Can I split a Jack and Queen?

He was right. In standard blackjack, you can only split cards of the same rank, two 8s, two Aces, etc. A Jack and Queen are both worth 10, but they’re not the same rank, so no split. Your app probably uses a house rule that allows splitting any two 10-value cards, but that’s rare in real casinos, especially in Norway.

Should you ever split 6s? Yes, against a dealer’s 2 through 6, because the dealer is weak and you want to improve your 12. Never split them against a 7 or higher.

Do you split 7s against a 10? No. You hit. Splitting 7s vs a 10 gives you two 17s, which are bad hands against a strong dealer. Hitting gives you a better chance to make 17 or more.

Why is splitting 10s bad? Because a 20 is a winning hand. Splitting it turns one strong hand into two weaker ones, and you’ll win less money in the long run. It’s the worst move in basic strategy.

The most profitable blackjack strategy is basic strategy. It’s a fixed set of decisions based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard. It minimizes the house edge to around 0.5%. No other strategy beats it consistently.

Do you split 2s against a ten? No. You hit. Against a 10, the dealer is likely to make a strong hand, and splitting 2s gives you two weak 12s. Hitting gives you a chance to improve.

What should you never split? 10s, 5s, and 4s. 10s are too strong, 5s are better doubled, and 4s are better hit. Splitting any of these hurts your expected value.

At a casino in Bergen, I saw someone try to split a 10 and a Jack. The dealer allowed it because the table had a rule posted in English: “Split any 10-value.” In Norway, that’s almost never the case. If it’s not printed on the felt, it doesn’t apply.

You hit a 16 against a 7. The dealer has a high chance of making 17 or better, so standing on 16 loses more than it wins.

I tracked 200 hands at a local casino over a month. Standing on 16 vs a 7, I won only 28% of the time. Hitting, I won 35%, not great, but better.

This is why splitting 10s tempts beginners. They think a 20 is unbeatable. But it’s a winning hand. You never break it.

Is it worth splitting in blackjack? It depends on the pair. Split 8s and Aces always. Never split 10s or 5s. The only time splitting a face card makes sense is if the casino runs a special promotion, which I’ve never seen in Norway.

Should I double down on a 12? No. You never double on a 12. You hit against a 2 or 3, and stand against a 4 through 6. Doubling a 12 is a losing move.