When to Split in Blackjack: Aces, 8s and Every Other Pair
Always split Aces and 8s, never split 10s or 5s, and split 2s, 3s, 6s, 7s, 9s and 4s only against the dealer cards in the chart below. A pair of 8s is hard 16, the worst total in blackjack, and in our simulation splitting it beat both standing and hitting against every dealer up card from 2 to Ace.
Key points
- Always split Aces and 8s. Against a dealer 6, splitting 8s won about 40 chips per 100 bet in our test; standing on 16 lost about 16.
- Never split 10s. Twenty already wins: standing beat splitting against every dealer card we tested.
- Never split 5s. A pair of 5s is a 10, which is a doubling hand.
- The rest depends on the dealer: 2s, 3s and 7s against 2 to 7, 6s against 2 to 6, 9s against 2 to 9 except 7, 4s only against 5 or 6.
- On NitroPlayer you play with free virtual chips only: no real money, no deposits, no prizes.
Play Blackjack freeNo download, no sign-up. Play solo, online or with a friend.
Blackjack split rules on NitroPlayer
Split rules change from table to table, and they change the right play. These are the rules of the NitroPlayer Blackjack table, solo and online:
- Any two cards of the same value can be split, so a King and a Queen count as a pair.
- Up to four hands. If a split card draws another card of the same value, you can split again.
- Split Aces get one card each and cannot be split again. An Ace and a 10 after a split counts as 21, not blackjack, and pays even money.
- Double after split is allowed, except on split Aces.
- The split costs a second bet equal to the first, so you need enough chips left.
- Six decks, the dealer peeks for blackjack and stands on all 17s, and blackjack pays 3 to 2.
All play uses free virtual chips. You start with 1,000, and if you run out you get a fresh stack. Nothing can be bought or cashed out.
Blackjack splitting chart
This chart is basic strategy for the rules above (six decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed).
| Your pair | Split against dealer | Otherwise |
|---|---|---|
| A, A | Always | |
| 10, 10 (any 10-value) | Never | Stand on 20 |
| 9, 9 | 2 to 6, 8, 9 | Stand against 7, 10, Ace |
| 8, 8 | Always | |
| 7, 7 | 2 to 7 | Hit |
| 6, 6 | 2 to 6 | Hit |
| 5, 5 | Never | Play as 10: double against 2 to 9 |
| 4, 4 | 5 or 6 | Hit |
| 3, 3 and 2, 2 | 2 to 7 | Hit |
The pattern behind it: split when each card alone makes a better start than the pair does together, and when the dealer shows a weak card (2 to 6) that busts often.
Should you split 8s in blackjack? We tested it
We simulated 300,000 hands for each choice and each dealer up card with NitroPlayer's exact rules, playing every later card by basic strategy. Hands where the dealer had blackjack are left out, because the dealer peeks and the hand ends before you can act. The numbers are the average result in chips for every 100 chips in your original bet.
| Dealer shows | Stand on 16 | Hit 16 | Split 8s |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | -29 | -47 | +8 |
| 3 | -25 | -46 | +16 |
| 4 | -21 | -46 | +22 |
| 5 | -17 | -45 | +31 |
| 6 | -16 | -43 | +40 |
| 7 | -48 | -41 | +32 |
| 8 | -52 | -45 | -3 |
| 9 | -54 | -51 | -38 |
| 10 | -53 | -54 | -48 |
| Ace | -66 | -51 | -36 |
Splitting wins the comparison in every row. Against a 9, 10 or Ace you still lose on average, but you lose less than with any other play. That is the real reason to split 8s against strong dealer cards: 16 is so bad that two hands starting at 8 are the cheaper way out.
Why you never split 10s and always split Aces
The same simulation shows the two other famous rules clearly:
| Dealer shows | 10s: stand on 20 | 10s: split | Aces: hit soft 12 | Aces: split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | +64 | +36 | +8 | +49 |
| 6 | +70 | +57 | +19 | +68 |
| 7 | +77 | +50 | +16 | +48 |
| 10 | +56 | +5 | -7 | +19 |
| Ace | +66 | +15 | -2 | +13 |
Splitting 10s is tempting against a dealer 6, but even there standing on 20 earned more in our test. With Aces it is the other way around: two Aces together are only a soft 12, while each Ace alone has a good chance of drawing a 10 for 21. Even with only one card on each split Ace, splitting is far ahead.
Worked example: the hand from the video
- The deal. You get the 8 of spades and the 8 of hearts. The dealer shows a 6.
- Split. A second bet goes out and each 8 becomes its own hand.
- Hand 1 draws a King: 18. Stand.
- Hand 2 draws a 9: 17. Stand.
- The dealer turns over a 10 for 16. The dealer must hit 16 or less, draws a 9 and busts with 25. Both hands win.
Not every split goes this well. The video shows one lucky deal; the table above shows what happens on average. Against a 6, splitting 8s came out about 40 chips ahead per 100 bet, while standing on 16 lost about 16.
Splitting mistakes to avoid
- Splitting 10s or face cards. It turns a winning 20 into two unknown hands.
- Splitting 5s. Two 5s make 10, one of the best doubling totals. Split, and each 5 becomes a weak start.
- Standing on 8, 8 against a 10 because splitting feels like "more money on a bad hand". The data says splitting loses less.
- Betting your whole stack. A split needs a second bet of the same size. Keep enough chips to split and double when the cards ask for it.
Frequently asked questions
Should you split 8s against a dealer 10?
Yes. In our simulation with NitroPlayer rules, splitting 8s against a 10 lost about 48 chips per 100 bet, while standing on 16 lost 53 and hitting lost 54. It is still a losing spot, but splitting loses the least.
Can you split a King and a Queen?
On NitroPlayer, yes: any two cards of the same value can be split, and every 10-value card counts as 10. You should not do it, though. Twenty is a strong hand and standing beat splitting against every dealer card in our test.
How many times can you split in blackjack?
On NitroPlayer you can split up to four hands in total. Split Aces are the exception: each Ace gets one card and cannot be split again.
Is NitroPlayer Blackjack played for real money?
No. It uses free virtual chips only. There is no real money, no deposits and no prizes, and chips cannot be bought or cashed out. You can play solo against the dealer or at a table with friends.
Video transcript
Here's a Blackjack rule the pros never break.
Place a chip and deal. You get two eights.
Sixteen is the worst hand in the game. So split the eights!
Now each eight starts its own hand. Eighteen: stand.
Seventeen: stand too.
The dealer has to hit sixteen, and busts! Both hands win.
So always split aces and eights. But never split tens. Twenty is already great.
Now you try! And on NitroPlayer, you can play with your friends. Games are so much more fun together.
Play free at NitroPlayer dot com.
