When to Split Pairs in Blackjack — Chart & EV

Splitting turns a pair into two separate hands, each taking a new second card. Done right it converts bad hands into good ones and presses your edge; done wrong it doubles your money into a losing spot.

The two rules that never change

• Always split Aces. A,A is a hard 12 if you hit it — splitting gives two hands each starting with 11.
• Always split 8,8. Sixteen is the worst total in blackjack; two hands starting with 8 are far better.

Never split these

• 10,10 — never. A made 20 is one of the strongest hands; don't break it.
• 5,5 — never. Treat it as a hard 10 and double instead (vs 2–9).
• 4,4 — usually not (split only vs 5–6 when DAS is allowed).

The dealer-dependent pairs

These split against the dealer's weaker cards:

• 9,9 — split vs 2–9, except 7 (stand vs 7, 10, A — your 18 already beats a dealer 17).
• 7,7 — split vs 2–7.
• 6,6 — split vs 2–6 (2–7 with DAS).
• 3,3 and 2,2 — split vs 2–7 with DAS, otherwise vs 4–7.

Double-after-split changes the answer

Several of these lines depend on whether DAS is offered, and H17 vs S17 shifts a few more. The decision is an EV comparison between splitting and the best non-split play, which Fullcount evaluates exactly for your shoe:

See the basic strategy overview, or choose your game from the blackjack rule variants for the split rules that apply.