Should you split 10s in blackjack?

In Face-up Blackjack, where all the cards dealt are exposed, including both dealer's cards, the correct strategy is to split 10s against the dealer's 13, 14, 15 or 16.

freep.com - In blackjack, when is it a good idea to split 10s?

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Make Your Bookie Cry And Pull The Hair By Generating $23,187

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By Mark Pilarski

QUESTION: I am aware that you never — ever — split 10s against a dealer's 5 or 6. However, I have been tempted to do so when no one else is at the blackjack table. My question is: What are the percentage odds of winning (or losing) by doing so? — Herb C. ANSWER: Surprisingly, Herb, there was a gaming writer named John Scarne ("Scarne on Cards") who did recommend splitting 10s when playing the standard version of blackjack. However, Scarne's book was published in 1949, well before computers could analyze the game of blackjack with millions of hand simulations. Then in 1962, along came Edward Thorp, the first blackjack specialist who used an IBM 704 computer and published the results in his book "Beat the Dealer." Since then, I can't think of any blackjack authors who have recommended splitting 10s. Years ago, I ran a 20-million-hand simulation analysis using a Macintosh software program called BJ Trainer. My results clearly favored leaving those 10s unaided versus splitting them, even against a 5 or a 6. I favor taking computer results over advice written in 1949 every time. With all that said, Herb, there are moments in which splitting 10s can be a good strategy. In Face-up Blackjack, where all the cards dealt are exposed, including both dealer's cards, the correct strategy is to split 10s against the dealer's 13, 14, 15 or 16. For card counters, a situation that favors splitting 10s would be one in which there's a high proportion of high cards left in the deck (for instance a high-low true count of plus 6 or more with the dealer showing a 6). There is one other scenario in which splitting 10s can be the better play than standing. It arises during the last hand of a round during a blackjack tournament. I had it happen to me once like this: While observing the leader's chip count, I calculated that by holding on to a probable winner of 20, I still wouldn't win enough money to overtake him. As a result, I split them, and a $20 payout difference got me to the next round. As for the arithmetic, the statistical data on how often you will win when you split a pair of 10s against a dealer showing a 6 is 64% of the time. Your profit expectations for every $100 you bet while splitting those 10s will be, on average, a $56 profit. However, let's look at your other option: standing pat on your 20. By standing, you will win around 85% of the time and make about $14 more per $100 wagered than if you split. My recommendation is to stand on your 20. Your fair share of being dealt a 20 is approximately 9.2% of the time. I don't want you putting that stellar hand in unwarranted jeopardy save for the few exceptions described above. Mark Pilarski is a contributing editor for numerous gambling publications. E-mail questions to pilarski@markpilarski.com.

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