Splitting Your Way to Victory in Blackjack

Splitting a pair in blackjack is one of the most misunderstood elements of the game. Knowledge of when to split your cards plays a crucial role in the outcome of your game. As always, everything will be determined by the cards that have been dealt to you as well as what is shown on the dealer's upcard. An important element to bear in mind is to bear in mind that there are more cards worth ten in the deck than other card values.

For starters, avoid splitting a pair of cards or tens. These cards can give you the opportunity to have a superior hand with a value of 20 and it is futile to split them. However, a pair of ace should always be split. Combining one ace with another card is likely to produce a superior hand than a pair of aces and likewise reduces your chance of getting a superior hand or even get a blackjack.

In addition, a 9 pair can be split if the dealer has an inferior card with a value of 2 to 6. This is applicable if the dealer has an 8 as well. Likewise, if the dealer has a 9, splitting is the best call because once the dealer scores a 19 it will be more superior to your 18. With a 7, you should stand.

Moreover, a pair of 8s should be split even if the dealer has an ace. A hand with a value of 16 is likely to lose so you should take your chance with a split. If you have a couple of 7s on your hand, your best move is to split them if the upcard of the dealer is lower than 7. A hand with a value of 14 is an inferior hand but if you decide to split, it is likely that you can get a couple of 17s.

Furthermore, if the dealer has an 8, you should stick to your cards and prepare to lose the hand. This is a much better option than losing a pair of 17s compared to an 18 from the dealer. Splitting a couple of 6s is the best move if the dealer shows a 6 or lower. It is dangerous to split a pair of 6 because you could get two hands worth 16. This move is applicable only if the dealer has an inferior hand worth less than 6.

Finally, avoid splitting a couple of 5s. A ten is a superior hand so maintain your pair and go for a hit. A pair of 4s should not be split except when the dealer shows a 5 or 6. By splitting a couple of 4s, there is a chance that you will get 14. On the other hand, if the dealer gets a 5 or 6, they might get either a 15 or 16 so splitting may be a good move. You should split a pair of 2s or 3s only if the dealer's upcard is less than 7.

Learning when to split or hit is a good way of ensuring victory in a game of blackjack.