.

Some shoe-game players abstain from splitting their 2s when the dealer exposes low cards deuce or 3. They prefer to hit instead, arguing that the dealer’s bust rates are lower when they start with 2 or 3. Unfortunately, this wariness only ends up costing them money in the end.

Such players forget doubling after a split is a rule that works to the advantage of casino patrons, enabling them to increase their wager should they catch a good hit card on their split deuces. That is why correct basic strategy advises in favour of splitting your 2s and 3s against 2 or 3 as well as versus the other small upcards (4, 5, 6, and 7).

But what about games that disallow doubling after a pair split (NDAS)? Under such circumstances, both splitting and drawing produce negative expected value over the long haul. Nevertheless, the odds lean slightly in favour of hitting, helping you to incur lower losses from this pair on average.

Playing 2s and 3s in Single-Deck Blackjack

There are differences in the recommended strategy plays against some upcards when one plays blackjack variations dealt out of a single pack. The dealer drawing to soft 17 or not is not what’s relevant here. What matters is whether or not players have the option to double following a pair split.

In single-deck games where DAS is in place, you should split your deuces against the dealer’s 2 through 7, and hit against all other upcards. A pair of 3-3 should be split but only when the dealer’s starting card has a value of 2 through 8.

Good Hands To Split In Blackjack

The strategy is a little different in cases where NDAS applies. When this is the case, single-deck players are advised to split only when the dealer has disadvantageous cards 3 through 7, and hit against the dealer’s deuce, 8, 9, 10, and ace. 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.

When to Avoid Splitting Pairs of 2s and 3s

If players find themselves in a situation where their first two cards turn out to be a pair of 2s or 3s, there are a few things to take into account. As already mentioned above, these pairs should be only split if the dealer’s upcard is weak. This raises the question what players’ best move will be if the situation was any different.

In case the dealer’s upcard is from an 8 through an ace, they should hit (in multi-deck DAS games), contrary to the popular statement that they should always split regardless of the dealer’s upcard. Players need to understand that whenever the dealer has a power card, he or she is not in a weak position and splitting would rather make the matters worse for them.

Blackjack Hands To Split Squats

Doubling one’s wager by splitting is a poor decision versus high upcards for two main reasons, the first one being the dealer is not as likely to bust. On the contrary, this improves their odds of arriving at decent enough totals like 19 or 20 and winning the round. An example is a dealer with an exposed 9 in a six-deck S17 variation whose likelihood of reaching 19 stands at 35.18% whereas their bust rate decreases to 22.92%.

In comparison, a dealer who starts with a 5 stands a 41.84% probability of breaking their hand whereas their likelihood of forming a total of 19 is considerably reduced to 11.76%. Similar tendencies can be observed when the dealer’s starting cards are aces or ten-value ones. It makes zero sense to up your wager by splitting under such unfavorable circumstances.

Things Worth Remembering When Splitting

It is of great importance for players to be aware of all the opportunities splitting gives them and why this move is their best choice in a particular situation such as when the dealer’s upcard is 4. They need to remember that the main reason behind splitting 2s and 3s against the dealer’s weak card is that it gives them the chance to take advantage of this situation by increasing their money bet.

Another useful tip to bear in mind is that when players are done splitting and get the additional cards for both hands, they should deal with the first hand and proceed to the second one only if the first hand is completed. Otherwise, there is a chance to slow down the game in the meantime, not to mention that switching from one hand to the other can be very confusing.

It is also worthwhile mentioning a few words on resplitting your 2s or 3s, for example, when you happen to catch another deuce or a 3 on one or both split hands. When this happens against small upcards, say a 4, you should resplit again to make a third hand. Assuming you receive yet another pair, you should again resplit provided that the house rules allow for splitting up to three times (i.e. to a maximum of four hands).

Resplitting multiple times is a player-favourable option one should always make use of. Due to this, players must acquaint themselves with the exact house rules on pair splitting before they buy in at any given blackjack table.

Conclusion

If players want to master Blackjack and win in the long run, they need to be aware of all the subtleties and difficult choices they need to make throughout the game. Knowing the possible outcomes in a particular situation is crucial as it allows them to make the move that leads to the least amount of money loss.

Moreover, players need to follow a strategy and prepare themselves in advance as at the time of playing, they will not be able to think the situation through and are bound to lose the hand. It is essential to know when to split 2s and 3s as they give players the chance to double down afterwards and increase their bet providing that the dealer’s position is weak. Such chances are a rarity and players should take full advantage of them.

Blackjack Split Bet

If players’ priority is to win and to improve with every single blackjack game, then they need to put effort and time into achieving it. There are many other things that gamblers need to take into account and focus on prior to playing and during the game. To make the best possible decisions every time, players should prepare themselves beforehand.

