One of the most debatable moves in the world of blackjack involves what to do when you have two 10s at the start of a hand. Naturally, you have to option to split them. This will give you two separate hands that are worth the same total.
This could look like a move that may possibly give you a better payout if used right. However, the truth is that you should avoid splitting tens.
The Original Value
The key part of avoiding splitting tens is that getting a 20 on your initial hand is a strong point that can add to your chances of winning. It is mathematically easier for you to win when you have a 20 at the start regardless of what your dealer has showing.
Sure, there is a chance for the dealer to win with a 21, but plenty of added things have to happen with some cases involving the dealer having to get several cards in one hand just to actually reach 21. This is always a challenge that does not necessarily work.
Never Assume
The most important thing about avoiding a move to split the tens is that you should never assume that you are going to get some added tens or even aces after you split those cards. The fact is that the rule of percentages suggests that you’re more likely to get something else when you do this. This is due to the ten cards being in the minority when it comes to whatever can show up in the game.
You have to avoid assuming that there’s going to be another ten on the hands that you might get. This is often a point that causes many players to end up losing because they often think that by getting their tens split the right way, they will actually win a little something more. There’s never a real guarantee that a player will win big when this is used in such a way.
What About the Dealer’s Card?
It is especially a bad idea to split tens when the dealer has a low-value card at the start, particularly a 5 or 6. This is a sign that the dealer has a better chance of going bust.
The problem with this is that there is a good chance your 20 might turn into two unfavorable hands like a 13 and a 14. This means that you might still be at risk of losing big time as you could end up going bust while trying to get either of these to be 17 or greater in value. Besides, a 21 that comes out of a split, in the event that you do actually get one, is only going to be worth 21 and not as a blackjack that pays more.
Remember that splitting tens in blackjack is not necessarily as great of a move as you might think it could be. Splitting tens is only going to put you at more of a risk of losing, especially when it comes to how there’s no real guarantee that you will split off a strong hand and get two better ones off of it.
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