Casino & Table Games

Blackjack split

Second wager

Equal to the original bet ³

Cards per hand

One additional card dealt to each split hand before normal play ¹

Split aces

Usually receive only one card each; a split 21 counts as 21, not blackjack ³

Maximum hands

Some rule sets allow up to four hands through re-splitting ³

Key points

• A split turns one hand into two, each played independently with its own bet ².
• Split aces are typically limited to one card each, and a split 21 is not paid as blackjack ³.
• Not all pairs are worth splitting; strategy charts guide when splitting is optimal ⁴.

How a split works

1. If your first two cards form a pair, you may choose to split them.
2. Place a second bet equal to your original wager ³.
3. The dealer deals one card to each split hand, and you play each hand separately ¹.
4. Some rule sets allow re-splitting or doubling after a split, but split aces often end the round for that hand ³.

Common questions

Where this term is used

• Blackjack

Not the same as

• Basic strategy blackjack — a set of mathematically optimal decisions for every hand, including when to split
• Worst cards to split in blackjack — a strategy topic identifying pairs that are usually not worth splitting

Related terms

Sources

1. Blackjack - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Defines the split option and basic procedure.
2. Glossary of blackjack terms - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Glossary entry confirming the term and its usage.
3. Blackjack wizardofodds.com Details the second wager, card dealing, and restrictions on aces.
4. Blackjack rules, part 2 - Wizard of Odds wizardofodds.com Provides strategy context for when splitting is advisable.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.