For instance, it is recommended for them to have a look at every possible hand they can get and what their best choice will be in such cases. Knowing how to proceed in the difficult situations when players have a hand 14, 15, or 16 is crucial as the total value of any of the hands is significantly high which means that the chance of players busting increases.

Whenever players’ hand total value is above 14, they are already in an unfavourable situation. Such cases require a good strategy and it is necessary for gamblers to think them through beforehand. Preparation and knowledge are compulsory if one wants to make the best possible decision.

Of course, as already mentioned, several other factors play a crucial role such as money management, discipline, decent bankroll and not to forget a bit of luck. Whenever players have the chance to turn the tables in their favour, they should take full advantage of the situation.

Important Things To Consider When Having Hand 14, 15 or 16

When players are unfortunate enough to get a hand 14, 15, or 16, they need to be very careful and stick to the strategy they have chosen. These are situations in which players are already one step from going bust regardless of the dealer’s upcard. However, this doesn’t mean that they should ignore its value, players need to always bear in mind that it is necessary for them to make their moves based on the dealer’s upcard.

Also, how players proceed in such situations shows their level of competence and knowledge to the rest of the players on the table. Since gamblers are already in an unfavourable situation, winning the hand shouldn’t be their priority. Instead, they should try to make the best move which is the move that will leave them with the smallest possible amount of money loss.

These are some of the trickiest hands in blackjack and as such, they are frequently misplayed. Part of the confusion results from the discrepancies in strategy charts. The optimal playing decisions vary depending on many different factors. These include how many decks are in play at the table, whether or not the dealer must hit soft seventeen, and whether players have the chance to late surrender.

All of these factors must be taken into account before you grab a basic strategy chart to take with you at the blackjack tables. What is optimal for hard totals 14 through 16 in a single-deck game may no longer be correct in multiple-deck variations.

What are Breaking Hands

The term breaking hands is commonly used in blackjack which places it among the important phrases players need to get familiar with. Gamblers have a breaking hand when they get their first two cards and they total 12 or above. The reason for this is that almost every single card will cause players to go bust (i.e. break their hand) as their total value will go over 21. Also, it can be referred to the dealer’s position as ‘breaking’ if their upcard is a 2 through 6.

The trouble with the so-called breaking hands 12 through hard 17 is that they invariably lose in the long term against all upcards of the dealer, including those that have higher bust rates for the house. Hard 14, 15, and 16 are particularly tough to approach because they lose more frequently than they win over the long haul.

The result is that the player ultimately ends up in the red with these totals no matter what playing decision they make. You probably think that’s bad. It is, but it gets worse since you will end up receiving horrible stiff underdogs approximately 40% of the time you spend at the blackjack tables.

What is a player to do with these hard totals then? The answer is simple – trust in basic strategy and approach such underdog hands courageously by making the correct playing decisions. And by ‘correct’ we do not necessarily mean the ones that would secure a winning outcome.

The moves basic strategy recommends for these three hard hands are considered optimal because they reduce your negative expectation, i.e. you will end up losing less money with these stiffs over the long haul. In other words, you are on the defence rather than adopting an offensive approach. In some cases, the strategy plays help you escape a highly disadvantageous situation and increase your winning chances.

Blackjack Hands To Split Fingernail

Breaking Hands’ Situations

As the name hints, breaking hands is the situation when either the player or the dealer is in a very weak position. Such cases are extremely hard to cope with and the only way to have a chance of not going bust is to follow the basic strategy. Breaking hands are the reason why so many people lose in the long run as well. Thus, if players manage to learn how to deal with them, they will significantly improve their performance at the table.

The bottom line is that once gamblers have such breaking hands, the chances that they will go bust and lose are very high. However, if they use basic strategy, they will be able to improve their hand once in a while.

The move hitting here plays a crucial role and players should take their time to observe when they should hit and when this task should be left to the dealer. In cases where players have a breaking hand and the dealer’s position is standing, then they should hit. Otherwise, they risk losing the hand.

When Players Have Hand 14, 15 or 16

It will be best to have a look at all of these cases at once where players have a hand totalling 14, 15, and 16 as the strategy that needs to be used is the same. It is worth mentioning that the same goes for the situations when players have a hard 13 against different combinations of the dealer’s upcard.

Let’s first elaborate on the recommended strategy plays for hard 14. These are the easiest to remember since there are no discrepancies in the strategy based on decks and dealer rules. Hard 14 is always a stand when the dealer exposes small cards 2 through 6. The player must hit their hard 14 against all other upcards, namely 7 through ace.

