Blackjack Split Explained – Mastering the Art of Doubling Your Hands

Hitting, standing, doubling down, and splitting – all of those should be familiar terms if you’ve ever dipped your toe into the world of blackjack. But if you want to take your blackjack split strategy to the next level, we’ve put together a full guide covering exactly what splitting cards is, variations to the rules, and why it might be beneficial to split pairs.

Put simply, blackjack split is the ability to split your hand into two if you’re dealt a pair, receive a new second card on each and play the two hands separately. This doubles your chances of winning a hand but can also be costly, doubling your chances of losing.

So, it’s important to know exactly when to split and when to keep going with just one hand. Our Betsquare guide goes into all the details. 

What is Splitting in Blackjack?

You can split a hand you’ve been dealt a pair, like two 3s or two 7s. Only the player can split hands, not the dealer, so that the rule can work in your favour alone. Once you’ve split the cards, you’ll approach them individually and can’t re-combine them.

The dealer will deal new cards to each one and you’ll need to decide whether to hit, stand or double down as usual. If you get another pair, you might even want to split again (check the game rules, as some online blackjack game variations do not allow this).

The most important thing to remember is that when splitting cards, you’ll have to pay extra for the second hand, effectively doubling your initial stake. The only time this won’t be the case is if you’re playing at a special “free bet blackjack” table, allowing you one split for free. 

 

Blackjack Splitting Basics

There are some very basic blackjack split rules that you can apply to your gameplay. Even though it’s possible to split any set of two identical cards, it’s not always the best approach to take. Here’s what is generally recommended when it comes to splitting a blackjack hand:

 

• Always split Aces and 8s
• Never split 10s
• Splitting other pairs depends on the dealer’s upcard

 

Splitting in blackjack has several advantages. Firstly, it allows you to improve the strength of your hands. For example, you’ll start with two strong hands when you split Aces. To get blackjack, you just need a 10 in either of your hands to create the perfect, winning combination.

Secondly, splitting gives you two chances to beat the dealer, effectively doubling your chances of a win. Just remember, you’ll have paid more to split the hands, so you need to consider the cost.

Finally, because you’ll approach each of the split hands as a brand new, individual hand, you can apply the best possible strategy to each of them, depending on what other cards you get when you hit. 

Tell the dealer your intention to split if you’re playing at a land-based casino. Hand gestures are best, as the dealer might not be able to hear your words over the buzz of the casino.

To signal that you want to split, you can place down chips equal to your original bet and point to your cards with two fingers. Move your two cards apart so that it’s easy for you to keep track of the two new hands. 

If you’re playing online in a virtual format or with a live dealer, you can simply select the option on the screen to split your hand. You’ll then see both of them in a digital version, and you can continue playing. 

Blackjack Basic Splitting Strategy

Most common blackjack games use four to eight decks of cards, and knowing when to split can increase your chances of winning. You’ll need to apply some basic blackjack strategy to do this successfully. If you need more guidance, you can always consult a blackjack split chart while playing. 

Here’s how you should go about splitting blackjack by value: 

Pair of 2s to 7s

The splitting pairs strategy varies depending on what cards you and the dealer have in your hands:

• If you have a pair of 7s, 2s, or 3s, split on the dealer’s 2 – 7 to improve your potential hands, but hit against 8 – Ace as these are strong dealer upcards. 
• A pair of 6s should only be split against the dealer’s 5 or 6, where they’re likely to bust. Otherwise, hit. 
• If you have 6s, split against the dealer’s 3 – 6, but hit if the dealer has a stronger card of 2, 7, or higher.

Pair of 5s

Never split a pair of 5s. Approach them together as a 10 and double down against the dealer’s 2 – 9. Hit on the dealer’s Ace or 10. 

Pair of Aces or 8s

Always split Aces, as this gives you a chance of hitting exactly 21 in each hand. Some casinos only allow you to spit Aces once. According to the splitting 8s strategy, you should also always split them, too, as a 16 is one of the weakest blackjack hands. 

