Pair · Dealer shows A
Pair of 8s vs a dealer ace
Basic strategySplit. Surrender instead only if the dealer hits soft 17 and surrender is offered.
Why
"Always split 8s" is nearly right. Holding them as 16 against an ace is a disaster; two hands starting at 8 lose much less.
The one exception is a hit-soft-17 game with late surrender. There, splitting 8s into an ace loses slightly more than half your original bet, so giving up half is better. Without surrender, or at stand-on-17 tables, split.
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 | −$54.21 | −$51.71 |
| Stand | −$59.87 | −$66.70 |
| Double (2× bet) | −$108.42 | −$103.43 |
| Split (2 hands) | −$52.69Best w/o surrender | −$39.41Best |
| Surrender (if offered) | −$50.00Best | −$50.00 |
Dealer hits soft 17: split beats hit by $1.53 per $100. Dealer stands on soft 17: split beats hit by $12.31 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 | Split |
| Dealer hits soft 17, surrender allowed Some higher-limit tables | Surrender |
| Dealer stands on soft 17, no surrender Felt says “stands on all 17s” | Split |
| Dealer stands on soft 17, surrender allowed Best common shoe game | Split |
The rules change this play. Read the felt before you sit down.
Common mistake
Hitting or standing on 16 because you don't want to put more money out against an ace. Splitting costs more money up front but loses less on average.
Going further
Splitting 8s against an ace looks better when the dealer stands on soft 17, because the dealer's soft 17s then lose to your 18s.
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
Should I take insurance first?
No. Decline insurance and split.
What if I get another 8?
Resplit if the table allows it. Most shoe games let you split up to four hands.