Blackjack split strategy: An expert's secret weapon

Splitting is statistically one of the best blackjack moves in a player's arsenal, but only if you know how to use it right. Blackjack split increases your chances of beating the dealer and doubles your expected payout. 

Know how to make the right call to pull this strategy off. In our expert guide below, learn the secret to splitting pairs and easy-to-spot situations where you can make this game-changing move.

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Get to know more about this blackjack split strategy below:

Blackjack split rule: Everything you need to know

What is a split in blackjack?

Split is a player’s hand move in a blackjack gameplay. This can be used if the two cards dealt to you are of the same rank. To split, you have to place an additional bet equal to your initial amount, and the dealer will split those cards into two separate hands.

Simply put, you can play against the dealer with two hands (two sets of cards). Regardless of the suit, you can split them if both cards have the same rank. 

Can dealers split their cards?

Split does not apply to the dealer’s hand rules. Dealers adhere to the same blackjack rules as the player regarding hitting and standing, except for splitting.

What are the blackjack moves?

Before diving further into the blackjack split strategy, you must first know the other blackjack moves, such as hit, stand, and double down. Learn how to play blackjack with these below:

• Hit - This is to request another card from the dealer for a bigger hand value. You can continue hitting until you reach your desired value, so long as you don’t exceed 21.

• Stand - If you want to stop requesting more cards from the dealer. It means you stick with your current hand value, which you think is strong enough to beat the dealer. It also implies the end of your move.

• Double down - You place a wager equal to your initial bet to get another card. You double down when you feel you have a favourable hand and believe one card will improve your chances of winning.

• Bust - This means you lose the round for exceeding 21. Regardless of the dealer's hand, you will lose your bet.

• Push - Push is when you have the same hand value as the dealer. It means neither the player nor the dealer wins or loses the round. In this case, you will receive your original bet.

• Insurance - You place a wager of up to half of your initial wager to have an edge over the dealer. In this case, the dealer has an ace face-up card.

• Even money - You can opt for this if you have a natural blackjack and the dealer's face-up card is an Ace. This means you agree to receive a 1:1 payout immediately, avoiding the risk of a push if the dealer also has a blackjack.

Blackjack split rules: What you need to know

Checking the dealer rules is a must in every blackjack game. These rules can help you determine if your moves are within acceptable bounds or violate a set standard in the casino.

The rules for strategies like splitting can vary from casino to casino. Double-check the rules to know when you should split in blackjack. Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind:

1. Some casinos only allow card splitting if you receive ten-value cards from the same rank.

2. Depending on the casino, the option to double down and further splitting can be limited after the first split.

3. Depending on the casino, the ten-card and ace can be regarded as a non-blackjack 21 after the first split.

4. You are generally not allowed to hit more than once after you split an ace.

Advantages and disadvantages of splitting blackjack

Splitting increases your chances of winning and doubles your profit when you win. However, if you don’t know how to use it properly, it can easily turn into a double-edged strategy and make you lose. 

Discover all the benefits and risks of a blackjack split below: 

The merit of splitting in blackjack

You can win twice as much money and boost your winning rate when you split your two same-value hands in blackjack. Here’s why:

1. Double your winning payout

Splitting pairs means playing with two hands, giving you the potential to win both hands. It means you can win twice your bet compared to if you had not split.

2. Converting losing hands to winning ones

Having two separate hands means you have converted them into winning hands. Find examples of when you should split in blackjack in the section below.

3. Boost winning odds

Splitting pairs increases your odds of beating the dealer since you’re playing with two separate hands.

The demerit of splitting in blackjack

Here are the things that might cost you when you split your two same-rank cards: 

1. You’re not guaranteed to win

Splitting pairs can increase your chances of winning. However, there’s no guarantee that you will win the pot since you can’t assume both split hands will have good cards. 

2. It depends on your pair of cards.

Not all same-rank cards you’ll receive are ideal to split. You can only split certain cards for you to win. Find out the best blackjack hands to split in the next section.

When to split in blackjack: Situations to consider

Since you can’t split all same-rank cards, we’ve listed possible cards you should split in blackjack. Check them out below:

1. When a pair of A

Splitting Aces has the highest odds of making ‘21’ as there are several cards with a value of ten in blackjack. 

Cards 10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), and King (K) have a value of 10, and there are 16 of these cards in a deck. That means there are high chances of getting a card with a value of 10 after splitting aces. An Ace plus 10 is 21, which means you win the pot. 

