How to play a pair of 8s in blackjack

Blackjack is a table game that’s known throughout the world. Blackjack has been around for centuries, and the aim is to reach a hand of 21, or as close to it as possible without going over. If your hand totals more than 21, you go bust and lose the game. While this is simple on the surface, there are many strategies you can employ to reduce the house edge and improve your chances of winning. In this article, we’ll look at how to play a pair of 8s in blackjack to maximise your potential profits.

A pair of eights in blackjack is one of the worst starting hands in the game. A hand total of 16 is too high to hit and too low to stand. In most instances, players will want to split their hand into two eights. One of our top blackjack 8s tips is to split regardless of the dealer’s upcard. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect when you’re dealt two eights and how to salvage your hand in the process.

When should I split on a pair of eights?

You may be wondering, ‘Do I split a pair of 8s in blackjack?’ The LeoVegas team says ‘Yes, you do’. In blackjack, splitting 8s is the only recommended play. It doesn’t offer great odds of winning, but it always offers better odds than hitting or standing. This includes when the dealer has an upcard of a two through seven, when splitting is advised for most other pairs in the game, as well as from eight through ace and all face cards.

Can I split and then double down with a pair of eights?

There are two kinds of tables in blackjack. Some of them allow you to double down after splitting (DAS), and some of them do not allow you to double down after splitting (NDAS). With most pairs, you should consider splitting only when you can double down afterwards. A blackjack pair of 8s, however, should be split regardless. This means that even if you find an NDAS table, your options for a blackjack pair of 8s are the same. Most players split their eights simply to get rid of their 16 starting hand, regardless of the dealer’s upcard.

With that said, you can still opt for a DAS table if you want to maximise your potential profits. At LeoVegas, we have a wide variety of live casino blackjack games from all manner of providers. Some of them, such as Playtech Games’ All Bets Blackjack, allow you to double down after splitting. Others, namely Evolution and OnAir Entertainment games, do not.

Probabilities of success when hitting with a pair of eights

Now that we’ve discussed what to do with a pair of 8s in blackjack, let’s sum up everything we’ve learned.

First, a 16 is a terrible hand in blackjack. With most pairs in the table game, you have the option of hitting, splitting or standing. With a pair of eights, you don’t have that luxury. On the contrary, there is only one option here: splitting. Why can’t you stand or hit? The answer is pretty simple. If you stand, you’ll lose. If you hit, you’ll likely lose. That’s because anything above a five will bust your hand. However, a 16 is too low to stand on in the vast majority of games. Splitting is even more important against a dealer upcard of nine, 10 and ace. It gives you two chances to make 18, which is your best bet to win.

This might not be the blackjack pair of 8s strategy you want to see, but unfortunately, it is the only option. 16 is a difficult hand to play for even experienced players, and your best shot at winning is splitting. Splitting against a six gives you the highest odds of winning (33%).

Blackjack Strategy: Always Split Scenario