Always Split Aces And Eights. As common strategy poses, one should always split aces and eights when playing legal blackjack. The reason for this is because the sum of these pairs is a bad start for blackjack players. The sum of two aces is 12, which is a total blackjack players do not want. One playing rules found on a large number of blackjack games is that when you have chosen to split a pair of Aces after those cards have been split and have formed two new hands then the dealer is only ever going to deal one card to each of them.

1. In Blackjack Should You Split Aces 2
2. In Blackjack Should You Split Aces Game

Blackjack is a casino game that requires much more than just luck which is the reason why it is popular among players all over the world. Even though most of them are familiar with its basic rules, they usually are not aware of all the possible outcomes a particular move can lead to. Thus, they fail to make the right decision in tough situations and often lose a sequence of hands.

To make the matters worse, many players don’t follow any strategy and decide how to proceed at the moment of playing. Of course, not following any pattern, their choices are different each time which doesn’t allow them to see their mistakes as there is no record of their decisions. This is the reason why it is extremely important to follow a strategy and know what the possible outcomes of a particular move are.

In this chapter, we will have a closer look at situations where players have pairs of aces in their hand and whether they should be split every time. The ace in blackjack is the most powerful card and as such, whenever players receive it, they need to make the best possible move to benefit from it.

This is why it is really important to observe all of the cases where they can get not one but two such powerful cards. Players need to realise that a pair of aces gives them an incredible power and places them in a very advantageous position.

Important Things To Consider

Just like on any other occasion in order to make the best possible move, players need to take into account the total value of their hand and the dealer’s upcard. On the bright side, the basic strategy for a pair of aces is incredibly easy to commit to memory because it is not impacted by playing conditions like deck number and the rules the dealers are bound to stick to.

There is only one correct playing decision for this hand according to basic strategy and it is to split. Exceptions are made only for blackjack variations of the European style where no hole cards are involved but more on this later.

In Blackjack Should You Split Aces 2

Players need to bear in mind that having two aces gives them the opportunity to win only if they make a reasonable move. Even such a beneficial hand can result in going bust if players misplay it. It is especially important for players to know how to proceed in such cases as they have two of the most powerful cards in the game and making a bad decision is just a missed opportunity to make more money.

But why are aces so important in the game of 21? The answer lies in the bespoke flexibility this card has in blackjack. Aces are the only cards in the game that can change their value depending on the player’s preferences and the cards drawn to their hand. You can count them as 1 or 11 at your discretion.

Aces are the real pillars of this game since they also enable you to form blackjacks, which produce a bonus payout of 3 to 2. A blackjack inevitably trumps any total a dealer might have unless it, too, is a blackjack. Another benefit that stems from the ace’s flexibility is that it allows you to form soft hands.

These are impossible to break with a single-card draw. This translates in more opportunities for successful doubling down. In fact, nearly half of the basic strategy plays for double downs involve soft doubles.

The strength of the ace is two-fold, meaning that this card also helps the house. A dealer is at an advantage when they start a hand with an ace. When this happens, their probability of drawing to a pat 19 in a standard six-deck S17 game is rather decent at 18.89% while that for reaching pat 20 is even higher at 18.93%.

Splitting Pairs of Aces

Let’s have a look at the possibilities of the dealer’s upcard and how players should proceed in particular cases. If they find themselves in a situation where the upcard of the dealer is from 2 through ace, their best move is to split. This is always the case across all American-style blackjack variations that use hole cards without regard to the number of decks or the dealer rules.

Aces put players’ in a very favourable position that is worth taking full advantage of it in the best possible way. Whenever players split aces, they need to take into account that they get only one card for each ace and that the average winning hand is 18.5. A pair of aces results in a soft total with a flexible value of either 2 or 12. Neither of these starting totals is particularly strong for the player. Both common sense and basic strategy favour a split since this move gives players the chance to start two promising hands with a strong total of 11 rather than soft 2/12.

