Blackjack Basic Strategy – Splitting Pairs

Last time you started to learn the rules for when to double down.  This week you will learn the blackjack basic strategy rules for pair splitting. If your first two cards are a pair, meaning two cards of the same value, you have the option to split the pair. To do this, you move a second bet equal to the first into an area outside the betting box of the original bet. The dealer separates the cards to create two hands, placing one bet with each hand. You then play two separate hands. Play each of these hands following the blackjack basic strategy rules previously learned. If allowed, you can also follow the rules to double down after splitting a pair.

6 blackjack basic strategy rules for pair splitting:

1. Always SPLIT A’s and 8′s
2. NEVER split 4′s, 5′s, or T’s
3. SPLIT 2′s and 3′s vs. dealer 4 thru 7
4. SPLIT 9′s vs dealer 9 or less, except STAND vs dealer 7
5. SPLIT 7′s vs dealer 7 or less
6. SPLIT 6′s vs dealer 6 or less, except HIT vs dealer 2

The updated basic strategy chart below combines all the blackjack basic strategy rules you have learned so far. P indicates split in the chart below.

Until next time, memorize the above 6 new blackjack basic strategy rules. This is the most difficult week in learning blackjack basic strategy.