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Do you split 2s vs 7?

split 2s against a dealer's 4, 5, 6 or 7; otherwise hit.

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When you are playing blackjack and dealt a pair of 2s (also known as “deuces”), you have two viable playing options:

Split

Hit

Which strategy you should invoke depends upon what the dealer’s upcard is, the number of decks of cards being used, and whether double down after pair splitting is allowed.

More Blackjack School Articles:

The basic playing strategy for a double- or multi-deck game where doubling down after pair splitting is not allowed (NDAS) is to:

split 2s against a dealer’s 4, 5, 6 or 7; otherwise hit

If the playing rules allow doubling down after pair splitting (DAS), you should also split against a dealer’s upcard of 2 and 3.

In a single-deck game, the basic playing strategy is:

If NDAS, Split against a dealer's upcard of 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7; otherwise hit

If DAS, split against dealer’s upcard of 2 through 7; otherwise hit

The following color-coded charts summarize the basic strategy for a pair of 2s.

(Note: P = Split; H = Hit.)

REASON FOR SPLITTING

Splitting 2s becomes the better option than hitting if it meets one of these criteria:

You will win more money on average

You will lose less money on average

You will turn a losing hand into a winning hand on average

Here is an example. Suppose you are playing a six-deck game with DAS and you are dealt a pair of 2s. The dealer’s upcard is a 4. If you hit, you have a negative expectation of winning. However, if you split, you expectation of winning is positive. Pair splitting is, therefore, the preferred option over hitting because it turns a negative expectation into a positive expectation (criterion #3 above). Here’s another example. Suppose you are playing a double-deck game with NDAS. You are dealt a pair of 2s and the dealer is showing a 2 upcard. Whether you split or hit, your expectation is negative; however, hitting has a lower negative expectation than splitting, meaning you will lose less money in the long run if you hit (criterion #2). The reason you split 2s against a dealer’s 2 and 3 upcard when DAS is allowed (double- and multi-deck game) is because the latter is a player-favorable rule that allows you to double your bet if you were to receive a favorable draw card on one or both of your split hands (such as a 9 plus 2 equals 11). To take full advantage of DAS, you split 2s not only against the dealer’s 4, 5, 6, or 7 but also against the dealer’s 2 and 3 upcards.

RESPLITTING 2S

If the playing rules allow you to resplit, then it is advantageous for you to do so. For example, if you are dealt a pair of 2s against a dealer’s 5 upcard, you should split them. Suppose on the first 2, you are dealt another 2 on the draw. You should resplit to form a third hand. If the casino allows resplits up to a total of four hands, then you should resplit again if you are dealt another 2. Resplitting pairs is a player- favorable option that you should always take advantage of.

BOTTOM LINE

You will always win more or lose less if you follow the above basic playing strategy for splitting or hitting a pair of 2s. For a complete basic playing strategy for any set of playing rules, consult Chapter 3 in the Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide.

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Can you hit after splitting aces?

Question: After splitting a pair in blackjack, you can normally play each side like a regular hand. The exception occurs when you split aces. Then you can only hit once on each side.

G aming G uru

After splitting a pair in blackjack, you can normally play each side like a regular hand. The exception occurs when you split aces. Then you can only hit once on each side. Why is this?The casino has an edge in blackjack because players must complete their hands before the dealer acts. Bettors who go over 21 therefore lose, even in rounds when dealers subsequently bust.If winning blackjacks only paid 1-to-1, players following the same rules as the dealer – hit all hands under 17, stand on 17 and above, no splits or doubles – would have about 7.5 percent disadvantage based on the probability of simultaneous busts. This edge is reduced by about 2 percent by the 3-to-2 payoff on uncontested blackjacks. It's lowered by an additional 3 percent when players follow basic strategy, standing on appropriate totals under 17 for dealer upcards from two through six. Proper splits and doubles, together, cut about 2 percent more from the edge. Combined, this leads to players only having to fight half a percent edge – which is one reason the game is so popular.To get to your question, a starting ace is extremely powerful. Chances of a 21 exceed 30 percent when only a single card can be drawn. If additional hits were allowed, there'd be opportunities to double down when the dealer was vulnerable, and the chances of busting following basic strategy against dealer upcards of seven or more would be under 12 percent. Letting you treat aces like other cards after splitting would therefore give players rather than the house the advantage in the game, such that casinos couldn't afford to offer it.

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