Moreover, if you don’t split aces, one card will have a value of 1, and the other is 11. It implies that you need a nine to have a blackjack, which has lower chances. 

This is because there are four cards (9 of hearts, 9 of diamonds, 9 of clubs and 9 of spades) with the value of 9 in a deck.

2. When there is a pair of 8

Getting two 8 in blackjack is considered a poor hand since you’ll only have a value of 16, which has low odds of winning.

 If you hit, you can bust with anything above 5. This is why a pair of 8s is an ideal hand to split, as you could end up with a strong hand of 18.

3. Split 2s, 3s or 7s if the dealer has a seven or lower

When you receive another pair, but not aces and eights, your next move should depend on the dealer's hand. 

For example, you can split pairs of 2s, 3s or 7s when the dealer has a hand value of seven or lower.  

When to wait to use split in blackjack

As we have said before, the dealer's card is the most important factor you need to consider when deciding whether you should split. Below are some of the situations where splitting should be done based on the upside card of the dealer:

1. When the dealer has 2 to 9, and you have a pair of 9s

Nine isn't the best value to split in blackjack, but there are cases where it might just work in your favour, and this is when the dealer looks as if they are about to go bust or get a firm hand.

2. When the dealer has 2 to 7, and you have a pair of 2s, 3s or 7s

A pair of twos, threes and sevens equals 4, 6 and 14 hand values, respectively. Those are regarded as bad hands; therefore, it's the best time to split your hand, especially if you see that the dealer also has low-value cards. Splitting your hands will at least give you two different decent hands instead of one terrible hand.

3. When the dealer has 2 to 6, and you have a pair of 6s

If you have a pair of sixes and notice that the dealer has a low hand, the best action is to split and wait for the dealer to bust. This way, you will at least have two hands that might give you a value of up to 16.

When not to use split in blackjack

Besides the example above, here are the possible cards you should never split:

1. When there are 10-pairs

Having a 10-pair is a promising hand, as you will get a value of 20. However, splitting this pair is sacrificing your chance of winning the pot.

 When you split a 10-pair, there’s a chance that you will get lower cards, giving you weaker hands. 

Even if you receive another 10, the value is still the same. In situations with higher chances of winning, don’t split your pairs. 

2. When there is a pair of 5

Having two 5s might look like a weaker hand since you’ll only have a value of 10. However, don’t forget that there are several 10-value cards. That means you have a value of 20 when you get a 10, together with your two 5s. 

That’s why you shouldn’t split this pair, as you have higher odds of winning unless the dealer has an ace or ten.

Splitting 5s can result in weaker hands, giving you a value of up to 15. Moreover, it increases your chances of getting a bust later on. 

3. When there is a pair of 4

A pair of 4s gives you a starting total of 8. While this is not a strong hand, it's not as weak as other potential starting totals. 

Splitting 4s turns an 8 into two separate hands. However, these start with a low number 4, which can be challenging to improve even with another hand.

Blackjack split strategy: Using blackjack strategy charts to split

One of the best blackjack strategies to know when to split is through the basic strategy chart. This chart shows the possible moves you can make depending on your hand.

Legend:

Now, here’s the strategy chart for a pair:

The basic strategy chart shows which actions have a high chance of winning. 

For example, you have an 8-pair, and the dealer has a 4-up card. Look first at the horizontal part of the player’s hand and locate your hand value. Then, check the vertical dealer’s part and look for its hand value.  

The intersection of your hand and the dealer’s is ‘P.’ It means you have to split your 8s. Similar to what we previously mentioned. 

How to split in blackjack in land-based vs online casinos

How you split depends on where you’re playing blackjack. Splitting in a brick-and-mortar casino is different in an online casino site like Bitcasino.

Here’s the difference between the two:

How to start playing blackjack at Bitcasino

Use your newly acquired knowledge on the types of blackjack games at Bitcasino. From first-person blackjack to live dealer and high-roller titles, we offer a selection of blackjack games to cater to all types of players.

Start your blackjack gaming experience at Bitcasino by creating an account and depositing your funds. Find out how you can do this below:

Registration process

1. Visit the official Bitcasino website and click the ‘Sign up’ button in the top right corner of the screen.
2. The registration page will open. Provide the necessary details, such as username, email address, mobile number and password. You can connect your Line, X (previously Twitter), Google, Metamask, Telegram, Apple or Facebook account for a faster sign-up procedure.
3. Make sure you tick the box agreeing to our terms of service and accomplish the reCAPTCHA process. 
4. Double-check your information and click ‘Create an account.’ Then, don’t forget to verify your account through your email address!

