Note the special rule for splitting 8s against a dealer’s ace upcard with H17.) SPLITTING STRATEGY WITH DAS PairĪlways (except with H17, split vs. (To use the color-coded charts below, locate your two-card hand along the first column, and then move along the top row of the table for the entry corresponding to the dealer’s upcard. However, if you are interested, you can find the complete pair splitting strategy for double- and single-deck games in Chapter 2 of my Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide. It could also be used for single- and double-deck games without too much loss in expectation. Note: The following strategy is specifically for a multi-deck game (i.e., 4, 6, or 8 deck-decks being dealt). Therefore, the tables and charts below show you when to split your pairs when the rules specify DAS or NDAS. The one playing rule that mostly affects the strategy for pair splitting is whether the casino rules allow a player to double down after splitting a pair (DAS) or not (NDAS). If you got a few of the above playing decisions wrong, don’t fret because you are not alone. The mathematically correct way to play the above hands is: NDAS = doubling down after pair splitting is not allowed 8-8 vs A with surrender offered - Surrender (If H17, otherwise, Split)ĭAS = doubling down after pair splitting is allowed.WHEN TO SPLIT THE FOLLOWING INITIAL TWO-CARD BLACKJACK HANDS VS. Don’t believe me? Assume you are playing a six-deck game with the dealer standing on soft 17 (S17) and doubling down after pair splitting is allowed (DAS). If there is one playing decision that seems to confound most blackjack players, it’s knowing when to split a pair (and when not to).

Blackjack when to split and double down