Split has two main casino meanings. In blackjack, to split is to separate a pair into two hands by placing a second bet equal to the first; in roulette, a split is a single chip covering two neighbouring numbers, paying 17 to 1. Slots and pai gow poker borrow the word too, and each use is explained below.
A blackjack split doubles the money on the table: a £10 hand becomes two £10 hands.
Standard strategy always splits aces and 8s and never splits 5s or 10s.
Rules around splitting move the house edge: no splitting at all costs the player about 0.57%.
A roulette split wins 2 times in 37 on a single-zero wheel and pays 17 to 1, a 2.70% edge.
Blackjack split
Second equal bet; pair becomes two hands
Split aces
Usually one card each
Re-splitting
Often up to four hands
Roulette split pays
17 to 1
Roulette split chance
2 in 37 (5.41%), single zero
What split means in blackjack
When your first two cards in blackjack are a pair, such as 8-8, you may split them. You add a second stake equal to your first, the dealer separates the cards, and each one becomes the first card of a new hand that receives its own second card. You then play each hand in turn. Most tables also let you split any two 10-value cards, such as a jack and a king, although strategy says you should not.
Common rules, as described in standard game maths, are that split aces get just one card each, and that you may keep splitting new pairs up to four hands. Splitting a third or fourth time is called a re-split. An ace and a 10 dealt after splitting counts as 21, not a blackjack; our answer on splitting and getting blackjack explains the payout. This term is listed in our casino glossary.
Split strategy: which pairs to split
The Wizard of Odds basic strategy (opens in a new tab) for four to eight decks, dealer standing on soft 17, gives two fixed rules: always split aces and 8s, and never split 5s or 10s. Aces become two hands that each start at 11. A pair of 8s is hard 16, the weakest total in the game, so two hands starting at 8 are better. A pair of 5s is a strong 10 to double down on, and 10-10 is already 20.
The other pairs depend on the dealer’s card and on whether you may double after splitting. Our full guide to when to split in blackjack lays them out, and splitting aces and eights covers the two automatic splits in detail.
How splitting rules change blackjack odds
Tables differ on what splitting allows, and each restriction has a measurable price. The figures below come from the Wizard of Odds rule-variation table (opens in a new tab), measured against an eight-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17. A minus sign means worse for the player.
Effect of splitting rules on the player (eight-deck baseline)
Rule
Effect for the player
No splitting allowed at all
−0.57%
Aces may not be split
−0.18%
No doubling after a split
−0.14%
No re-splitting
−0.10%
Re-splitting aces allowed
+0.08%
European no hole card (doubles and splits)
−0.11% in total, 0.03% from splitting
The no-hole-card point needs care. In many European-style games the dealer takes a second card only after players finish, and if it makes blackjack you lose everything you put out, including the extra stake from a split. Split 8-8 for £10 each against a dealer 10 and you have £20 at risk rather than £10. Our page on doubling after splitting covers the related rule.
Evolution’s Free Bet Blackjack gives a free split on every pair except 10-value cards. It pays for that elsewhere: a dealer 22 pushes, and the game’s house edge under the standard rules analysed by Wizard of Odds for Free Bet Blackjack (opens in a new tab) is about 1.04%. See our Free Bet Blackjack guide.
Split bet in roulette
In roulette, a split is an inside bet placed on the line between two numbers that touch on the layout, such as 17 and 20 or 0 and 2. If either number lands, you are paid 17 to 1. On a single-zero wheel that happens 2 times in 37, or 5.41%; on a double-zero wheel, 2 times in 38 (5.26%).
The edge is the same as every other standard bet. Stake £10 on a split for 37 spins on average: it wins twice (+£340) and loses 35 times (−£350), a £10 loss on £370 staked, which is 2.70%. Our roulette split bet page shows every legal split on the layout.
Split in slots and pai gow poker
Other games that use the word split
Game
What split means
Example
Slots
A symbol divides into two, counting double on a payline or way
Nolimit City’s xSplit splits standard symbols on other reels
Pai gow poker
You divide seven cards into a five-card and a two-card hand
The five-card hand must outrank the two-card hand
Blackjack variants
Rules on splitting are relaxed or paid for
Free Bet Blackjack’s free split on pairs except 10s
Our guide to split symbols explains the slot mechanic, and the pai gow poker page covers how the house way decides an awkward split.
How to split a pair in online blackjack
Check you have a pair or two 10-value cards as your first two cards.
Look up the pair against the dealer’s up card on a strategy chart for your table’s rules.
Make sure your balance covers a second stake equal to the first.
Press Split; the game moves the second card to a new hand and deals a card to each.
Play the first hand to the end, then the second, following the chart for each total.
Splitting pairs and our partner offers
Our partners’ welcome offers are slot offers and are not designed for blackjack or roulette. For tables where you can split pairs or place split bets, browse each casino’s table and live game lobby, and read the bonus terms first, since table and live games are often excluded or count for less. 18+ and terms apply.
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18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does split mean in blackjack?
Split means dividing a starting pair into two separate hands by adding a second bet equal to your first. Each card gets a new second card and is played on its own. You can usually split any pair or two 10-value cards, and many tables let you re-split up to four hands. Split aces normally get one card each. Our blackjack how to play guide places splitting alongside the other options.
Should you always split aces and eights?
Yes, standard basic strategy for four to eight decks always splits aces and 8s, whatever the dealer shows. Two aces start two hands at 11 each, and a pair of 8s turns the weak hard 16 into two hands starting at 8. Splitting does put more money on the table, so it suits only a stake you are happy to double. See should you always split aces for the reasoning.
Why should you never split tens in blackjack?
You should not split tens because a pair of 10-value cards is already 20, one of the strongest totals in the game. Splitting swaps a likely winner for two hands that each start at 10 and must draw to improve, while doubling the money at risk. Standard strategy keeps 10s together against every dealer card. Our common blackjack mistakes page lists this among the costliest errors.
Can you split after splitting?
Often, yes: many tables allow re-splitting if another matching card arrives, usually up to four hands in total. Some restrict it, especially for aces, and not being allowed to re-split costs the player about 0.10% compared with tables that permit it. The rule is shown in the game’s help screen or on the felt. Our re-split entry explains how it works hand by hand.
What is a split bet in roulette?
A split bet in roulette is one chip placed on the line between two adjacent numbers, covering both. It pays 17 to 1 and wins 2 times in 37 on a single-zero wheel, giving the same 2.70% house edge as every other standard bet. You can split zero with 1, 2 or 3 on a European layout. Our inside bets guide compares splits with streets, corners and six lines.
Do you lose your split bet if the dealer has blackjack?
It depends on the dealing procedure. At tables where the dealer checks for blackjack before you act, you lose only your original bet, because you never get the chance to split. In no-hole-card games, common in Europe, a dealer blackjack takes the whole amount you put out, including the split stake. Our European blackjack page explains the no-hole-card rule.
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