Pair · Dealer shows 6
Pair of 10s vs a dealer 6
Basic strategyStand. Never split 10s at a normal table.
Why
Twenty is the second-best hand in the game, and against a 6 it wins nearly four hands out of five. Splitting gives up that hand for two hands starting at 10, which win less often on average.
The numbers aren't close: standing earns about $11 more per $100 bet than splitting.
By the numbers
Average result per $100 initial bet, after the dealer checks for blackjack. A negative number is an average loss; the best play is the one that loses least or wins most.
| Play | Dealer hits soft 17 | Dealer stands on soft 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Hit | −$85.43 | −$85.36 |
| Stand | +$67.82Best | +$70.40Best |
| Double (2× bet) | −$170.86 | −$170.73 |
| Split (2 hands) | +$56.50 | +$57.56 |
| Surrender (if offered) | −$50.00 | −$50.00 |
Dealer hits soft 17: stand beats split by $11.33 per $100. Dealer stands on soft 17: stand beats split by $12.84 per $100.
Infinite-deck model, which tracks a 6–8 deck shoe closely. Double after split allowed, no resplits. How we calculate.
How the table rules change it
| Table rules (4–8 decks, double after split unless noted) | Play |
|---|---|
| Dealer hits soft 17, no surrender Most Florida and Las Vegas tables | Stand |
| Dealer hits soft 17, surrender allowed Some higher-limit tables | Stand |
| Dealer stands on soft 17, no surrender Felt says “stands on all 17s” | Stand |
| Dealer stands on soft 17, surrender allowed Best common shoe game | Stand |
The answer is the same under every common rule set.
Common mistake
Splitting because "the dealer is about to bust." The dealer busts the same amount whether you hold 20 or two 10s, and your 20 wins most of the hands where they don't bust.
Going further
Hi-Lo counters split 10s vs 6 at a true count of +4 and vs 5 at +5. At the table, this is the play that flags a counter to the pit fastest.
Drill it
This hand first, then the spots people mix it up with. The switches match your table’s rules and carry over to the full trainer.
Questions
Is it ever right to split face cards?
Only for card counters at high counts. For everyone else, stand on 20.
What about splitting a 10 and a king?
Same thing: any two 10-value cards are a 20. Stand.