Splitting Techniques in the Game of Blackjack

Video Transcript

"Hi this is Daniel on behalf of Expert Village. In this clip we are going to be talking about the strategy known as splitting or to split a hand in 21. For example the player is dealt two aces. The best they could do is a 12 so they just decide to split the hand. They have to equal their wager and now they have two separate hands which the dealer now will deal one card for each hand. Being dealt a 10 and a soft 17 they choose to stand on the soft 21 and hit on the soft 17. With the 3 card they got a soft 20 beating the dealers 19. They are paid double, one for each hand. Now remember a player may split a pair of cards only before they have received a hit. Splits are chosen base upon the dealers face up card. You should split when the dealer is showing a low value face up card such as when you are have pair of 6s and the dealer is showing a 2-6 or if you have a pair of 2s, 3s or 7s and the dealer is showing a 2-7. You should also split when you have a pair of 4s and the dealer is showing a 5 or a 6 or if you have a pair of 9s and the dealer is showing a 2-6, a 8 or a 9. If a dealer shows a 7 and you predict that he or she has a whole card worth 10 then your 18 would beat it. So don't split. Now something else to keep in mind is never split 5s or 10s because two 5s gives you a 10 and you have a greater chance of drawing a card worth 10 than virtually any other card in the deck and two 10s gives you 20, that is probably going to be a winning hand. You should always split aces and 8s because again you have a greater chance of drawing a card worth 10 than any other, with your aces you will get 21. With your 8s you will get 18. "