Splitting 4's in Blackjack - Splitting Fours

When You Should Split Your Four's

Playing Blackjack, on line or in a casino, you will find yourself being dealt a pair of four's at some point in the game. A lot of players will suggest to split those four's, while some will advise against splitting the four's. It can be rather confusing to know exactly when it is a good idea to split them and when you should just hit the eight. I suggest following basic strategy to decide on when to split your four's. Basic strategy is based on odds and a card with a basic strategy chart can be often found in a casino's gift shop, or even on the Internet as well. The card is usually the size of a credit card and is well worth investing a few dollars in to, before playing blackjack.

Before following any advice you find in this article, it is best to know that these suggestions are based on the casino you are playing in, stays on all seventeens. Whenever a casino hits their soft seventeens, the strategy changes a little, so you should make sure you are using the correct strategy for the policies of the game you are playing.

The basic strategy card that I am following only suggests splitting a pair of four's in only two situations. It does not suggest splitting a pair of four's when you are facing the dealer's up card of a two, three or a four, basic strategy advises to hit on the eight, as opposed to splitting the pair in this scenario. When the dealer is showing an up card of a five or a six, the basic strategy card urges you to split your four's.

The ideal situation would be if you got a pair of four's against the dealer's up card of a five or a six, you split your four's, get a third four and hopefully you are playing at a table where multiple splitting is allowed, you split them again, and get a six or a seven on that four, double down on that ten or eleven and score a large ten valued card. Even if you catch an ace on your four, totaling a soft fifteen, it is still a good double down, because if the dealer breaks, all hands remaining on the table get paid, regardless of how close to twenty one you are, you could also double down if you snag a five on your four, a nine is not at all a bad hand to double down on.

It is also advised that you do not split your four's against any up card of a seven, eight, nine, ten valued card or ace, in those instances, it is best to simply hit your eight, not split.

Of course, always playing by the book will not ensure that you will win every time, and if you never follow the basic strategy, that does not mean you will always lose while playing blackjack, it is all based on odds and who knows when the odds will even out. You could just as easily lose a big bet while playing by the book and win on a small wagered hand when not following the odds. Hopefully, if you do play by basic strategy, you will do better than if you didn't.