Sevens: Holding a pair of sevens (a total of 14) can be a challenging hand.

By splitting eights, you can potentially convert one mediocre hand into two hands with stronger starting totals of 18, if you were to draw a ten or face card for each.

Eights: A combined total of 16 is often deemed the worst hand to have in blackjack because it’s below the desired 17-21 range but also high enough that the risk of busting is significant.

When you split aces, you give yourself a chance to hit two blackjacks or at least end up with two hands that have strong starting points, notably better than the initial combined total.

Aces: Holding two aces is tricky because it gives you a total of either 2 or 12, both of which are challenging to play with.

Let’s delve deeper into these scenarios: Always Split The decision to split should be rooted in a strategic understanding of the game’s dynamics and probabilities. Knowing when to split could possibly make the difference between a winning session and a losing one. To learn more about how to double down, be sure to check out our guide on it here. It might be that you get a face card (jack, queen or king) and get 18 instead, or you could be dealt a three and end up with 11, giving you an opportunity to double and maybe make 21 off one more card. Splitting them gives you a fresh start with each eight, increasing the chances of landing a stronger hand with the subsequent card(s). The idea is to transform a tricky situation into two more favourable ones.įor instance, two eights total 16 – a challenging hand in blackjack. Certain card combinations, while weak together, can be far more potent if played as separate hands. Splitting is fundamentally about leveraging potential. Each of the split cards then becomes the first card in a new hand, and players proceed to play these hands individually, receiving additional cards for each. This requires an additional bet equal to the first. In most variations of blackjack games, when a player is dealt two cards of the same value, they have the option to split them into two separate hands. If you don’t need to split, let’s move on. If you need a refresher on how to play the game before carrying on though, check out our guide on how to play blackjack. Our guide takes a look into splitting your hand in blackjack, and the best moments to do so. But, as with all strategies, timing is crucial. Splitting can be a potent tool, potentially turning an unfavourable situation into a winning one. One of these pivotal moments is deciding when to split your hand. Blackjack, a game of strategy and skill, is peppered with moments of intense decision-making.

What is a stiff hand in blackjack