splitting 10's at a blackjack table (2 Viewers)

[Ryan Peter]

With regard to a certain member's location information

Las Vegas....where if you split 10's on my blackjack table, I'll smack you!

I'm curious to know what is wrong with splitting 10s! I thought that was good strategy, just like doubling down on a 11 (you always double down on 11, "how can you say that I lost!" sorry swingers reference) BTW, I would probably get smacked by said member/blackjack dealer, I'm a frugal player and get out quickly if I'm ahead.

 

[Scott Weinberg]

I love blackjack.
While it may seem smart to split tens, what you're basically doing it breaking up a winning hand. I'd take a 20 over two maybes anyday. Save those splits for when you have 2 eights!

 

[Anthony Moore]

I'd take a 20 over two maybes anyday

I whole-heartedly agree.

 

[Anthony_J]

...unless you happen to know that two aces are sitting right on top.

 

[ikiru]

The only time where i would split 10s (if I was feeling really lucky) is when the cards are fresh and the dealer is showing a 6. Mostly, I stick by the saying "never split a winning hand".

As for double downing elevens, I never double down when the dealer has an 8 or greater showing.

-ikiru

 

[Gary Hensley]

Splitting ten's is a major no-no. Why ruin a winning hand? Your better off learning when to split and when to double down. Most gamblers in Vegas will leave a table if they see someone playing that way. Of course it is in your right to do so but not very wise.

 

[Rain]

Guys, that's why it's called gambling.
I often split 10s, assuming the dealer is showing a breaking card.
Fortunately Blackjack works a bit differently up here, as the dealer has no "hold" card, so if you're playing the anchor spot, whatever you don't take the dealer gets...it makes for some interesting possibilities.

 

[Evan S]

I agree with Rain. I usually split 10's when the dealer is showing a 5 or 6. Without doubling down on 11's and splitting 10's in that situation, it's very hard to gain actual winnings. If the dealer is showing a 9 or better, I stick to my guns, but if he's showing a 5 or 6, I'm going for it....and in my experience it's paid off (knock on wood).

 

[KyleS]

Splitting 10's is not a good idea at all. It may be called gambling but the less gambling you can do the better off you will be in the long run. Take an almost absolute win or at least a tie vs a possible 2 losses.

Now on doubling down 11's you should always do it. The odds say you will pull 21 just below 31% of the time.

KyleS

 

[Ryan Peter]

1 for bad, 2 for good.

 

[Rain]

I know that some people like to play Blackjack with a certain system. Personally, I find that boring.
When gambling, I'm there for fun, not with any ridiculous notion of making money. Playing Blackjack like a robot is not very much fun for me.

 

[Jed M]

Do what you like. I like to keep a winning hand together, but if I've been drinking or I'm on a hot streak, I'll split tens. Its more fun that way. Also, its better if you are sitting with friends or at a low price table. I wouldn't go up to the 1K minimum tables and start splitting tens, you would not be very popular. Most people on the five to ten dollar tables make a lot worse decisions than splitting tens so I think it is really a personal preference on how much gamble you like in your gambling.

 

[Gui A]

Rain, man, didn't you get the reference to Rain Man?
Dustin Hoffman... Definitely. Definitely Dustin Hoffman.
K, maybe you did... and just replying to another post...

 

[GordonL]

You definitely don't split 10s when the dealer is showing 7 or better. With a fresh deck, you're probably ok splitting, but you still might piss off the other players. With a dealer showing 2-6 and a not-so-fresh deck, don't split unless you've been counting cards. Statistically it's against you. Any book on playing BJ will tell you what the odds are for any card combination if you're really curious.

 

[Howard Williams]

Basic card strategy is the foundation for winning at Black Jack. If you don't constantly play the hands correctly you minimize your chances for beating the house edge. Although the basic strategies are almost identical for most card combinations, there are small variations based upon the house rules and the number of decks used. Playing "like a robot" is essential to long term success.

I can understand playing just to past the time but most people are there playing to win some money. They like to play with other players with the same goal.

