Any table game player will tell you, the best part of going to the casino is getting to play blackjack. This game has been popular for centuries and continues to evolve and expand. No other casino game can offer the same strategic opportunities as blackjack. There are layers upon layers of blackjack strategy for those who enjoy that kind of thing, but you can also play for fun and simply aim to outscore the dealer without going over 21.
Since you’re reading this guide, you’re probably in the strategy camp. In this segment of our educational blackjack series, we’re going over everything you need to know about splitting in blackjack. If you’ve ever wondered if you should split a hand, you’re in the right place. There’s a right way and a wrong way to split pairs, and it depends on many variables.
After reading this, you’ll have the confidence of knowing when to split in blackjack and when to keep that pair together, thus adding to your enjoyment of the game and lowering the house edge in the process. You’ll be able to dive into our wide selection of blackjack games and make the most out of every pair you’re dealt.
What Does Split Mean in Blackjack?
Before we get into the meat of splitting strategy, we need to take a step back and understand: what does split mean? In blackjack, every time you’re dealt a pair, you get a choice; you can break up the pair by putting down a second bet that’s the same size as your initial bet. This creates two separate hands. You’ll be dealt new cards, so you have two two-card hands.
Splitting is critical in blackjack because it can flip the probability of winning. For example, no one likes having a score of 16 because it’s not quite high enough to be competitive, but there’s also a good chance you’ll bust if you hit. However, if the hand is made with a pair of Eights, you can split those Eights and potentially upgrade to scores of 18 instead—should you be dealt 10-value cards.
When Can You Split in Blackjack?
Knowing when you can split in blackjack vs when you should split in blackjack are two different things. You can split any time you’re dealt a pair, which is two cards with the same rank. For example, if you’re dealt two Sevens or two Queens, you can split.
But what about if you’re dealt a Jack and a King? Keep in mind, all face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) and Tens are worth 10 points in blackjack; they’re interchangeable. If you land a Ten and a Queen, they’re considered a pair in blackjack and can be split. This is different from poker where a pair is two cards of the exact same rank.
How Many Times Can You Split in Blackjack?
There are lots of different blackjack games in our casino, and they each have their own set of rules. One rule that varies game to game is how many times you can split a pair. In blackjack, if you’re dealt a pair of Sevens, and you want to split, what if you get another Seven? And another after that?
In our most popular six-deck Blackjack, along with Classic, the answer is simple: you can split up to three hands. You can split, split again, and then split one final time. At this point, you’re going to have four hands born of the original pair. The same goes with European Blackjack.
But this is a rule that varies. In Single Deck Blackjack and Double Deck Blackjack, the rules around splitting are a bit more restrictive. You can split up to two times per round for both games.
Some blackjack games, like Pontoon 21, let you split pairs just once; this is balanced with bonus payouts for landing a five-card trick.
Always check the game rules before playing, so you know what to expect with the number of splits. One last restriction with splitting in blackjack is with Aces, which we’ll focus on next.
Can You Split Aces?
We’ve talked about splitting pairs and the scenarios that lead up to it, but there’s one special type of split that is a real game changer: split Aces.
Eights and Aces are the two pairs that benefit most from being split—and that’s why everyone wants to know can you split Aces and Eights? We already talked a bit about the advantage of splitting Eights above, and will now cover Aces.
Landing a pair of Aces gives you a score of 12—not ideal. The chance of getting a 10-value card and busting is about 31%. Unless the dealer is also at risk of busting (showing a Four, Five, or Six), you’ll need something better than that to win. If you split those Aces, there’s a good 31% chance you’ll be dealt a 10-value card for a perfect score of 21—for both hands! This is the perfect opportunity for flipping the odds.
Because split Aces offer such an advantage, most blackjack games have rules about how you can do it. The three most common rules are as follows.
– You get one card after splitting Aces
– You can’t re-split Aces
– If you get a 10-value card after splitting Aces, it doesn’t count as Blackjack
These are the rules in our classic six-deck game and many other varieties too; always check the rules beforehand to see if there’s variation.
Do You Split 2s, 6s, and 10s?
A big question on many new blackjack players’ minds is: do you splits 2s, 6s and 10s? Each of these pairs has a different answer that we’ll cover separately.
Splitting Twos
For Twos, deciding to split or hit depends on the dealer’s up-card. If the dealer has an Eight or higher, you should hit. However, if the dealer is at risk of busting (Four, Five, Six, or Seven up-card), you should split so you can potentially cash in on some easy wins. If the dealer has a Two or Three, split and then double down.