Pair of 9s

If you have a pair of 9s, you should split against the dealer’s 2 – 6 and 8 – 9 to turn your already strong hand into two potentially stronger hands. Stand on the dealer’s 7, 10, or Ace, as they’re likely to finish with a high total. 

Pair of 10s

Never split a pair of 10s because 20 is an extremely strong hand and gives you a very good chance of beating the dealer. 

Variations in Blackjack Splitting Rules

There are a few different rules you’ll commonly find at blackjack tables, which means there are also some split blackjack strategy variations for you to keep in mind. 

A major one is that some blackjack tables don’t allow doubling after splitting. The main reason for splitting is to give yourself a better chance of getting a good hand, so if you end up with a great one and can’t double down, it will have an impact on your potential winnings. 

In cases where doubling after splitting is allowed, you’ll want to consider splitting pairs of 2s or 3s when the dealer’s upcard shows numbers between 2 and 7. When there’s a blackjack “no double after split” rule, rather split 2s and 3s on the upcard of 4 to 7, and hit on 2s and 3s when the dealer is also showing 2 or 3.

Under normal circumstances, you should split 4s when the dealer shows 5 or 6, as these are their weakest cards. When you can’t double down, rather always hit on 4s, as splitting no longer offers the same advantage. 

Double Deck 

Double deck blackjack splitting comes with a few different recommendations, compared to single deck or shoe games, just due to the difference in the amount of cards. When you’re playing a double deck game, it’s generally recommended that you split 6s when the dealer has an upcard of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. This is because if you form two hands, you’ll have less chance of going bust the next time you hit, compared to playing with a hand that begins at 12. If the dealer’s upcard is a 7, you’re better off hitting rather than splitting in double deck blackjack. 

Surrender

The blackjack surrender rule isn’t very common, allowing players to give up before playing out their hand and get half their original stake back. If you’re not confident you can make a better hand based on your initial cards and the dealer’s upcard, you might want to select the surrender option. 

Surrendering could also have an impact on your splitting strategy. If the dealer shows an Ace as their upcard and you have a pair of 8s, you might want to surrender. This is because there’s a high chance that the dealer might get a favourable hand or even get blackjack, so it’s not a good idea to split, as you could end up costing yourself more money.

If you surrender, you’ll only lose half your initial stake, which is much better than splitting and having the dealer beat you. 

Conclusion: Mastering the Split for Blackjack Success

There can be a significant blackjack split advantage – if you know when to split rather than just hitting. If you split Aces and 8s, and sometimes other pairs depending on the dealer’s upcard, you could stand twice as good of a chance at bagging a win.

Doubling down after a split can also be a great tactic if you’re confident in your hand, but just remember, both of these will cost you extra money. 

If you’re still not 100% clear on when to split, you can consult basic blackjack strategy charts when you’re playing or head over to our blog section for more insights. If you feel ready to play, sign up at one of our recommended blackjack casinos now, make your first deposit, and claim your welcome offer to give blackjack a go. 

 

FAQs

What happens if I get another pair after splitting?

In general, if you get another pair after splitting, you can choose to split that one as well, but just remember you’ll need to place another bet equal to your original stake so that it will cost you more. 

Is it always better to split Aces?

In general, it’s always a good idea to split Aces because then you’ll have two strong hands, both of which have a good chance of getting blackjack. The only time you might not want to split Aces is when there’s a limit to how many cards you can receive after splitting or if the table’s specific payout structure makes it less advantageous. 

What if I’m unsure about splitting in a game?

The best thing you can do if you’re unsure about splitting is to trust in basic blackjack strategy. You can follow strategy by splitting Aces and 8s, and 4s in some cases. If you’re still not sure, you should probably just stick with the hand you have and continue to hit or stand because if you do decide to split, you could lose twice as much money.