To Split or Not to Split: Playing a Pair of 6s in Blackjack

Despite the game's simple concept, blackjack can involve significant strategy, provided you desire to play the game to the highest level. Players must thoroughly understand the game rules and use a reliable strategy if they are looking to get the most out of their blackjack experience. Although learning these strategies can be time-consuming and requires considerable effort, the payoff is definitely worth it.

Table of Content:

• The Role of Pair Splitting
  • Benefits and Drawbacks
• Understanding Pairs of 6s
  • The Dealer’s Upcard Influence
  • Common Misconceptions
• When to Split a Pair of 6s
• Optimal Strategy Scenarios
• FAQs

To maximize your potential long-term winnings, understanding the importance of small margins is essential. Blackjack is the casino game with the smallest house edge, so any method that can tip the odds in your favour will aid you tremendously. With this in mind, it’s likely you are reading this because you have questions regarding whether splitting a pair of 6's is the optimal play.

Here, we will explore the art of splitting 6s and discuss when it could be considered the best play, and times when it would be best to hit.

The Role of Pair Splitting

Pair splitting is a crucial strategy in blackjack; in fact, it could be considered an integral part of the beloved game. When players are dealt a pair of cards, they can split them into two hands. This can be quite a powerful move, allowing players to double their winnings or potentially minimize their losses.

When players are dealt a pair of 6s, their initial instinct is often to split them. Although this move might be appropriate in specific circumstances, it is necessary to recognize that this is not always the optimal play. Understanding all possible hands and their outcomes is fundamental to getting the most out of the game.

To determine whether splitting is the optimal strategy, consider the dealer’s upcard and your own two-card holding. Sometimes, splitting without careful consideration can lead to a more significant loss in the long run. While pair splitting can be a valuable tool in a player’s arsenal, it must be used sensibly.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Below are the benefits and drawbacks of pair splitting in blackjack to help you recognize the strengths and weaknesses of this strategy:

Understanding Pairs of 6s

Being dealt a pair of 6s can be a sticky position to be in while playing blackjack. Here is what you need to know to play this hand better:

• If you were to hit on a pair of 6s, four cards can appear that will make your hand exceed 21 and go bust. These cards are ten, Jack, Queen and King.
• You can calculate the probability of busting when hitting by analyzing the remaining cards in the deck. There are 52 cards in total and 16 cards that can make you go bust. You need to see how many of these cards are present on the table and decide quickly if the odds are in your favour.
• When you split a pair of 6s, you will receive one additional card for each hand. The ideal scenario will be to draw lower cards that will add up to less than 11. This way, you can't go bust with the next turn card and the odds of achieving a high total are high.

The Dealer’s Upcard Influence

The dealer’s upcard can significantly influence your decision. If the dealer’s upcard is a weak 4, 5, or 6, they are in a vulnerable position and more likely to bust later in the hand. In this situation, splitting your pair of 6s may be a good idea as it offers two opportunities to create stronger hands while the dealer is at a disadvantage. On the flip side, if they hold a strong card, they are more likely to score high, so splitting is more likely to result in you losing two hands of blackjack.

Common Misconceptions

Below are a few common myths related to splitting a pair of 6s in blackjack and why they’re incorrect:

Misconception: Splitting a pair of 6s is always the best move.

Reality: Although splitting can help the player’s case in certain situations, it is not always the best strategy and depends on the unique circumstances of the game.

Misconception: Assuming Splitting Guarantees Two Strong Hands.

Reality: Splitting 6s doesn't guarantee two strong hands, it merely provides an opportunity to improve your overall position against the dealer. You can't, however, predict what the future cards will be, therefore nothing is guaranteed.

When to Split a Pair of 6s

When playing blackjack, mathematically, it is only recommended to split a pair of 6s if the dealer has a weak upcard between 2 and 6. On the flip side, if the dealer’s upcard is 7 or higher, it is better to hit and improve your hand (you will only go bust if you are dealt a 10 or face card).

When deciding to split a pair of 6s, it is possible you could go bust with both hands when you receive more turn cards. It is also possible the dealer scores a high total, so this needs to be considered in the decision-making process.

Optimal Strategy Scenarios

Playing the optimal strategy in blackjack can help increase your odds of winning and make the most out of your blackjack hands. That said, as previously stated, the strategy you use may depend on the dealer’s upcard.

For example, if the dealer’s upcard is 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, it is usually recommended to hit on low hand values and double down or split on favourable hand values. On the other hand, if the dealer’s upcard happens to be 7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace, it is generally advisable to stand on hand values of 17 or above and double down or split on favourable hand values.

FAQs

Below are a few commonly asked questions related to playing a pair of 6s in blackjack.

What if I split a pair of 6s and receive another 6?

If you receive another 6 after splitting a pair of 6s, you can split again to create three individual hands. The score here, though, will come to 18, so standing is the optimal play in most scenarios.

Is pair splitting allowed in all variations of blackjack?

While pair splitting is allowed in most blackjack variations, it’s always best to read through the specific rules of the game you’re playing.

Learn about other blackjack strategies in our guides:

• Blackjack 1-3-2-6

• No Bust Blackjack

• Blackjack 2-1-2

• Blackjack Martingale

• When to Split in Blackjack

• When To Double in Blackjack

• Blackjack Card Counting

• Blackjack Basic Strategy