Strategy Chart: No Double After Split

Some tables let you split a pair but not double down on the hands you split. That rule matters most for small pairs: splitting 2s, 3s, 4s or 6s often only pays because a split hand can turn into 10 or 11 and be doubled.

Rules this chart is for

Decks
4 to 8
Soft 17
Dealer stands (S17)
Double down
Any first two cards
Double after split
Not allowed
Surrender
Late surrender, where offered
Dealer peeks for blackjack
Yes
Open the calculator with these rules

The chart

Find your hand on the left and the dealer's upcard along the top. If you hold a pair, use the pairs table first. If you hold an ace that counts as 11, use soft totals. Everything else is a hard total.

Hard totals
Your total2345678910A
5-8HHHHHHHHHH
9HDDDDHHHHH
10DDDDDDDDHH
11DDDDDDDDDH
12HHSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHRhH
16SSSSSHHRhRhRh
17-21SSSSSSSSSS
Soft totals
Your hand2345678910A
A,2HHHDDHHHHH
A,3HHHDDHHHHH
A,4HHDDDHHHHH
A,5HHDDDHHHHH
A,6HDDDDHHHHH
A,7SDsDsDsDsSSHHH
A,8SSSSSSSSSS
A,9SSSSSSSSSS
Pairs
Your pair2345678910A
A,APPPPPPPPPP
10,10SSSSSSSSSS
9,9PPPPPSPPSS
8,8PPPPPPPPPP
7,7PPPPPPHHHH
6,6HPPPPHHHHH
5,5DDDDDDDDHH
4,4HHHHHHHHHH
3,3HHPPPPHHHH
2,2HHPPPPHHHH

Legend

  • HHit
  • SStand
  • DDouble if allowed, otherwise hit
  • DsDouble if allowed, otherwise stand
  • PSplit
  • RhSurrender if allowed, otherwise hit
  • RsSurrender if allowed, otherwise stand
  • RpSurrender if allowed, otherwise split

See what these plays are worth: when to split, when to double down and the dealer bust odds behind them.

What changes without double after split

  • Hit 2,2 and 3,3 against a 2 or 3 instead of splitting.
  • Hit 4,4 against a 5 or 6 instead of splitting.
  • Hit 6,6 against a 2 instead of splitting.

Every other pair is played the same as with double after split: always split aces and 8s, never split 5s or 10s.

This chart assumes the dealer stands on soft 17. If the dealer hits soft 17, also apply the changes on the dealer hits soft 17 chart.

This chart is generated by the same strategy engine as the calculator on this site, which is tested cell by cell against a reference chart for these rules.

Strategy charts by table rules

Dealer Hits Soft 174 to 8 decks, dealer hits soft 17Dealer Stands on Soft 174 to 8 decks, dealer stands on all 17sEuropean No Hole CardThe dealer takes no hole card

The numbers behind the charts

When to SplitWhat splitting every pair is worth against each upcardWhen to Double DownWhat doubling hard 8 to 11 and soft hands is worthDealer Bust OddsHow often the dealer busts or finishes on 17 to 21House Edge by RulesWhat each table rule costs or saves you

Back to the Strategy Guide·Open the calculator