Hard Hands and Totals-Strategy for Doubling Down

Splitting Pairs

All American casinos give you the option of splitting any pairs and include all 10-value cards as pairs. Thus a jack and king are pairs for splitting purposes. When a pair of aces is split, practically every casino will allow only one additional card to be dealt to each ace. The exceptions are few, such as the Horseshoe Club in Las Vegas, where aces may be respite, but when any other card is dealt to an ace, you must use only that card to form your hand.

When cards other than aces are split, you may use the split card as an original hand and draw as many cards as you wish to the split card to form your best hand.

In practically all American casinos, with the exception of the Atlantic City clubs, if a pair is split and another, identical card is dealt to a single split card, that card may be split as well. For example, if 8s are split and you receive another 8 immediately, that 8 could be split as well.

The general rule to follow is this: If the split is originally favorable to you and an identical card is then dealt, that card should be split also.

Some casinos, such as Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand in Vegas and in Reno, and the Atlantic City clubs, allow players to double down after they've split an original pair. This is a big advantage for the player and should always be done when allowed. For instance, if you receive a pair of 9s, split them, and get a 2 on the first 9, you could double down if you wis hed to. Since an 11 should always be doubled down, no matter what upcard the dealer has, this is the proper play.

certain circumstances

atlantic City clubs

especially when losing