Deposit crypto funds 

After creating an account, you must now deposit funds. Our live blackjack games don’t have demo versions, so you need funds to play. Just follow the steps below to get started:

1. Click on ‘Deposit’ in the upper right corner of the screen.
2. Next, choose which crypto you want to deposit. Bitcasino supports the following crypto:

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• Tether (USDT)
• Tron (TRX)
• Ripple (XRP)
• Cardano (ADA)
• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Binance Coin (BNB)
• USD Coin (USDC)
• Polygon (MATIC)
• The Open Network (TON).

3. Then, copy the one-time deposit address and paste that into your wallet. You can also scan the QR code for a faster process. 
4. Follow the steps provided by your wallet.
5. Then, wait for the funds to reflect in your Bitcasino wallet.

Explore our various blackjack games and choose your favourite

Once you have funds, you can now choose your preferred game from our wide selection of blackjack titles. We have first-person games, like Blackjack Classic PRO by OneTouch, where you can play a demo version to master splitting cards. Once familiar, you can toggle the setting to real mode and place real money bets. 

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On the other hand, you can play with other blackjack players and show your splitting skills with our live casino. Our live blackjack games are from the industry’s leading providers, such as Bombay Live, Evolution, Pragmatic Play and more.

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Withdraw winnings

After playing blackjack, you can withdraw your payouts right away. Here’s how:

1. Click the ‘Deposit’ button again.
2. Go to the ‘Withdraw’ tab.
3. Select the currency you want to withdraw.
4. Then, enter the amount.
5. Click the ‘Withdraw’ button to finalise your transaction. Double-check every detail, as you can’t undo the process.

Enjoy bonuses

Claim rewarding casino bonuses and promotions at Bitcasino! We offer various bonuses that you can enjoy and enhance your winnings, such as cashback promos, casino boosts, and cash prizes. You can also get more rewards from us through our Loyalty Club and VIP Club, where you can receive multiple perks and experience the highest betting limits on live dealer blackjack games. 

Best blackjack games to play at Bitcasino

Test your new-found knowledge and see if you can use the blackjack splitting or no splitting signals above in your select game.

Lightning Blackjack

• Provider: Evolution

• RTP: 99.56%

• Minimum bet: 1 USDT

• Maximum bet: 1,000 USDT

• Recommended for: Experienced players

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Lightning Blackjack is perfect for players who want fast-paced gameplay. This live blackjack game has many outstanding features, including an extensive betting option, live chat, rewarding multipliers, and more. Another thing you'll appreciate about this game is the interactive hosts who will act as your dealer.

We recommend this game to experienced players since the quick transition can make it harder for beginners to spot any cues for splitting.

ONE Blackjack Live

• Provider: Pragmatic Play

• RTP: 99.28%

• Minimum bet: 1 USDT

• Maximum bet: 5,000 USDT

• Recommended for: Beginner players

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It is time to take your blackjack game to another level and experience fun, and exciting gameplay with Pragmatic Play's ONE Blackjack Live. This game is like any of your regular blackjack games, wherein whoever gets a hand closest to 21 wins.

What we appreciate about this game is how it simplified blackjack for beginner players by only providing four betting options: stand, hit, blackjack split and double downs. Additionally, ONE Blackjack Live also wonderfully blended the beauty of live gaming and 3D gaming with its unique setup.

We recommend this game for beginners since its pace is slow and simple enough for even beginners to understand.

Master the art of splitting pairs by playing blackjack at Bitcasino

Turn weak hands into silver linings when you use blackjack split. Mastering this move can impact the game's outcome, and if you win, the blackjack split doubles your payout. 

While splitting can be a powerful tool, its success is ultimately influenced by a combination of skill, knowledge, and a bit of luck in the unpredictable nature of blackjack. Maximise this strategy by practising blackjack by yourself at Bitcasino’s various blackjack games today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a blackjack split?

Split is a player’s moves in blackjack gameplay. If the two cards dealt to you are the same, you can split them to make two separate hands. 

Should I split when there are two 10s in blackjack?

Having two 10s means you have a hand value of 20. Don’t split them since you already have a good chance of winning in blackjack with 20. 

Can you double down after splitting in blackjack?

Yes, you can. However, it only applies when you have a strong hand and the dealer has a weak upcard.

Words by: Barbara Menorias