When dealt A-3, you have a soft 14. This is a much better situation to be in since it is impossible to break this hand with a one-card draw. You have an advantage against a dealer who starts with weak small cards 4 through 6.

In single-deck S17 blackjack, you must double on soft 14 versus the dealer’s 4, 5, and 6. When playing with two to eight decks, you should double on A-3 only when the dealer has a 5 or a 6 provided that the S17 dealer rule applies.

A pair of 7-7 also adds up to a total of 14. In shoe games, this pair must be split when the dealer has 2 through 7 and hit versus upcards 8 through ace. At single-deck tables, the pair should be surrendered against the dealer’s 10. The rest of the moves coincide with those for multi-deck blackjack.

The player is also in a tough spot when holding a hard 15. This is a bad hand, to begin with, no matter what value the dealer’s upcard is. However, things get trickier since the best plays are influenced by the dealer’s drawing rules and the number of decks.

We shall tackle the strategy differences in more depth in the surrender section of the article. Provided that late surrender is unavailable, you should stand on hard 15 against low-value cards 2 through 6 and hit versus 7 through ace. Undoubtedly, hitting a hard total of 15 is not the easiest decision to make at the blackjack table, especially against the dealer’s 10.

Nevertheless, it has to be done because it results in the lowest possible negative EV for the player. The main idea behind hitting 15 against a 10 is that it gives you a shot at improving your situation. The differences might appear negligible but in the long run, they are not.

Soft 15 (A-4) requires a different approach due to the flexibility the ace gives you. You should double down versus low cards 4 through 6 and hit against all other cards the dealer starts with.

The situation of the player worsens even more when they are dealt a hard 16, the worst total one could possibly obtain in blackjack. There are several ways to get this terrible hand including 8-8, Q-6, 9-7, and 3-5-8. The pair of 8-8 should be split against all dealer upcards in the vast majority of blackjack variations. We expand on the particulars of this pair further on in this guide.

The correct strategy moves for hard 16, assuming you cannot surrender are relatively easy to remember. You stand on 16 against 2 through 6 and hit versus 7 through ace. The same applies to multi-card totals that add up to 16, or at least if you follow total-dependent basic strategy. In the absence of late surrender, hitting is again more optimal because it gives you the chance to improve your total against the strong dealer.

Again, all three hands will end up losing over the course of thousands of rounds played. The optimal decision is the one that cuts down your long-term losses the most. The above moves are recommended under total-dependent strategy. If you want to take your game to the next level, you can switch to composition-dependent strategy.

The latter takes into account the exact composition of the cards your hand consists of. Composition-dependent strategy recommends you to stand on hard 16 versus a 10 when your hand contains three or more cards like K-3-3. Also, when the 16 results from splitting a pair, you should stand rather than hit under composition-dependent strategy.

The Option to Surrender

There is one alternative move players can make which leads to the least money losses. However, due to this fact many landbased casinos do not offer the option to surrender as they know that if players know when to take advantage of it, they can greatly benefit from it.

Many professional gamblers won’t play in a casino which doesn’t provide the option to surrender when playing blackjack. However, if players find themselves in such a situation and there is no surrender option, all they can do is act according to the above-mentioned strategy and hope for the best.

When this option is available, most casinos tend to offer late surrender. This allows players to give up on poor hands like hard 15 and hard 16 in exchange for half of their original wager. With late surrender, you can forfeit a bad hand after the dealer has checked for blackjack when starting with an ace or a ten-value card.

Late surrender is beneficial to players because it takes away around 0.07% from the house advantage. Most novice players are averse to surrendering as the name of the move itself evokes negative connotations. However, surrendering is a smart move when you are dealt negative-expectation hands like 15 or 16 versus strong dealer upcards like 10s and aces.

As a general rule of thumb, surrendering is recommended whenever you receive a hand whose expectation of winning is less than 50%. The main advantage of surrendering is that it saves you money when you find yourself at a disadvantage. Late surrender is a defensive play which also allows advantage players to temper the effect variance has on their blackjack bankrolls.

The correct late surrender plays depend on deck number and the dealer’s fixed standing rules. In single-deck blackjack, surrender is recommended when you have hard 16 versus the dealer’s ace or 10.

Provided that the dealer hits soft 17, it is also recommended to surrender hard 15 against an ace. You should forfeit paired 7s against the dealer’s 10 in single-deck S17 blackjack. If one deck is in play and the dealer must hit soft 17, surrendering is advisable against tens and aces when you have 7-7.

In double-deck H17 games, surrender is advisable when you hold hard 15 and hard 16 against the dealer’s ace and 10. Paired 8s should also be surrendered against the ace in double-deck H17 blackjack.