Splitting Sixes
A pair of Sixes is similar to Twos. If the dealer has an up-card that is Seven or higher, you want to hit instead of split. Split anything lower, though. If the dealer has a Two, double down after splitting if you can. In our six-deck game, you’re free to double down after splitting a pair.
Splitting Tens
Unless you’re a professional card counter at a brick-and-mortar casino and you know the shoe is full of Tens and Aces, don’t split Tens. Yes, you could potentially get another 10-value card for a second 20-score hand, but you’re risking losing that original score of 20. It’s not worth it.
Worst Cards to Split in Blackjack
We just talked about why you should never split Tens, but there are other pairs that are poor splitting candidates too. For both of them, you’ll need to consider the dealer’s up-card.
Fives
When you’re dealt a pair of Fives, splitting puts you at risk you landing scores of 15, which falls in the camp of not strong enough to win and a good chance of busting. Considering you would have sacrificed a score of 10, which could have easily turned into 20, you’re better off keeping Fives intact.
Fours
A pair of Fours isn’t going to get you far, but neither splitting them and potentially landing a score of 14. Unless, the dealer busts. For that reason, you should split and double a pair of Fours only when the dealer has the highest potential to bust: with Five and Six up-cards. Both of these mean the dealer has a 42% chance to bust. For anything else, just hit.
Tens
We know we just talked about it, but we have to stress: splitting a pair of Tens is ill-advised. In fact, they are the worst cards to split in blackjack. Take your respectable score of 20 and stand.
Can You Split a Jack and a Queen in Blackjack?
Jacks, Queens and Kings are all individually-ranked cards in basically every game except blackjack. In blackjack, they’re all 10-value cards with no distinction. One benefit to this broad categorization is that you can split a pair even if it’s a Queen and Jack, or King and Queen, or King and Jack. You can even split a Ten with any of these face cards.
But just because you can split a Jack and a Queen doesn’t mean you should. Please refer back to our section on Worst Cards to Split in Blackjack because 10-value cards are in the list.
What Blackjack Games Allow Splitting at Bodog?
Now that you know how and when to split in blackjack, it’s time to launch a session and put this newfound knowledge to action. First, you’ll need to know what blackjack games allow splitting. At Bodog, we have 16 blackjack games available to play for real money, and each offers something unique. Here’s a list of the most popular games with a description of their splitting rules.
Blackjack (New and Classic)
Our standard six-deck variants are the ones most people play. The newer one has a streamlined appearance, making it very convenient on smaller screens. Meanwhile, the Classic version has a more traditional feel. In both, you can split up to three hands; you can split Aces just once (no re-splitting), and they get just one card added, then you stand. Split Aces that are dealt a 10-value card don’t count as Blackjack.
Single Deck (New and Classic)
With Single Deck Blackjack, either the Classic or newer version, there’s just one deck in the shoe that’s shuffled after each round. You can split up to two hands in these games; split Aces get just one card, and if they’re dealt a 10-value card, it doesn’t count as Blackjack.
Double Deck Blackjack (New and Classic)
Double Deck Blackjack has two decks in the shoe that are shuffled after every round. The rules are the same as with Single Deck Blackjack; you can split up to two hands; split Aces get just one card, and if they’re dealt a 10-value card, it doesn’t count as Blackjack.
European Blackjack
European Blackjack is slightly different than most blackjack games here because the dealer doesn’t get a hole card. As for splitting rules, you can split up to three hands per round. Split Aces get one card, and if it’s a 10-value card it’s not considered Blackjack.
21 Burn Blackjack
This exciting twist on the traditional game includes a Burn card option where you can get rid of the second card in your hand and be dealt a new one. Rules for splitting are a bit limiting here; you can split once per round; Aces can be split but get just one card each, and should they be dealt a 10-value card, it’s not Blackjack.
Pontoon 21
In Pontoon 21, there’s a special payout for landing a five-card trick without busting. This game has slightly different rules than regular blackjack games. You can split once per round and can double after splitting. Another bonus: landing a Blackjack after splitting counts.
Zappit Blackjack
In Zappit Blackjack, you can eliminate scores of 15, 16 and 17 with the tap of a button. Split up to three hands per round, and split Aces get one card each. These are a handful of the blackjack games available in our casino. Always check the rules to know how splits are treated, and have fun experimenting with this noble blackjack move.