When a player is dealt two cards of the same rank (for example, two 8s), they have the option to split them. This action requires the player to place an additional bet equal to their original wager. Once split, each card is treated as the starting card for a new hand. The player will then continue to play both hands separately, drawing additional cards to each hand as per the usual rules of Blackjack. If the player splits aces, they are typically only allowed to draw one card on each hand. Splitting can increase a player’s chances of winning by allowing them to play two potentially strong hands instead of one.
Split Example
For example, A player is dealt two 7s. They decide to split the cards, placing a second bet equal to their original wager. Now, they have two hands, each starting with a 7. The player draws a 4 on the first hand and a 10 on the second hand, resulting in a total of 11 for the first hand and 17 for the second hand. They can then choose to hit or stand on each hand separately.