In Las Vegas, no matter what the house rules are, splitting 10's is never the right play. Period, unless (like someone suggested) you know the next two cards are 10's or aces. In that case you're either Psychic or cheating. In either case you're not gonna be playing there for long and in one case you're really begging for trouble.

Las Vegas....where if you split 10's on my blackjack table, I'll smack

One huge misconception about Black Jack is "one of the other players bad decisions made me lose". Over the long run that other player helps you just as much as they hurt you. You only remember the times when he hurt you though. Then you want to smack em, but do you ever consider tipping them when their dumb decision helps you win? Probably not.

 

[Joel Mack]

Never split Tens or Fives
Always split Aces and Eights
Double down on 10 if the dealer is showing 9 or less
Double down on 11 if the dealer is showing 10 or less
Just a few of the tips that have (so far) left me an overall winner on the blackjack tables...

 

[Ryan Peter]

Say, where is said Blackjack dealer? I thought he'd be in here smacking me by now.
OK Questions... After a trip to a fancy casino (starts with a B, was recently robbed in a movie starting George Clooney, JohnS -- don't you work there?) the $300 minimum table played a 1 deck shoe. Their $10 tables used multi deck shoes. Why is that? Doesn't the house stand to lose more playing a countable deck on a high rollers table?
Another thing that bugged me was at Treasure Island they had a lack of tables open. They changed a $5 table (toldja I was cheap ) to a $10 table while I was playing. I didn't feel like going $10 a hand so I took off, although I returned later and walked away with $20 pretty quickly.
Now where I live in Minnesota, I went to Mystic Lake Casino and they had a lot of open tables with low ($5) minimums and one deck shoes.
I'm just bitching like I said I play small and walk away in a hurry if I'm winning or losing. Not a big gambler. I think it's because I lost like $90 playing on the Internet one time and I'm now adversely conditioned to not enjoy it that much.
JohnS, can you share any interesting stories or strategies with us? I picture you like the BJ dealer on Swingers at the $100 table and the guy can't decide whether to double down on 11 and the deal is standing there shooting daggers at these guys with his look. Just kidding! Does that happen often, people who can't decide whether to double down on 11 or end up at the wrong table?

 

[KyleS]

Doesn't the house stand to lose more playing a countable deck on a high rollers table?

Ryan,
If you are good enough to count the deck then the casino will give you some latitude on winning. (So few people can do this it isnt funny). If you take them night after night they can actually ask you to leave. Sure some people say they can count but usually use a + or - system not actually counting the cards. Remember say they are playing with a 1 or 2 deck hand shuffle they still bury about 1/2 of whatever you are seeing so how are you counting the last half?
It really evens out whether you are playing single deck or 6 decks. Sure some of the strategies may change a little but its still the same basic game.
As stated above you have to play like a robot in blackjack to Win on a regular basis. You can still have fun playing like a robot you just need to get the other people at the table into the game. I dont believe that I have ever met someone who enjoyed playing Blackjack when they just lost their ASS.
KyleS

 

[Denward]

All card counters (except perhaps idiot savants like Dustin Hoffman) use a +/- system. I knew someone who did this for real money for a while and he said it was very stressful. You memorize charts that tell you how much to bet based on number of decks and the count. Then you also memorize what actions to take based on number of decks, the count, your hand, and the dealer's card. Then you need to do something stupid every once a while to try and convince the casinos you're not counting. Having multiple decks helps nullify the card counter's strategy because they will only play about half the cards before reshuffling. This way the remaining cards stay closer to neutral.

 

[Jon_Are]

Most gamblers in Vegas will leave a table if they see someone playing that way.

Anyone who factors the skill or decision-making of the other players at the table into their own decision-making does not understand the laws (yes, laws) of probability and is certainly not a serious gambler.
Howard's post is right on the money. Tens should never be split. This is in line with the basic blackjack strategy, on which virtually all the experts agree.
As for playing like a robot...call it what you like, but if my chances of winning are greater by following the basic strategy - and they are - then you can just call me Mr. Roboto.
Jon,
thinking that if it's fun blackjack you're after...what's more fun than winning?