One of the options available to blackjack players is splitting pairs. This is also another way of winning more cash if you know when to correctly do it. You may only split if you are initially dealt with two cards of the same value but not of the same suit.
When you split your hand you are in effect going to play two hands. The two cards initially dealt to you will be split apart and will receive a new card each to complete a basic hand in blackjack. You thereafter make another wager of equal value on the new hand that was made.
After forming 2 new hands you then get to play both hands separately. Some casinos will allow you split your new hands if ever you get another pair. Just check the rules that are allowed in the casino you play on to make sure. Having the opportunity to split your hands the second time also has an effect on your blackjack basic strategy.
After getting all the basics of splitting pairs in blackjack you would want to know when it is correct to split. It is obvious that you don’t split all pairs in blackjack. The rules on when to correctly split is part of basic strategy. Every player should take time to know the strategy by heart. There are no short cuts to this if one wants to make money in playing blackjack.
Let’s go over the basic strategy involved with splitting pairs. The very first rule everyone has to learn is that they should always split Aces. Splitting Aces is like getting a couple of 11’s, which are really good hands in blackjack. The guideline on splitting pairs will be like the previous one – always split your eights. Aces and eights work the same way so you always split these pairs when you get them.
Next rule is a lot simpler, never split a pair of tens – you instead stand. A pair of nines has a value of 18, quite an ok number. However, you should split this pair only if your dealer has two through six or eight or nine.
You should only split your sevens if your dealer has two to seven himself. Since a pair of sevens adds up to 14 your only recourse is to hit if you aren’t allowed to split this pair. You only split a pair of fours in blackjack if your dealer has either four or five. You only split twos and threes if your dealer has two through seven.
It will take a lot of practice to learn basic strategy, especially if you want to master splitting pairs in blackjack. It may take a little dedication to get this done but the rewards are worth the time you spent learning them.
