Blackjack Strategies

Splitting 6's

Again, you face some obvious decisions. If you have been dealt two 6's, you are in a breaking position. Plain and simple. There are possibilities of drawing a 10, Jack, Queen, or King, and breaking.
You don't want that, so you split up the 6's. Agreed, drawing to a 6 is not as nice as kissing Miss America but it's more cheerful than a broken leg.
I tell you to split 6's only when the dealer's up card is 2 through 6. He's in a breaking position, so you know he has to take a hit. Splitting 6's serves a double purpose: It allows you to avoid drawing to the breaking hand of twelve, and it further gives you the opportunity to double your bet against the dealer when he is weak.
If the dealer's up card is 7 through Ace, take a hit. By now, the reason for hitting should be obvious.

Basic Blackjack Strategy when you have two 6's

DEALER'S UP CARD	YOU SHOULD
2 6	SPLIT
7 Ace	HIT

Splitting 7's

When you are dealt two 7's, split when the dealer shows 2 through 7. The reason for splitting is to avoid hitting a breaking hand. Sound familiar? It should. I just finished driving that point home in the last chapter. But 7's, unlike 6's, should also be split when the dealer shows a 7.

Why? Well, as I've mentioned before, 7 is a fairly weak up card. If you separate your 7's and draw one card to each, hypothetically you have two hands which are individually no worse than his lone 7 with another card. On an average, you should tie him. Wouldn't you prefer this situation to hitting fourteen? Don't lose the advantage of having two improved hands with twice the money bet against the dealer's 7!

A final warning: Never, never split 7's when the dealer shows 8 through Ace.

Basic Blackjack Strategy when you have two 7's

DEALER'S UP CARD	YOU SHOULD
2 7	SPLIT
8 Ace	HIT