The Correct Plays for Blackjack Pairs

Pairs in blackjack is when your initial hand is composed of two same cards (e.g. two Aces or two Sevens). A player who applies basic blackjack strategy on pairs will be able to significantly reduce the house edge. We'll discuss how you can apply basic strategy on blackjack pairs.

Our first step to play pairs in blackjack is the same thing we do with other hands and that is to check our dealer's up card. After which, we compare that against our current hand. This should become some sort of a reflex to you while using any blackjack strategy.

Now let's check our blackjack pair and see the options available to us. The usual moves that apply to pairs are split and hit. In a blackjack pair, it is very rare that we will double down or stand.

Check your blackjack hand, if you have a pair of Aces you will always split no matter what appears as our dealer's up card. The same goes for a pair of Eights; you will always split that blackjack pair.

Now, if you have a pair of Two's check your dealer's up card first. If your dealer's up card is Two to Seven you need to split. If the up card is not in that range, then you need to hit. This rule also goes with two Threes in blackjack.

Now if you have a pair of Fours as a starting hand, remember the drill; check your dealer's up card. If it's a four or five remember to split. If it's not either of the two what you do is to hit.

Moving on, if you have a pair of Fives you will double if your blackjack dealer's up card is Two to Nine. If the up card isn't in that range, remember to hit.

Remember to split your pair of Sixes if you see your dealer's up card is within Two to Six. If not, then your other option is to hit.

For a pair of Sevens as your initial hand, if you see that your dealer's up card is from Two to Seven the right move is to split, if it's not then you ought to hit.

If you have a pair of Nines, your options are to split if the dealer's up card is within Two to Six, Eight, or a Nine. If the up card is a Seven, a Ten, or an Ace, the best option is to stand.

This is our basic strategy for blackjack pairs. This strategy works very well especially on tables which use four to eight decks. Remember that by applying this strategy on blackjack pairs you will be able to significantly reduce the house edge.

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