Do You Split 4s in Blackjack?

Blackjack is a game of skill and strategy, and knowing when to split your cards is a key part of that strategy. When you are dealt a pair of fours in blackjack, the question arises – do you split them or not Well, the answer may surprise you.

First off, let’s look at the basics. In blackjack, splitting means taking your initial two-card hand and dividing it into two separate hands.

You then play each hand separately, with a new bet equal to your original bet on each hand. When you split a pair of fours, you are essentially turning one bad hand into two potentially better hands.

However, splitting fours in blackjack is not always the best move. In fact, it is typically recommended that players avoid splitting fours whenever possible.

Why Because splitting fours puts you at a disadvantage.

• The odds are against you
• Splitting fours is risky
• You can still win with a total of eight

Let’s take a closer look at these reasons.

The odds are against you: When you split fours in blackjack, you have to remember that both new hands will start with a four as their first card. This means that unless you draw another card worth ten (such as a ten or face card), your new hands will have very low values. In fact, if you don’t draw another card worth ten on either hand, your chances of winning both hands are very low.

Splitting fours is risky: Splitting pairs in blackjack can be risky because there is always the chance that one or both of your new hands will end up worse than your initial hand. When it comes to splitting fours, this risk is even greater because you are starting with such a low value. If you split your fours and end up with two hands worth less than eight, you are in a very tough spot.

You can still win with a total of eight: In blackjack, a hand worth eight is not great, but it is also not terrible. If you choose not to split your fours and instead play them as one hand worth eight, you still have a chance to win the hand. Plus, if the dealer has a weak upcard (such as a four or five), you can choose to hit and try to improve your hand without risking busting.

Of course, there are some situations where splitting fours may be the right move – for example, if the dealer has a weak upcard (such as a six) and there are many low-value cards left in the deck. However, in general, it is best to avoid splitting fours whenever possible.

In conclusion, splitting fours in blackjack can be tempting – after all, turning one bad hand into two potentially better hands sounds like a great idea. However, the odds are against you when you split fours, and it is typically recommended that players avoid this move whenever possible. Remember – sometimes it’s better to stick with what you have than to take unnecessary risks.