Blackjack is a game of decisions. You are allowed to act on your hand in many ways. Splitting pairs is a common action. Some players mistakenly think they should always split a pair, but this is not true. You should never split 5s in a game of blackjack. Here’s why.

Playing Those Tricky 10s and 5s at Blackjack

Even those who have just started playing blackjack know that you should never split a pair of 10s in blackjack. The reason for that is obvious. You have a 20, and a 20 is very hard to beat. A 20 will hold up and win most of the time in blackjack. Never give up a winner to chase a bigger profit. Always remember that greed is a killer for many gamblers.

Splitting 10s will also get you in hot water with other players at the blackjack table. When you split those cards you are possibly taking the bust card from the dealer. That could cause your fellow players to lose. Why should you care? After all, blackjack is a single game not a team effort. That is true, but causing other players to lose is poor form. It won’t make you any new friends.

The decision with 10s is easy, but what about 5s? This choice should also be easy, but some players stumble over it. They split this pair without really thinking, and most of the time they lose. Splitting a pair of 5s can turn a potential winner into two losers.

Hit Don’t Split Those 5s

In most cases the correct play is going to be to hit instead of split those 5s. You have a total of 10 when you are dealt this pair. Hitting them gives you a chance to draw a 10 for a total of 20. That would be a very powerful hand, and you may be able to make lemonade from lemons.

Let’s consider what could happen if you split the 5s instead. You would then have a total of 5 to start with on each hand. If you receive a 10 on each hand that would give you a total of 15. You now have two hands with a total of 15 to deal with instead of one hand with a 10.

Yes, it is possible that you could get a 6 on one or both hands and then hit it to get a 21. Anything is possible. As a blackjack player you have to consider what is likely, not what is possible. The  probability is that you will wind up with a worse hand than you had before. More on when to hit or stand here.

What About Doubling Down a Pair of 5s?

This is an interesting scenario that you may have encountered before. Most casinos today will allow you to double on any two cards. That means you could double down the pair of 5s for a chance to draw a 10. The standard rules of doubling down apply to this strategy.

Is doubling down a total of 10 always a good idea? There are few ideas in blackjack which are always the right idea. There are situations when it may be better for you to simply hit that 10 than to double it. Our suggestion would be to double it when the deck is in your favor. The way to know if the deck is favorable is to learn how to count cards.

Counting cards is a time-tested way to beat the game of blackjack. We have detailed many methods of card counting that you can use to improve your game. When you combine card counting with basic blackjack strategy, you will become an almost unstoppable force at the blackjack table. You will also learn that you should never split fives in blackjack, even when the deck seems favorable to you.

Fine Tuning Your Online Blackjack Game

Learning these things about basic blackjack strategy is essentially fine-tuning your game. You are moving beyond the standard knowledge that many player have into the realm of specialized skills. At this point you will be able to call yourself a true blackjack professional.

Of course, with more knowledge and expertise will come more scrutiny from the casinos. They will have an easier time recognizing you as an advantage player when you are making the expert plays. You will need to arrange your style and learn how to employ camouflage betting.

How do you learn how to never split fives in blackjack? Repetition and practice is the answer to this question. You have to be able to make the right moves instinctively when you are playing. This is even more important when you are playing in a live game because the pace of the game is something that you cannot control.

For a more laid-back environment in which to practice your basic blackjack strategy skills, you should consider an online casino. The games offered online are just like those you would find in a live casino. The main difference is that you are able to dictate the pace of the game by choosing when the next hand will be dealt.

Other advantages of playing online is that you can receive a large casino bonus when you sign up and make your first deposit. Some casinos will match your first deposit 100% up to a certain amount. Be sure to check the offers at the casino you are considering. Read our Casino Max review, Miami Club review , High Country casino review, Cherry Jackpot casino review, or Roaring 21 review to name a few.

More Topics:

Leave A Comment

Please enter your name. Please enter an valid email address. Please enter message.