Should you ever split 6s in blackjack?

Yes, you split 6s against a dealer 7, and only there. A pair of 6s is a 12, and that's a hand you normally want to hit, because busting a 12 feels pointless. But the dealer standing on a 7 changes everything, they've got a weak upcard and a real chance of ending on 17, so turning one bad hand into two mediocre ones actually works out better in the long run.

The math says splitting loses less than hitting in that spot. Now, the rule you're playing under matters. Norwegian tables almost always have the dealer stand on all 17s, which is exactly why the 7 is magic.

If the dealer hits soft 17 instead, which is rare here, you'd press a bit less, but the split still stands. If you're counting cards and the count is negative, you stand instead. That's an edge case most people never hit in a live casino.

People think splitting 6s is about avoiding a bust, but it's not, it's about making two hands that can each catch a Ten and become a strong 16. It feels suicidal, but the math beats hitting. And your friend's rule about only 8s and Aces is too simple.

You also split 9s against a 7, same logic, and you never split 10s, whatever the dealer shows. Now, on your other question, double an 11 against a 10 only if you can double after a split, because that changes the value of splitting in the first place. If the house doesn't allow it, skip the double.

As for the dealer's upcard, they stay on 17 at Norwegian tables, that's why 7 is the line. On a 16 versus a Ten, you hit, because the dealer's Ten means they likely have a made hand. On a 12 against a 5, you stand, because they'll bust more often than not.

And soft 17 against a Ten, you hit, you can't bust and you need improvement. One more thing, avoid 6:5 blackjack entirely, it adds a 0.3% house edge and kills the value of every basic strategy play. If you're ever unsure at a live table, ask the dealer for the house rule, because a wrong play costs you about 1.2% of your bet each time.

Håkon nailed it, but one thing: if the table doesn't let you double after a split, which some side-bet tables in Norway do, the split is slightly worse. About 0.7% difference in expectation. So check that rule first, then decide.

I've split 6s against a 7 eleven times in one evening at a 200 kr table. Won both five times, lost both three, pushed three. Ended flat.

That symmetry is exactly why the house edge stays near zero on that play. The real killer is splitting 6s against a Ten, lost 9 of 12 over two months. And never split 10s, not because it loses, but because you give up a winning hand.

Tested this at home with a printed basic strategy chart, 100 hands against a 7. The split only beat hitting by 3 hands, but those 3 were the difference between 2.1% and 1.4% edge. The trap is psychological, people stand on 12 against a 5 because it feels safe, but splitting 6s against a 7 feels aggressive, and that feeling is why most Norwegians play it wrong. Hit the 16, but the real block is emotional, not math.