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When to Split in Blackjack

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  • 21+ only · T&Cs apply

Photo: ElooKoN / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

How we wrote this guide. Facts in this article were checked against official sources and operator terms before publishing. About us

Two blackjack splitting rules are easy to remember: always split aces and eights, and never split tens or fives no matter the dealer up card. Beyond those defaults, the right splits depend on the dealer’s starting card and the house rules.

Blackjack Split Rules

When playing standard blackjack with 4 to 8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, and double after splitting is allowed, split these cards as the dealer shows:

  • Aces: always split
  • Eights: always split
  • Twos and threes: split against 2 through 7
  • Fours: split only against 5 or 6
  • Sixes: split against 2 through 6
  • Sevens: split against 2 through 7
  • Nines: split against 2 through 6, 8 and 9; stand against 7, 10 and ace
  • Fives and tens: never split (play a pair of fives as a hard 10)

In blackjack where double after splitting is not allowed, split 2s and 3s against 4 to 7 only, 6s against 3 to 6, and never split 4s. You can print or memorize the full split chart for your exact game.

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Why Those Rules Work

Aces are the most powerful card in blackjack: played together they make only a soft 12, while each split ace starts a hand that reaches 21 with any ten-value card. A pair of eights makes 16, the worst total, while each split eight starts a hand with a better chance. A pair of fives makes 10, a strong total to double on, which two hands starting on 5 would waste.

In contrast, two tens already make 20, one of the best totals, so they should not be split.

Dealer positions where splits pay off depend on the dealer's upcard. Check the house rules to find your correct action.

Table Rules That Change the Chart

To use a split chart in your game, you need to know whether the house allows doubling on split hands.

Being able to double after a split makes several borderline splits worthwhile, which is why the chart splits 2s, 3s, 4s and 6s against more dealer cards when it is allowed.

Most casinos also make split aces one-card-only. Whether aces can be resplit is another rule worth checking.

Reading the Dealer's Show Card

While rules cover the splits that definitely pay off, the dealer’s card is critical to judge the acceptable borderline.

Dealer upcards of 4, 5 and 6 are the weakest because the dealer is most likely to bust, which is why most optional splits are made against them.

Against a dealer 10 or ace, only aces and eights are split.

These decisions come from computer analysis of every possible hand.

What Changes at the Table

There are three rules to look for in every blackjack game before you decide to split.

  1. How many decks are used.
  2. Whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17.
  3. Whether doubling after a split is allowed.

You can memorize the main outline of the chart for your favourite game.

But keep an eye out for any table tweaks, and you will have the right action for every pair.