As for shoe-dealt games, basic strategy suggests surrendering hard 16 against strong upcards such as 9, 10, and ace. The approach toward hard 15 in multi-deck variations depends on the dealer’s fixed rules for drawing and standing. You surrender the 15 against the dealer’s 10 in S17 variations and against the 10 and the ace in H17 multi-deck blackjack.

Hard 16 Consisting of Paired 8s

If you have read CasinoGuardian’s blackjack guide carefully so far, you probably remember that the rule of thumb of basic strategists is to always split pairs of 8-8 rather than forfeiting them despite the fact this is still a hard total of 16. Some gambling authors recommend surrendering the pair of 8s versus high dealer upcards like 10, K, Q, and J.

Regrettably, this is a major mistake, and here is why. The dealer undoubtedly has an advantage over you when you hold 8-8 versus a ten-value card. He or she would arrive at standing totals 17 through 21 77% of the time on average.

What adds insult to injury is that the dealer’s probability of busting when starting with a ten-value card is rather small at 23%. A pair of 8-8 will cost you money no matter how you approach it but splitting is recommended because it reduces your losses the most. With 8-8, you have a great opportunity to turn a terrible stiff 16 into two brand new hands starting with an 8 each. This improves your chances of forming a good hand and beating the dealer.

Assuming you play standard six-deck S17 blackjack where you can resplit to up to four hands and double down after you split, your 8-8 will lose against the dealer’s ten-value card 77 hands out of every one hundred hands and win 23 times out of every one hundred hands. However, your win rate improves to 38 hands out of every hundred rounds when you split your 8-8.

Let’s suppose you are flat betting £1 per hand for simplicity’s sake. If you merely hit the pair, you will lose £77 and win £23 every one hundred hands on average. This makes for an average net loss of £54 in the long run. Meanwhile, if you consistently split your 8-8 versus the dealer’s ten-value card, you will lose £62 and earn £38.

Your net losses drop to 2 x £24 = £48 per every one hundred hands in this case. This may not sound like a significant improvement but you are still losing £6 less compared to drawing or staying on your pair of 8-8. Meanwhile, if you choose to surrender this pair, as some gambling authors advocate, you will net losses of £50 per every one hundred rounds on average (you lose only half your original wager when surrendering).

Therefore, consistently surrendering your pair of 8s versus the dealer’s 10 turns out to be £2 more expensive than splitting over the long haul. At this point, it is pretty much obvious you are in a losing spot when holding 8-8 no matter how you decide to play it out.

The bottom line is you will save more money by splitting in the long run compared to surrendering or the other possible plays. The only consolation of blackjack players in such instances is that they have made the mathematically optimal decision when dealt a long-term loser like stiff 16.

You can compare the expectation of each basic strategy play with paired 8s and 7s against the dealer’s 10 upcard below. The calculations are courtesy of mathematician and gambling expert Michael Shackleford, known as the Wizard of Odds.

As with all rules, there are always exceptions, however. Paired 8s should always be split unless one is playing shoe games and double-deck blackjack where the dealer must hit soft 17. Under these playing conditions, the odds favour surrendering the pair of 8s rather than hitting when the dealer shows an ace.

Exceptions are also made for paired 7-7 in single-deck blackjack. When the dealer must stand on all 17s, you surrender the 7-7 against a 10. Provided that the dealer must hit soft 17, basic strategy recommends you to surrender this pair whenever you are up against a 10 and an ace.

Odds and Probabilities

Players need to know what their odds are in case they happen to have a total value of 14, 15, or 16 in their hand as this will help them make better decisions. The following odds are accurate proving that the game is played with more than one deck and that gamblers decide to hit. If they have a 14 hand, the chance that they will go bust is 46%, and if the total of their hand is 15 – 54%.

In cases when they get unfortunate and get a total of 16, their chances of going bust are 62%. The worse-case scenario is when players get 19 or 20 as this leaves them with more than 85% chance of going bust. The good news is basic strategists never draw to hard 19 and hard 20 so their chances of busting with these totals are practically nil. Logically, the higher the total of the cards in the players’ hand, the more they are likely to bust by taking a hit.

Conclusion

Having to deal with a 14, 15, or 16 hand is a big challenge which requires a lot of preparation and a good strategy and even then, players’ success is not guaranteed and they can only hope that the odds will be in their favour.

However, if they follow a strategy or choose the option to surrender, any of these choices will lead to the least amount of money they will lose. Once players find themselves in a bad situation, they should consider how to get out of it with minimal money losses instead of how to win the hand as in many cases this only pushes them to certain doom.