When you start to become more familiar with casino blackjack play, you will almost inevitably come across the challenge of whether to split your pair or not.  This arises when you have two cards dealt to you initially of the same value.  How you choose to play your hand, or perhaps more appropriately hands, in this situation is going to be pretty crucial.

Sometimes in casino blackjack you have the ability to play two separate hands.  There are times when this is not particularly advisable, for example if you have 20 points, the chances of you getting that elusive 21 are smaller than the dealer busting.  In terms of probability it’s not logical to make that move.  However, if for example you are dealt two 8’s then splitting pairs is something that you should consider.  16 is a problematic number in casino blackjack; often it won’t be enough to win you a hand, but if you hit on it, there is a good chance of busting – hence why splitting your hand can be an excellent move.

An ideal casino blackjack occurrence would be when you are dealt two Aces, putting you in a very strong position.  If you take on this option, the casino will limit you to only taking one card per Ace, so you have to weigh up whether it makes sense or not.  The other thing to bear in mind is that if you draw a card worth 10, the rules of casino blackjack determine that this is not a natural blackjack, as they were not the first two cards drawn and subsequently you will not be entitled to a 3:2 payout on your initial wager.