Blackjack
Once new players grasp the main strategy of blackjack the first thing they generally ask themselves is, ‘When and why should I split my cards?’
Generally any card that starts with ‘F’ (face card, fives and fours) should not be split; this is a simple rule to go by. So Face cards, Fives, and Fours should not be split..
The reason for not splitting face cards is pretty easy to understand. You don’t want to throw away a 20 which almost guarantees you a winning hand.
Fours and fives also should not be split, because splitting these cards only increase the chances of a player getting a very low end chance of winning, ’14′ or ’15′ or worse.
So, you might ask, why should you split other pairs? This is a bit trickier as the general rule of thumb here is only to split your cards when the dealer is displaying an up card of between 4-7. The idea is that you have a better chance to double your money when the dealer shows a bust card.
Splitting Aces, as with any gambling venture you partake in it is important you are understand the house rules. These rules can differ when faced with Ace Ace. Obviously you want to split these cards, two is useless, and the other option being 12 is also no good for the player. So you have to split aces EVERY time. Most Casino’s have a rule respecting splitting aces, and generally most stick with the one draw rule. This means that you can only draw one card to each Ace. It is also a common rule that casino’s will not honor a true blackjack when you receive a face card on a split ace. This eliminates the bonus payout.
Splitting eights, a lot of professional players will only split Eights and Aces. The reason being, the four horseman, as they were known, ran these cards through a mathematical algorithm, and it was determined that the player splitting the eights has a much higher probability of winning the hand splitting the 8′s then standing on 16.
The four horseman were (Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel and James McDermott). They ere responsible for creating what is known today as basic mathematical strategy. We will discuss these fellows later on.
So you know have a good grasp on when and why you should be splitting cards at the blackjack table. Splitting is an essential part of the game, and provides excellent opportunity for player edge and increasing ones bankroll. If you are looking for an excellent strategy component please visit BlackJack Strategy Pro
