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Blackjack is a popular gambling game offered in almost every land based casino inthe world and online.
If you start looking for ways to improve your results at the blackjack table you can find many suggestedstrategies. Only one strategy actually works, and that’s to use the best play mathematically based on each hand comparing your cards to the dealer’s up card.
This is called basic strategy, and you can find cards covering it in casino gift shops and online. These cards list each possible hand you can have and each of the 13 dealer up cards. You findyour hand and the dealer’s card and make the play where the column and row meet.
Any other system performs worse than basic strategy. The only possible exception to this is if you learn how to count cards. And even card counters use basic strategy. (Well, I guess hole carding works, too, but good luck with that.)
I’ve put together this list of 7 blackjack strategies that don’t work so you don’t find one of these and think it can help you win. For each of the seven strategies I’ve included how it works andwhy it isn’t a good idea.
As you learn more about blackjack always remember that the only strategies you should ever consider using are basic strategy and card counting. Nothing else reduces the house edge as much aspossible and this has been mathematically proven by computer simulations.
How Splitting in Blackjack Works?
What splitting in blackjack means is that when your hand consists of two cards with similar value, you can split them by placing additional bet, creating two hands that will be played separately. The option to split is of enormous value; if it’s used wisely of course.
The basic idea behind splitting cards, besides the obvious goal of increasing your winnings, is twofold. First, to improve weak hands, splitting 8s are a clear example for that. Second, to increase possible winnings on stronger hands, for example splitting Aces.
As with every blackjack rule, things are very simple and yet complicated in the same time. Using this option when not needed, which is probably the most common mistake when it comes to splitting in blackjack, can cost you a lot of money. The good news is that the splitting strategy is rather straight forward and easy to remember, especially if you have a favorite blackjack game which you come back to. Otherwise, it varies according to the specific splitting rules which we will review below.
Last thing before we continue, many new players not sure or shy to request to split, double and so forth. Don’t be. You don’t need to know any secret signs or terminology. Just tell the dealer that you wish to split and place additional bet. That’s it. Of course if you play blackjack online things are much easier and all you have to do is press the split button.
Common Blackjack Split Rules
- Allowed to split twice (up to three hands).
- You can split non identical 10 value cards.
- Splits Aces cannot be re-split.
- Split Aces receive only one card.
- You can hit and double down split hands.
Let’s take basic basic Vegas Strip hole card blackjack rulesand see how different splitting rules influence the house edge. So additional rules we use: 8 decks, dealer checks for blackjack and stands on soft 17; double down on any 2 cards; blackjack pays 3:2. Under the splitting rules we used above the expected payout is 99.56% (or house edge of 0.44%).
Below you can see how each change influence the odds (+ means increases players’ odds, minus – lowers players’ odds):
Blackjack How Does Splitting Works
- Only 1 split allowed: -0.045%
- Allowed to split to 4 hands: 0.01%
- No double after split: -0.14%
- Player can re-split Aces: 0.06%
- You can hit split Aces: 0.19%
When to Split in Blackjack – Basic Strategy
We will try to make it simple to remember. Here we won’t explain the mathematics behind each decision, but you can find it in additional articles.
Most crucial ones:
- Never Split 5s and 10 value cards. (Double on 5s as you would on any hard 10).
- Always split Aces and 8s.
Blackjack Splitting Cards
The easy ones to remember:
- 2s, 3s, 7s – split when dealer shows 2-7
- 6s – split on dealer’s 2-6.
And the unique ones:
- 4s – are not a perfect hand for splitting, so you should split them only when the dealer shows 5 or 6 and only when you can double after split. If the casino doesn’t allow to double on split hands – never split 4s.
- 9s – split on dealer’s 2-6 and 8,9.