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What’s Blackjack Split and When to Do It?

Whether you play European blackjack or any other single or double variant of this popular game at online casinos with a lot of diverse payment methods

Whether you play European blackjack or any other single or double variant of this popular game at online casinos with a lot of diverse payment methods available for bettors at TopCasinoExpert.com, it is important to learn all about what blackjack split is and what its rules are. Knowing when to split cards can help gamblers reduce the house edge and increase their chances of getting the best hand possible.

When you play blackjack for real cash, splitting cards will effectively allow you to play with two hands. Having two hands means you will also have to double the size of your initial bet, but it will also double the payout if you manage to beat the dealer.

In this article, we will discuss the best card-splitting strategies you can use to improve your chances of winning the blackjack game.

The Core of Blackjack Split

The split option is offered to players when their starting hand of two cards comes with two cards of the same value. If they decide to split, they will split their hand into two separate ones, and then they will get an extra card for each of them.

As we have already mentioned, splitting will require putting an extra stake on a new hand. The bet must be the same as at the beginning of the game.

When to Split?

There are specific hands in blackjack, which require players to split. Probability is what dictates that it is convenient to do so. On the other hand, there are hands when it is advisable not to split, while in some cases, the dealer’s up-card determines whether players should split or not.

While splitting improves your chances of winning, it does not guarantee that you will win. But if you follow blackjack split rules, you are more likely to come out as winners in the long run.

Always split When…

Players should always split a couple of aces. There are a lot of cards worth 10 in the deck, so this move makes perfect sense. If you choose not to split, one of your aces will have a value of 11, while the other will get a value of 1. Such a situation means that only 9 can result in 21. Drawing a card worth 10 will count both your aces as one.

It should be noted that owning two 8s is considered a relatively bad hand in blackjack, whether you split them or not. However, if you don’t split them, you will not have much room to maneuver, as any card worth 6 or more will destroy you. Separating a pair of 8s can help you get a more competitive hand.

When the Dealer’s Up-Card Determines Splitting

If you have a pair of 2s, 3s, or 7s, you should only split them if the dealer’s up-card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. Such a move will probably improve the competitiveness of your hand.

A pair of 9s may sound good, but beating 18 can be easy. So if the dealer’s up-card is 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should split it without hesitation. If the dealer’s up-card is 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, and you have a pair of 6s, splitting your hand will significantly improve your chances of winning. Getting 10 after splitting could give you an advantage over the dealer.

Conclusion

Be sure to follow these rules and you will be much closer to winning. Again, we must emphasize that splitting does not guarantee victory, although it puts you in a good position against the dealer. 

In the end, it is all about reducing the advantage and having a better hand, right?