Pearls of Wisdom

Splitting

2's

You know the dealer makes a hand with a 2 showing 85%. It is because the 2 is virtually a zero value card and pairs so well with others. That is how the 2 makes a hand AND because the dealer hits it into 17-21 or bust. So~ the player can split two’s but against 7/8/or 9. Not the bust cards 4/5/6. When a player splits 2’s against 4/5/6 they will be inclined to STAY with 12-16 as opposed to splitting 2’s against 7/8/9, especially a 7 (the 7 is a special card because unless it has an Ace or 10 under the dealer must draw) then the player is inclined to hit until 17-21 or bust utilizing the two the way the house does by hitting it into making a hand of 17-21. That is mechanically sound card play as opposed to splitting 6’s. There is never a good reason to split 6’s. The player is fairly buying themselves a 16 (the worst hand in blackjack.)

6's

Years ago the floor supervisors job was different. They were watching for advantage players (card counters and cheaters.) If a player was getting lucky, we would start the count-down process. If a guy split 6’s we just walked away. Mechanically, it is bad play because 33% of the deck are 10 count cards. So, technically, if a player splits 6’s against a bust card and stands on 16, invariably the dealer is left with the hit cards and makes a hand. Once in a while, it might work out where the player sucks up the baby cards and the dealer is left with the 10 and bust. That’s ideal.

8's

Everyone in the world says “split A’s and 8’s.” The strategy is split 8’s because 16 is so bad. But~ as a long term observer of card play, I am saying now, it is most often bad play and does not win, and lucky to push. I have observed that I have taken more bets down on splitting 8’s than any other basic play. So~ beware the A’s and 8’s URBAN MYTH (Doc Holiday’s dead man’s hand.) Seriously, a player needs to make a good hand when making this split. I would base that decision based on your bank roll. When you can afford to lose those bets, go ahead, but it is by far NOT a mechanically a great bet, in fact it’s normally a loser. Aces are the only natural split. Split any pairs except the 5’s/ 6’s and 10’s against the bust cards 4/5 or 6 but make that decision on your bankroll and not the other player because they really don’t know the mechanics of card play and will play vicariously with your money.

10's

All beginner players think it is a good idea to split 10’s, It’s Not. Twenty is the single most natural winner in the game, second only to Blackjack. Take the natural winner of even money (1-1) payoff, it’s good play and many other players will get upset when a novice player makes that move. When you learn to play better blackjack, you will play more effectively with the other players. The other players on the game want everyone to play good basic strategy. When the whole table plays as a unit, playing to make the dealer bust, blackjack is super fun. Although splitting 10’s may win every now and then does not mean it is a mechanically sound play.