Unlike splitting 8s, which is a defensive move, the splitting of paired aces is an offensive approach since it enables the player to convert one mediocre total into two powerful hands that stand decent chances of beating the dealer. Regardless of what dealer upcard you are facing, splitting your aces imminently gives you positive expected value and allows you to capitalise on your advantageous position.

Some players have an aversion toward splitting aces since a split requires them to put up an extra bet to cover the second hand. And sure enough, you will not always beat the dealer when you split this pair. Occasionally it will happen so that you catch another ace or a small card that gets you stuck with a weak hand total.

Nevertheless, this is the most mathematically optimal move you can exercise since it gives you the highest profits in the long-term. No other playing decision is as powerful as the split when one is holding aces. One peculiarity about splitting this particular pair is that generally, casinos prohibit you from hitting or resplitting them.

Instead, the dealer is instructed to give only one more card to each of the split aces. Such restrictions only confirm the powerful situation starting with an ace puts the players in. Let’s see how splitting performs against the dealer’s 5 compared to the other playing decisions like standing or hitting. The expectation values listed are accurate for shoe games where the dealer is forced to stand on soft 17.

As is plain to see, probability favours splitting since it leads to the highest long-term profits for the player. Splitting the aces earns you around 46 pence more per pound wagered compared to hitting, 45 pence more than standing, and 49 pence more than doubling. No matter how you look at it, this is the most optimal play.

The above tendencies are to be observed against all dealer upcards in hole-card blackjack, not only against the weak 5. Where rules are concerned, there are always exceptions, though. The only case in which basic strategy favours hitting aces over splitting them is in European-style blackjack where no hole cards are in play.

When at an ENHC table, you should always split the aces versus dealer upcards deuce through 10, and hit your soft 12 against the dealer’s ace. The dealer standing or drawing to S17 is irrelevant in this instance.

Re-Splitting

If players get another pair of aces after they have already split once these powerful cards, it is recommended to treat them as the first pair and re-split. Players need to remember that they should apply their strategy every time they have a particular card combination, in this case – two aces. It is worth mentioning that if gamblers do so and re-split, they need to triple their initial bet, whereas the first time they split, it was only needed to double it.

Also, players need to bear in mind that the game rules for splitting and re-splitting may vary. Thus, they need to get familiar with them beforehand. Some casinos allow only a certain number of splitting and others don’t allow re-splitting at all.

Different Casino Rules for Splitting Paired Aces

Casinos know full well how vital aces are in blackjack so the most logical thing for them to do is try and offset some of the advantage this powerful card gives to the player. Various restrictions are in place when players are dealt a pair of aces. Below, we describe some of the different casino rules that apply to playing pairs of aces.

• Resplitting aces is often disallowed in both landbased and online blackjack. This is not the case with other pairs which usually can be resplit to form up to four hands. This makes perfect sense considering resplitting aces adds roughly 0.08% to the players’ advantage.
• Hitting split aces is usually also prohibited as it yields an advantage of 0.19% for the player in multiple-deck blackjack. Regrettably, most gambling venues and online casinos allow only a single card to be drawn next to each split ace. Very few would allow you to draw more cards under such circumstances.
• A ten-value card drawn to a split ace usually counts as a regular total of 21 and does not count as a blackjack. Therefore the player receives even money in such cases rather than being paid at odds of 3 to 2. Had this been the case, the casino advantage would have decreased by 0.21%. Even the reduced payout of 6 to 5 would have caused a 0.11% drop in the house edge in such instances.
• Splitting aces is altogether disallowed at some blackjack tables, which increases the house edge by 0.18%. Our advice is to do your best to avoid such games, when possible.
• Discarding split aces is a very rare rule, allowing you to give up one of your two hands following the split. A different approach is required under this rule as the player needs to also learn the strategy for when to throw away their hand.
• Splitting aces you have drawn to is another rule you can find once in a blue moon. Needless to say, very few casinos would actually permit this. If applicable, the only condition is for the aces to be dealt directly next to each other like A-A-3 or 3-A-A rather than A-3-A. The splits are then played as normal.

