Splitting and Doubling Down - Handling a Pair in Blackjack

Once you’ve learned the basic rules of blackjack and gotten a basic strategy chart, you are equipped to handle basic strategies of standing or hitting. However, what do you do when you get a pair of something dealt to you. That question takes us into some more in depth strategies.

There are basically three choices you have when the dealer deals you a pair of cards. You can hit or stand as you can with any other hand dealt to you. But most casinos and online casinos allow you to split on that pair as well.

A split is exactly what it sounds like it is. When you split you split the pair of cards dealt into two hands. If, for instance, you’ve been dealt a pair of aces, you can decide to split those aces into two hands.

Each hand will then have an ace and the dealer will deal another card to each hand. This doubles your chances of winning. However, keep in mind, it also doubles you chances of losing as well.

Doubling down can be done when any two cards are dealt. When doubling down the player doubles his bet on the two cards in front of him and receives one, and only one, more card.

The player must take that card and cannot ask for any more hits. For this reason the only time you should double down is when you have a 10 or 11 hand. That way the odds are in your favor, because the chance of drawing a ten, which would give you 20 or 21, is pretty good.

Because you only double down on a 10 or an 11 we’ll be discussing what to do with a pair of fives (since this article is about dealing with pairs).

Below are the basic suggestions for what to do with pairs that are dealt to you. You can get a different strategy card for each of the casinos you play in, but this is a general idea of what to do with the pairs in your hand when comparing them with the dealer’s hand.

• To begin with, if you ever have a pair of aces or a pair of eights, always split.
• If you have a pair of twos or threes and the dealer has anything two through seven, split. If not, take a hit.
• If you have a pair of fours, you’ll want to split if the dealer has a five or six. Otherwise, you’ll want a hit.
• If your pair is fives, and the casino allows doubling, do it. You’ll have a good chance of getting a ten and winning.
• If your pair is sixes, and the dealer’s hand is two through six, you’ll want to split your hand. If the dealer doesn’t have two through six, take a hit.
• If you have a pair of sevens, and the dealer has anything from two through seven, split your hand. If not, take a hit.
• With a pair of nines you’ll want to split if the dealer has a two through six, or an eight, or a nine. If the dealer has a seven, ten, or ace you’ll want to stand.
• If you’re dealt a pair of tens you’ll always stand.

Knowing what to do with pairs gives you a big advantage in blackjack.

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