When To Split

The guidelines for splitting are best described in a table.
Split If Dealer Shows
A , A Any Card
10 , 10 Never
9 , 9 2 - 9 except 7
8 , 8 Any Card
7 , 7 2 - 7
6 , 6 2 - 6
5 , 5 Never
4 , 4 5 or 6
3 , 3 2 - 7
2 , 2 2 - 7

Again, when there is some logic behind these guidelines.
• Always split A’s. The totals of 2 or 12 are not nearly as good as hitting 11’s.
• Never split 10’s. Two 10’s is a great hand — don’t screw it up!
• Never split 5’s, but you may want to double down!
• Splitting 4’s is a close call. Don’t do it in one or two deck games. Do it in multideck games when the dealer shows a 5 or 6.
• Split 9’s against a dealer card of 2 - 9 except 7. The reason for this exception is simple. You have 18. The dealer’s most probable total is 17. Don’t screw up a good thing.
• Splitting 8’s, like 4’s, depends on casino rules. Always do it when the dealer shows 2 - 9. If the dealer shows 10 or A and you happen to be lucky enough to be playing in a game that al-lows early surrender, you should surrender. If surrender is not an option, split.
• Splitting 6’s and 7’s is straightforward. If the dealer’s card is higher than your card, don’t split.
• Always split 2’s or 3’s if the dealer’s card is less than 8.
You should also note that the “value” of splitting is increased if you are playing in a game that allows doubling down after a split.