Blackjack is a game of strategy and chance, and players have to make decisions on every hand. One of the most important cards in the deck is the ace, which has two different values and can make the process of reaching 21 much easier. This card is also important because it can form a “blackjack” hand, which pays out 3:2 or 6:5 and is much higher than the standard payout for other hands. However, it’s important to understand how to play a pair of aces in blackjack in order to maximize your chances of winning.
In general, the best way to play a pair of aces is to split them and play both hands individually. This is true across most blackjack variations that use dealer hole cards and does not change based on the number of decks or the dealer rules. It is the only correct decision based on basic strategy for this particular hand, and it should always be done when dealt with a pair of aces.
The reason for this is simple: a pair of aces has the potential to form either a blackjack or a soft hand. A blackjack is worth 21 points and has a high payout of 3:2 or 6:5, which is significantly higher than the standard payout for other hands. A soft hand, on the other hand, is made up of a combination of cards that add up to less than 21 and has a lower payout of 1:1. This type of hand can be very difficult to beat, especially when the dealer has an ace showing.
Considering these two options, it makes sense to split the aces in most cases. In fact, this is the most common recommendation by blackjack experts and is generally considered the best move if you have a pair of aces. However, there are some circumstances when splitting aces is not advised.
Some gambling authors suggest that a player should not split a pair of aces when the dealer has a high upcard like 9 through ace. They argue that splitting aces against these cards puts the player at a disadvantage because it forces them to draw small cards which could bust them.
This is a very controversial argument and has many supporters and opponents. Some of the biggest proponents of this theory are those who specialize in card counting. They claim that the odds of forming a blackjack with a pair of aces is very low and that splitting them would give you better odds in the long run.
However, it is important to remember that the aces are still very valuable even after they’re split. This is because they can count as 1 or 11 and are therefore very powerful in a pair. Therefore, if you have a pair of ace cards and you get a 10, it’s recommended that you split them and play the cards separately. This will increase your odds of forming a blackjack and will also improve the payoffs on any side bets you place.