How Does Splitting Work in Blackjack and Best Time to Use It

How Does Splitting Work in Blackjack

Whether you are a new or experienced player, you have to know how does splitting work in blackjack clearly. Yes, when you are playing live blackjack, there are many strategies you can use to try to tilt the odds in their favor. 

Often forgotten, splitting in blackjack remains one of the mysterious methods in a player’s card, to experienced players. When used effectively, it can be beneficial to your game. Alright, let’s learn together how splitting will work in blackjack and other things you should know through this article. 

Understanding How Does Splitting Work in Blackjack

Split in Blackjack Meaning
Split in Blackjack Meaning

To know how does splitting work in blackjack, it occurs if a player holds two cards of the similar value like a 9 – 9. It offers individuals the options to split their current hand into two separate hands. When approved, the dealer will offer you extra cards. 

In order to proceed, the player needs to wager an extra bet that holds the similar value as their first bet. Importantly, when you want to split when dealt a pair, you can place the same amount of bets again, and the dealer will continue the game. 

When you are playing at the best e-wallet Casino Malaysia, there is commonly a button on your screen that will give you the option for splitting in online blackjack. However, make sure that you read the casino’s rule on splitting, as they can be varied among every site. 

Some apply blackjack splitting rules at land-based casinos. Some also allow splitting on certain pairs, while others use a certain number of times you are enabled to split. Typically, casinos will allow players to split 3x in a game. 

The Reason Behind Splitting in Blackjack

After knowing how does splitting work in blackjack, you must be curious why players need to do this method. Well, when you play blackjack, the basic strategy goes a long way. Splitting is one of the most beneficial techniques for the long period of your game. Statistically, the dealer will begin with a 2% house edge. 

For instance, for every $50 you bet, you will lose $1. Then, how do you reduce that? Of course by using the best blackjack strategy for the situation. Splitting in blackjack can give you 0.4% edge over the house, increasing your winning chances. 

If not used, it can increase 0.4% to the house’s edge. Therefore, when the timing is right, you have the possibility to tip the odds in your favor and put pressure on the dealer. That is how does splitting work in blackjack.

The Best Time to Split Cards in Blackjack

When playing at a land-based casino or online casino, there are generally two conditions when how does splitting work in blackjack is called upon. One is for “defensive” and the other is for “attacking”. 

For Defensive

How does splitting work in blackjack defensively, it allows you to break up a bad value pair into a better scoring chance. For instance, when you have 7 – 7 and the dealer has two face cards, it means you have 14 in comparison to the dealer’s 20. 

This will put you in a tricky situation due to the high probability that you will bust when you call for another card. By splitting up the cards, you are increasing your winning chances combination.

For Attacking

How does splitting work in blackjack for attacking, it is a good technique to get more money on the table against a weak hand. When you have a 4 – 4 against a dealer’s 8, it means that the dealer is more likely to bust on the following card. 

By splitting the cards, you will have the chance to make better hands and boost the round’s profitability. When you are dealt a pair, and the dealer is on the back foot, it is commonly a good indicator to use a split strategy. 

However, if you want to know the right time to split and double down in blackjack, it is also crucial to keep in mind that the risks are involved regardless of the cards displayed. 

Even though you know how does splitting work in blackjack, nothing guarantees your winning, so you should only wager what you are able to lose. If you don’t win the game, remember that it can happen to everyone, so try not to let it mentally affect you. 

The Pairs You Should and Shouldn’t Split in Blackjack

When you are dealt a pair, it doesn’t mean you must automatically spin. When you look at the things from a mathematical point of view, the probability shows that there are certain pairs that are more likely to offer you a favorable result when you split. 

In addition, there are also pairs that you should never split, and some when the decision to split or not is based on what the dealer’s up card is. Remember that these are not difficult and fast rules guarantee a win every time, they are just helpful guidelines on possibility at the blackjack table. 

Pairs You Should ‘Always’ Split

On how does splitting work in blackjack, there are some pairs you should always split in the game:

Pair of Aces

The advantage of Aces if that they can double up as an 11 or 1. It means a pair of Aces offer you a chance to make a winning combination

Pair of 8s

Experienced players regard 16 as the worst hand in blackjack due to it not being a strong hand enough value, combined with its high possibility of busting on the next hit. It will only take a 5 to bust a pair of 8s. By splitting this, you give yourself a better chance of winning

Pairs You Should ‘Never’ Split

To give you a clear idea on how does splitting work in blackjack, let’s see some pairs that you should never split in the game:

Pair of 4s

With a pair of 4s, most outcomes are 19, a high total. Moreover, when you have a 4 – 4, there is no possibility you will bust on the next hit. Therefore, you might as well play out the round with a pair of 4s, as your chances of going over 21 are small

Pair of 5s

Similar to a pair of 4s, having a 5 – 5 means that you are not able to go bust on the next hit. Having an accumulation of 10 from your first 2 cards is the best start to a round. It means it will take an Ace, 9, 10, or any picture card to put you in a strong position, a lot more chances that other hands

Pair of 10s

When you are dealt a pair of 10s, you need to remain in that position on how does splitting work in blackjack. Holding 20 is the second-strongest number in the game, so why change that?

Splitting Based on the Dealer’s Up-Card

On how does splitting work in blackjack, there are 3 options if you want to split the cards based on the dealer’s up-card. Look at them below:

Option 1

When you have pairs of 2s, 3s, or 7s, and the dealer’s up card is between 2 to 7 (inclusive), it is commonly best to split. With these hands, the phrase “there is nowhere to go but up” will come to mind. 

These remain as some of the lowest-ranking blackjack hands, all of which have the chance to bust in one or two hits. Therefore, when you split them, the probability suggests that your hand is more likely to improve. 

Option 2 

On how does splitting work in blackjack, when the dealer’s up-card is between 2 – 6 (inclusive), 8, or 9, and you are holding a pair of 9s, whether to split or not is a coin toss. 

Standing on 18 can be worrying, it is still a beatable hand, however, unless you are a master card counter and you understand for sure which card will be dealt next, it is never a great idea to hit on such a high value. Therefore, you just have to play the percentage game to see which odds that you feel more comfortable with.

Option 3

When the dealer’s up-card is 2 to 6 and you are holding a pair of 6s on how does splitting work in blackjack, splitting is commonly a good move in terms of probability. If you split when the dealer has an up-card in this number, you can still get a 10, which will lead you to an advantage over the dealer who is likely to bust. 

Conclusion

In conclusion of how does splitting work in blackjack, it happens when a player has two cards of the same value like 9 – 9. With this our guide, you should understand that you have all the information you have to get started with the blackjack split. 

Understanding how to use  this method will stand you in a good position when playing against the dealer. It is also a useful trick when you have two high-value cards you would like to use in different bets.