Did some research on this, and:
Yes, you should always split a pair of 8s in blackjack, regardless of the dealer’s upcard.
Mathematical Rationale
Your starting hand: Two 8s give you a hard total of 16. This is the worst possible starting hand in blackjack.
- If you hit, you have a very high chance of busting. Any card from a 6 to a King (10) will cause you to bust.
-If you stand on 16, you’re hoping the dealer busts. While this can happen, you are a significant underdog to win the hand. The dealer is likely to make a hand of 17 or higher, and since you have 16, you will lose.
When you split: By splitting the pair of 8s, you create two new hands, each with a starting value of 8.
- Your goal is to get a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King) on each 8. This would give you two hands of 18, which are strong hands to win with.
Even if you don’t get a 10, you are still in a much better position than you were with a hand of 16. You have two chances to make a good hand rather than one chance to get a bust card.
Why It’s a “Golden Rule”
Splitting 8s is the mathematically correct play in every situation. While it might feel scary to double your wager on what feels like a weak position, it minimizes your losses in the long run.
Against a dealer’s strong upcard (like a 10 or an Ace): You are a massive underdog with 16. Splitting the 8s turns a terrible situation into two salvageable ones. You’re still not favored to win both hands, but you are more likely to win at least one or push on one, minimizing your overall loss.
Against a dealer’s weak upcard (like a 5 or 6): The dealer is very likely to bust. You might be tempted to stand on 16 to hope for the dealer to bust. However, splitting the 8s and getting two decent hands (like 18) puts you in a position to beat the dealer even if they don’t bust.
