wageringterms.

Definition

Split

Also known as Splitting, Split Pairs, Pair Split

By Reviewed Editorial policy

In short

Splitting separates a pair into two hands, each receiving a new second card and each requiring a matching bet. Always split aces and 8s; never split 10s or 5s.

When your first two cards are a pair, you may split them into two separate hands. Each gets a new card and each requires a bet equal to the original, so your money on the table doubles.

The two absolute rules

Always split aces. Two aces is a soft 12. A poor hand. Split them and each ace starts a hand with the best card in the deck. Most tables deal only one card to each split ace and do not allow further hitting, which is a restriction that still leaves splitting far better than not.

Always split 8s. Two 8s is 16, the worst total in blackjack. Too weak to stand, too likely to bust when hit. Splitting turns one terrible hand into two starting from 8, which is unremarkable but much better.

Split 8s even against a dealer 10 or ace. You are still losing money on the hand; you are losing less of it.

The two absolute don’ts

Never split 10s. Twenty is a winning hand roughly 85% of the time. Breaking it into two hands starting from 10 is trading a near-certain win for two uncertain ones. This is a common error among players who see the dealer showing a weak card and get greedy.

Never split 5s. A pair of 5s is 10. An excellent doubling hand. Splitting turns it into two hands starting from 5, which is among the worst starting positions available.

The rest

Pair Split against
A, 8 Always
9 2–6 and 8–9 (not 7, 10, A)
7 2–7
6 2–6
4 5–6 only (if double after split allowed)
3, 2 2–7
10, 5 Never

Splitting 9s against a dealer 7 is the exception worth remembering: you stand, because 18 beats the 17 the dealer most likely makes from a 7.

Rule variations

  • Double after split (DAS): worth about 0.14% to the player, and changes some correct plays
  • Re-splitting: most tables allow up to four hands
  • Re-splitting aces: less common, worth about 0.08%
  • One card to split aces: near-universal, and already assumed in the strategy above

Common questions

Which pairs should I always split?

Aces and 8s, always. Two aces is a soft 12, and splitting gives each hand the best card in the deck. Two 8s is 16, the worst total in blackjack, and splitting turns one terrible hand into two mediocre ones.

Which pairs should I never split?

Tens and 5s. Twenty wins around 85% of the time, so breaking it is trading a near-certain win for two uncertain hands. A pair of 5s is 10, which is an excellent doubling hand rather than a splitting one.

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