Splitting Pairs in Blackjack

A great majority of Blackjack players are rather cut and dry when it comes to splitting pairs. Some players choose to always split or to never split, with nothing in between. The poorest players split rather carelessly, often going with a 'feelings that they should' and with pretty much no thinking at all. This is too bad really because this option was designed as a good way for a player to reduce the advantage the house has in the game of Blackjack.

Best Blackjack Casinos

RankBrandUS Visit Casino Bonus Min. Deposit Deposit Time Withdrawal Time Software
Europa Casino Visit Now $2400 $/€/£20 Instant 3-5 business days Playtech
WinPalace Casino Visit Now $1000 $/€/£20 Instant 3-5 business days RTG
Jackpot City Casino Visit Now $500 $/€/£20 Instant 3-5 business days Microgaming
Rushmore Casino Visit Now $888 $/€/£20 Instant 3-5 business days RTG
Casino Action Visit Now $1250 $/€/£20 Instant 3-4 business days Microgaming
Pure Vegas Casino Visit Now $2400 $/€/£20 Instant 3-5 business days RTG
32Red Casino Visit Now $/€320 $/€/£20 Instant 3-4 business days Playtech
Casino Tropez Visit Now $/€3000 $/€/£20 Instant 3-4 business days Playtech
Casino Kingdom Visit Now $77 free $/€/£20 Instant 3-4 business days Microgaming
Titan Casino Visit Now $4000 $/€/£20 Instant 3-4 business days Playtech

The rules surrounding splitting pairs are rather direct. When you have been dealt two cards of the same value, you can split the hand into two individual hands-each with its own wager. You will then be dealt another card for each hand wherein you will play both hands on their own. It is vital that you become familiar with the the differing pair types in splitting. For instance, if you have split a hand of 5/5 and have gotten another 5 or two 5s, you can split it once more so that you have four separate hands. This is what is referred to as a re-split hand and it is allowed in most every casino. However, many casinos will not let you re-split pairs of Aces. Sometimes you can Double after splitting and sometimes you cannot - all depending on the casino you are playing in and the variation of Blackjack being played. It should also be noted that most casinos do not let you to hit more than one time after splitting Aces.

There is a lot of strategy you can read about regarding how to know if you should split or not. If you are at a casino that does not allow you to handle the cards, you must signal the dealer by putting double the original bet's worth of money on the table. When playing online, there is a "Split" button to push that will double your bet and do the split.

As a final note, a blackjack or natural obtained after splitting pays even money and not 3:2 as normally. For instance, in the case that you are splitting Aces and are dealt a face card such as a Queen, your payout will be 1:1 instead of 3:2 as it would be in a regular hand. As with many of the various options and variables in the game of Blackjack, it is recommended to practice splitting pairs somewhere online before attempting to do it haphazardly and risking losing a good amount of real money.

You can read the next article about blackjack insurance.

Related Articles

On CasinoGamesPro.com you can learn how to play online and practise some of the most popular casino games like: Slot Machines, Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Poker and Roulette.