9, 10 or an Ace as the Dealer’s Upcard

Some gambling authors, who shall remain unnamed, suggest that blackjack players should not split paired aces in some cases. To be more specific, said authors recommend against splitting this pair when the dealer has high upcards 9, 10, or ace.

The “logic”, for lack of a better word, is that splitting aces against high upcards puts players in a disadvantageous position. They risk getting stuck with small cards (remember hitting split aces is normally disallowed) and being outdrawn by the dealer, who is in very good shape when showing 9 through ace. Hitting is recommended instead.

We regret to say this piece of advice is nothing but hogwash. The only exception to the “always split aces” rule is against the dealer’s ace in ENHC blackjack. Period. Experts and mathematicians alike have proven time and time again that aces should always be split against all upcards.

Recognized blackjack expert Michael Shackleford has estimated the exact expectation each move yields against these upcards. The figures are accurate for variations where the S17 rule applies. Nevertheless, splitting aces against everything is optimal across all hole-card variations of the game.

This move has been proven to produce the highest expectation for the player by probability theory. Computer simulations further solidify its accuracy and efficiency. Splitting is clearly optimal against these cards since it produces the highest long-term winnings. Our advice is to be careful when choosing blackjack literature, especially if you are completely new to the game and are just learning the basics.

Conclusion

The only way players can become consistent winners in blackjack is to know how to play every single hand they have. There isn’t a strategy that guarantees they will win inevitably all the time. In fact, on many occasions two different moves are possible and each one would lead to a different outcome.

Gambling includes taking risks and when money is involved, it is up to the players to decide whether they would like to reduce their monetary losses to the minimum. It is possible when playing blackjack as it is a game of skills and as such, they can significantly make a difference if prepared beforehand. It is really important for players to follow a strategy which they support themselves and find reasonable enough.

Otherwise, they won’t understand the whole idea behind it and it will be very hard to apply it without making any sense. Having two aces in their hand is a great way to gain an advantage over the casino only if they know how to proceed in such a situation.

Okay, moving on. What happens when the dealer’s upcard is not an Ace? Then, it’s time to play your hand and now, we will go over all of the playing options.

Hitting in Blackjack

When the dealer has no Ace as an upcard, the game continues. The dealer will ask if the players want another card starting from his immediate left. A player wanting a card will indicate by tapping or scratching the table with his finger. The act of taking another card is known as Hitting. Hand gestures are used so that the player’s intentions are clearly known by the dealer, and to enable the security personnel to monitor the game using the closed-circuit cameras hung above from the ceiling.

In Blackjack Should You Split Aces Game

When a player receives another card, the value is added to the previous one(s) and they can keep hitting (or taking a hit) until the total number reaches, or exceeds 21 hence losing their bet.

Standing in Blackjack

When a player refuses to take another card, they are said to be Standing. Players who choose to “stand” will wave their hands over their cards with their palm facing down.

You should note that the hand gestures are different when the cards are dealt face down. Here, players are allowed to pick their cards. In this case, taking a hit will be indicated by scratching the table with the edge of the cards, and placing the cards under the bet in their box signifies a standing position.

Surrendering in Blackjack

Rather than hitting or standing, some casinos will offer a surrender option. which is actually a good rule that benefits players who use it properly. However, it’s a luxury that comes at a price; half your total bet. You are free to make the ‘surrender’ call with any two cards, but it is best to only use it when you have a weak total, let’s say a 10 and a 6, giving you a 16 against the dealer’s upcard 10. When you say ‘surrender’ in these casinos, the dealer will take away half your bet and remove your cards. By using the surrender option properly, you will lose less money in the long run.

When all the players have decided to either stand or hit (or surrender), the dealer then plays his own hand. Unlike the players, however, the dealer is expected to keep drawing whenever his total is 16 or less, and to stop at a total value of 17 or more.

