Playing Blackjack: Split 10s?
By
Jerry Smith
Staff Writer Updated: 12/09/2022
Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.
Playing Blackjack
- Blackjack Split 10s Guide
- Should you split 10s?
- An Introduction to Splitting
- When to Split
- Blackjack Basic Strategy
- Surrendering and Doubling Down
Blackjack splitting 10s: it’s a question that many players struggle with, and the question of whether you should or shouldn’t split 10s confuses players from all around the world. To add to the confusion, some casinos allow you to split tens, while others don’t – and that’s why we’ve written this post. On this page, we will show you the definitive answer to whether you should split 10s or not. We will also show when to split (and when not to) in other situations, too.
Never Split 10s: Fact or Fiction?
In most online blackjack casinos, you are allowed to split tens. However, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. The reality is that you should never split tens. If you’re following basic strategy (more on that later) you should never split a pair of 10s, regardless of what card the dealer shows.
A pair of tens is a very strong hand; if you split, the chances of you drawing two additional picture cards or aces is slim – and this often leaves you worse off than before. This is why you never split tens. We’ll tell you more about when you should split later on this page.
Never Split 10s Strategy Card
If you’re following a never split 10s strategy card, you’ll notice there are never scenarios where you should split this pair. Why? There are two main reasons.
Firstly, your original hand totaled 20. This is a very strong hand, and it’s as close as you can get to 21 without hitting it exactly. With such a strong hand to begin with, it simply makes no sense to split, as you’re decreasing your chances of winning the hand.
Secondly, the average hand total of a dealer in Blackjack is 18.3 – although this doesn’t take busted hands into account. If you split tens, the odds of you drawing a picture card on one of those hands is around 50%. This is reduced to 25% for both hands. Thus, the odds are massively against you – and this is why you should never split tens.
If you hold a hand of 20 in Blackjack, it will win – on average – 85% of the time, and that’s great odds; you don’t want to do anything to jeopardize this. You can split both at land-based and online casinos.
What is Splitting in Blackjack?
When you’re playing Blackjack and draw two cards of the same value – for example, a pair of 4s or 5s – you are allowed to split the pair and play them as though they were two separate hands. To do so, you need to put down an additional wager that’s equal to the amount you wagered initially.
Once you’ve put the money forward, the dealer will separate your two cards and draw a new card to each. This means you’re now playing two hands – both independent of one another. You can play these hands as normal – and if one loses, you’ll still be paid out on the other one, if it wins.
Some casinos will allow you to re-split, too. For example, if you split a pair of 7s, and received another 7 on one of your hands, you could then split that new pair of 7s again. Doing so can get quite expensive – but if luck’s on your side, it can also end up being pretty profitable! Most casinos use liberal splitting rules; however, a few land-based casinos will only allow you to split certain card values, and some don’t allow you to re-split. It’s also important to note that the rules for splitting often vary depending on the types of blackjack games you play.
Basic Splitting Rules in Blackjack
To be able to split cards in Blackjack, you must hold two cards of the same value. The extra wager you place must be equal to the initial bet you put down. If you’re playing in a land-based casino, you need to clearly state to the dealer that you wish to split. They won’t always ask.
Thankfully, the basic strategy rules for splitting cards are pretty straightforward for anyone learning how to play online blackjack. There are some casino-specific rules that can change these rules slightly, but generally, they remain the same regardless of which Blackjack variation you’re playing. Below, we’ll show you when you should split cards, and when you shouldn’t.
| Pair of… | Basic Rule |
|---|---|
| 10s | In Blackjack, all ten-value cards are splittable; you could, for example, split a pair of kings. However, it’s never in your favor to do so. Looking at the math, you should never split 10s Blackjack. |
| 9s | If you’re following basic strategy (more on that in just a moment), you should split 9s against any dealer face-up card aside from a 7. Contrary to popular belief, you should always split 9s against an ace or picture card. |
| Aces and 8s | Aces and eights are lumped together as your decision with these pairs is always the same – regardless of the dealer’s face-up card. You should always split a pair of aces or eights, no matter what the dealer is holding. |
| 7s, 4s, and 2s | If you hold a pair of sevens, fours, or twos, you should only split them if the dealer’s face-up card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. |
| 6s and 4s | If you hold a pair of sixes or fours, you should only split when the dealer shows a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. |
| 5s | If you hold a pair of fives, your hand total is 10; this is quite strong, as there’s roughly a 30% chance of you drawing a picture card or ace, giving you a strong hand total. However, if the dealer holds 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, then you should split 5s. |
What is Basic Strategy?
Basic strategy is a set of mathematical rules designed to decrease the house edge as much as possible – giving you better chances of winning. It shows you the best possible move you can make according to the two cards you hold and the face-up card the dealer holds.
Basic strategy was developed back in the 1950s by four US Army engineers; they’ve become known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – and they are widely credited with making Blackjack a lot less profitable for casinos. Their math calculations allow players to improve their odds significantly.
Following basic strategy is easy; once your two cards have been dealt, you simply need to look at a strategy chart and find your hand holding. You will then look at the dealer’s card – and the basic strategy chart will tell you whether to stand, hit, double down, or surrender. Of course, there’s no guarantee you will win a specific hand using basic strategy – but it’s designed to improve your chances in the long run.
When Blackjack is played using basic strategy, it’s possible to decrease the house edge to as low as 0.20%. For regular players, this is a significant advantage – and it’s one of the reasons why all players are advised to follow basic strategy, even when the advised move may seem unusual.
What About Doubling Down and Surrendering?
In addition to splitting, there are two additional options available to you when playing Blackjack; doubling down, and surrendering. However, we should preface this section by letting you know that some casinos have different rules, so always check beforehand which rule-set the table follows. Below, we will show you what doubling down and surrendering mean, and how they work.
Doubling Down in Blackjack
When you’re playing blackjack online, you sometimes have the option to double down; this allows you to raise the stakes, at a cost. Once your first two cards have been dealt, you’ll (sometimes) be given the option to double down. If you wish to do so, you must pay an additional wager – equal to your initial bet – and you will then receive one more card.
This bet can be risky, as you are only given one more card – and you won’t be able to draw more cards, so you risk losing twice as many chips if your hand loses. Generally speaking, you should only double down when your first two cards total 9, 10, or 11. Some casinos will let you double on any two cards, although this is uncommon.
Surrendering in Blackjack
Surrendering is an option at some Blackjack tables that lets you cut your losses and get back half your stake, even after your first two cards have been dealt. Once you’ve seen your first two cards, the dealer will ask you if you would like to surrender. If you would like to, the hand will immediately end, and you will receive 50% of your stake back; it doesn’t matter what additional cards the dealer draws if other players are at the table.
Most players prefer not to surrender as it means losing 50% of your stake without even trying to beat the dealer. However, if you hold a very poor hand (for example, 16, when the dealer shows an ace) it’s recommended to cut your losses. Basic strategy charts show you exactly when you should surrender, but there are only a few situations where it’s advised.
