Pair strategy
Why you should always split Aces in blackjack
Splitting Aces turns one cramped hand into two starting hands with the strongest first card in the game.
Key idea
Two Aces are worth more as two hands than as soft 12.
3 min
One Ace is powerful, two Aces together are awkward
A single Ace can count as 11 without busting, so it gives a hand flexibility. But A,A together is only soft 12: a hand that looks special, yet does not win much on its own.
When you split the pair, each new hand starts with an Ace. That gives you two chances to make 21, 20, 19 or another strong total with just one extra card.
The math favours creating two premium starts
Keeping A,A forces you to play a weak total. Splitting creates two hands that each begin with the best card in blackjack.
Even when split Aces receive only one card, the average result is still better than treating the pair as a single soft 12. That is why basic strategy splits Aces against every dealer upcard.
What to remember at the table
Do not think of A,A as twelve points. Think of it as two separate opportunities to build a premium hand.
Under the rules used in this trainer, split Aces get one card each and then stop, but splitting remains the best play.