Blackjack Strategy: Hitting a Pair

admin · Site Admin Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 862

Players who receive a pair of same-value cards on the first deal are often tempted to Split them simply because they can. Splitting allows players to separate the same-value cards into two separate hands of one card each, which will then be hit to make two complete hands.

According to Blackjack strategy, however, Splitting a pair is not always the best policy. In fact, there are several situations in which Blackjack strategy recommends that players Hit a pair. Knowing when to Split and when to Hit depends partly on the cards that the player is holding in-hand as well as the dealer's face up card.

- Blackjack strategy does not recommend that players Hit any pairs higher than 7-7. That means that pairs from 8-8 to A-A should either be Split or, in the case of all 10-10 and some 9-9 scenarios, should Stand.

- A 7-7 pair, a 2-2 pair, and a 3-3 pair should only be Hit when the dealer's up card is between the values of 8 and 11 (Ace).

- A 6-6 pair should be Hit when the up card is between 7 and 11 (Ace).

- All 5-5 pairs should be Doubled Down unless the up card is worth 10 or 11. In this case, Blackjack strategy recommends players to Hit.

- A 4-4 pair should be Hit in all situations except for those in which the dealer has an up card worth 5 or 6 (Split in these instances).