At Blackjack, when players get a starting hand of two cards of equal numeric value such as 8-8, they can split it into two separate hands by placing an extra bet.
As players Azen couples split, if they only get one extra card per bait and then they are generally no longer allowed to buy or split. However, they can play all other couples the way they want.
Reason to split
There are several reasons for players to split. They do it to improve their hand, to increase their profit if the dealer is at a disadvantage, and to reduce their losses if the dealer retains the lead with a stronger open card.
This brings us to the subject of today's article: Split couples that consist of 8s. Those who are new to Blackjack are taught early to always split this couple, but do you know why? If the answer is no, we recommend that you continue reading the few exceptions to these fundamental strategy rule to find out and learn.
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The basic strategy says you have to split 8-8
Paartjes eights give players the worst hand total that they can get on the Blackjacktafel, a hard 16. This is not strong enough to look after, because if we do that, the dealer will often surpass us. In the meantime, a hard 16 is a total that is high enough to ensure that we usually bust when we buy.
It is not necessary to argue that doubling such a terrible hand is a ridiculous idea, but if it consists of paired eights, players have more flexibility. Here we have the option to split and play two separate hands, each with a much better starting point of 8.
In fact, the splitting of 8-8 is usually recommended by the basic strategy (with a dealer with open and closed map), with a few exceptions. This applies to most blackjack variations, regardless of the fixed rules of the dealer and other play conditions.
But as is the case with all rules, there are exceptions. Players are advised to hand in their pair 8s (Surrender), but only against a bait in double deck and multiple decks games where the dealer buys on soft 17.
Why do we usually split 8-8
It is important to warn that whatever you do with this couple, you will get a negative expectation over time. This is a losing hand as standard, but splitting makes it better - it helps us to lose less money in the long term. This especially if we are dealing with a strong dealer whose Upcard is a 10.
Certainly, sometimes the dealer turns another 10 to get a total of 20 and we lose two hands instead of one. This is simply something you have to take into account, since splitting 8-8 inevitably saves you in the long term.
On the other hand, if the dealer is in a weaker position with Upcards 5 or 6, for example, the splitting of the 8-8 gives us a lead on the house.
Surrender against a 10 - do or not?
Some blackjack authors would recommend handing in this pair against a dealer who shows a 10. They claim that you run the risk of ending with two inferior hands instead of one when the house has a lead on you with the 10 of the dealer. At first glance, their reasoning seems healthy, but in fact this is a very bad piece of advice. If you follow it consistently, you will also lose more.
It is clear that the dealer always has a lead over the age of 8-8 with their 10. In fact, they will reach their total of 17 or higher about 77% of the time. (With the exception of the cases where they beat you with a blackjack).
The chance that they will buy dead in this case is quite low. They end on average at 23 out of a hundred hands above 21. This makes you the underdog anyway, regardless of what you do with your 8-8.
You lose money, regardless of whether you fit, buy, split or throw in the towel through Surrender. So why does the basic strategy advise us to split the 8s against 10 as the optimum game? We can answer this question by comparing the long -term losses that we incur with every possible decision.
The figures of 8-8 split against a 10
If we buy a hard 16 at a 10, we can expect to win this hand about 23% of the time. In fact, in this case there is a very thin margin and fit. These two game decisions yield almost the same expected losses.
Doubling this hand is clearly excluded. And we lose half of our initial efforts on each pair 8 and that we surrender against 10.
Our only chance is to split the pair and start two new hands with an 8 each, in which case we improve our profit percentage in the long term to 38%, while our loss percentage is falling from 77%to 62%.
You may invest more money in this game, but you still run into smaller losses if you split the 8-8 against 10. What these percentages tell us is the following:
-If we Betten with a basic unit of $ 1, we lose an average of $ 77-$ 23 = $ 54 every hundred rounds when we buy or fit on our paired 8-8
-If we give up the 8-8 against 10, we will lose an average of $ 50 per hundred hands if we use in steps of $ 1 per hand.
-When we split the 8-8 against 10, our average net losses per dollar in the course of one hundred hands are equal to $ 62-$ 38 = $ 24 * 2 = $ 48.
The conclusions to which these figures lead us are as follows: we lose $ 6 less when we split the eights instead of buying or fitting on it. Splitting the 8-8 is also cheaper than to be handed in, since you save an average of $ 2 per hundred hands.
It is clear that we are still dealing with a bet with a negative expectation, but splitting helps us on average lose the least money, which makes the optimum decision in this case.
Surrender 8-8 against an ace
We have already told you that there are exceptions when it comes to double -deck and multiple games. The intention is that you give up 8-8 in these games. Only on condition that the dealer has a bait.
The bait places the dealer in a very powerful position. He has a good chance to beat with a starting point of 11. Take a look at the table below to see what you can expect from every possible play decision. It is accurate for H17 games with six cards with tie (double after splitting), late surrender (LS).
| Decisions for 8-8 against an ace | Average expected loss |
|---|---|
| Insurance | -$0.07 |
| surrender | -$0.50 |
| To suit | -$0.59 |
| Kopen | -$0.54 |
| Double Down | -$1.08 |
| split | -$0.51 |
As you can see yourself, everything is negative again. That means that a few 8 and against an ace is a certain loser in the long term. However, what we should not forget is that the basic strategy helps us to minimize our losses in such unfavorable situations. We can achieve that when we surrender the couple.
This decision is considered optimal here. It ensures that you suffer the least losses compared to the rest of the actions.
If late surrender is not possible at all, you must split the eights. This is of course the second best game. The latter only applies to games where the dealer also has a closed card. You already know if he has blackjack.
The splitting through 8-8
In contrast to couples, those players are generally not allowed again divide, splitting again is a feasible option when you get a starting hand that consists of 8-8. Some players frown their eyebrows at the thought of splitting again, because they hate the idea of investing more money in a single round.
The point is that splitting a few, especially a few like 8-8, is a good idea, just like it splitting again if you happen to be an 8 grab when buying. Depending on the table conditions, players are allowed to double after they have split the couple.
Doubling after the split gives them the opportunity to further increase their action against dealers that are vulnerable to busting with small upcards.
For example, if you split your 8-8 and draw a 2 or a 3, you get totals 10 and 11, which are very good to double. Provided that DAS (Double After Split) is allowed at the table, the option to split the eights becomes all the more attractive.
When you split 8-8 with games where the dealer only has 1 card.
In the European version of Blackjack, the dealer has an open card and no closed card.
The fact is that these games are often played according to rules that are far from favorable. It is understandable that players have to approach some of their hands in a different way. Under such table conditions, including their couple 8 and you have a different strategy. With games without closed maps, the right strategy is to:
-Split 8-8 against Upcards 2 to 9
-Koop 8-8 against Upcards 10 and AAS
Extra tip
As noted, European Blackjack variations generally offer poorer play conditions. The above-mentioned strategy is accurate for S17 games where you can only double on 9, 10 and 11, double after splitting, and the dealer does not look for blackjack (which is impossible anyway due to the absence of closed cards). Buying is recommended at 10 and ace, because this is again the cheapest decision to play in the long term.
All in all, you will inevitably end up in situations of negative expectations while you are sitting at the Blackjackt table. This is certainly the case with couples of 8 and that you always cost money in the long term.
The most important idea behind applying the basic strategies here is not to help you win - there is no profit with this hand in the long term. You only try to reduce the losses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Online this is the version that is offered the most.
In Holland Casino it is only possible to double with 9.10 or 11 points. At the online casinos you can double with every two cards. With 16 this is of course not wise.
If you can double after splitting, that is also allowed with a maximum bet.