If the dealer busts with a total above 21, then even money is paid to the remaining players as mentioned above.

Each player’s total card value is compared to the dealer’s total, if he doesn’t bust before the end of each round. A winner has a total closer to 21 than the dealer while losing bets have totals lower than the dealer’s total. A Push (tie) occurs when the player and dealer have equal totals. The wins are paid off and the losing bets are taken in by the dealer then he deals a new round.

These are the basics of how to play Blackjack.

Now, before we introduce you to how you can win in Blackjack, let’s look at some other important playing options.

Doubling Down in Blackjack

You double down in Blackjack by placing an amount that is equal to your original bet. This is placed right behind your original bet, or beside it (depending on the dealer’s preference), and the dealer will give you one more card. The new card is always given sideways.

Doubling down is done only on the first 2 cards, and most casinos allow this. When the cards are dealt face down, you will have to turn over your cards before requesting a double down and the dealer will give you an additional card face down. Double down is good and always to your advantage if you’re allowed to do so in any 2 cards. However, most casinos may only allow a double down if your 2 cards total 10 or 11.

Being allowed to double down is a very good rule for players.

Splitting in Blackjack

Splitting occurs when you have a pair for your first 2 cards. In this case, you play each card as a separate hand. When you split your pair, the dealer will give you a card to play with one of the pairs while the other one is reserved and played later with another card issued by the dealer.

For example, let’s say you have a pair of 6’s and you want to split your pair, the dealer will separate your 6’s and give you a card on your first 6. After playing it out, the dealer will then give you the second 6 with another card to play. Splitting, however, is different from doubling down in that you can play out your hand normally and are not limited to just one additional card, with the exception of Aces.

When you split an Ace pair, you only get one card each for the pair. If you get a total of 21 from the split, it is not counted as a blackjack and you only get even money on your bet if you win with it. Splitting a 10-value pair is possible but it’s not a wise move to make since splitting 10’s will only make you break a secured 20.

When cards are face-up, you simply tell the dealer you want to split. When they’re dealt face down, first turn them face up and then request a split from the dealer.

Being able to split pairs is also a good rule for blackjack players.

When should you split in Blackjack?

The question of when you should split pairs may be totally dependent on the casino you are visiting because some will allow you to split pairs and some casinos may not. Let’s take a look into when to split a pair if the casino allows it.

When you’re allowed to split, remember to always split your Aces and 8’s. Splitting a pair of 8’s helps remove the terrible number, 16, from your hand and you play the 8’s separately. This gives you a better chance to win.

When you split a pair of Aces, you might get a 10-value card which gives you a perfect 21. Though it is not counted as a blackjack, you still get an even-money payoff rather than a 3-to-2 payment for blackjack as we saw earlier in this article.

Next rule. Never split a pair of 5’s or 10’s. A pair of 10’s gives you a 20 which is a great number, and a pair of 5’s gives you a 10 that you’ll want to double down on unless a 10 or an Ace is the dealer’s upcard.

Splitting 2’s, 3’s and 7’s should only be done when the dealer has any number between 2 and 7 as his upcard. Split 4’s only when the dealer’s upcard is at its weakest (5 or 6 as we shall see later on). Doing a split on 6’s should only be done when the dealer’s up card is between 2 and 6. Lastly, 9’s should always be split with the exception that the dealer has an upcard of 7 a 10 or an Ace.

You don’t split 9’s against 7, because, should the dealer have a 10 as the down card, your pair gives you an 18 which is greater than his 17. It is rather obvious why you shouldn’t split 9’s against a dealer’s upcard of 10.

Make these quick changes when the casino does not allow you to double down after a split. Only split 6’s against an upcard of 3,4,5 or 6. Never split 4’s; and split 2’s and 3’s only against an upcard of 4,5,6 or 7. You can stick to the rest as they apply in this case too.

Okay, having covered the basics of how to play Blackjack and the other options available for players in-game, let’s now move on to Part 3: Blackjack Basic Strategy.

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