Blackjack is a game that requires a lot of preparation and dedication, but in the long term it pays off well. This is why so many players play the game regularly, hoping to get lucky and win. However, in order to achieve the desired result, they need much more than luck alone.
Knowledge, an appropriate strategy and money-management skills are just a few of the essentials for players whose top priority is to win. In order to be able to make the best move every time, they should familiarise themselves with all the possible outcomes a particular hand can have.
It is also crucial to understand the reasoning behind every move, as this will help them remember it more easily. There are so many possible card combinations, and if players cannot make any sense of the strategy they follow, it will be extremely hard to memorise everything.
Players are bound to get a pair of cards of the same rank, especially if the game is played with multiple decks. Therefore, it is essential for them to be aware of how to proceed in such cases. In this chapter, we will have a look at situations where they are dealt a pair of 9s as their first two cards. Having such a pair is as tricky as having a pair of 8s, as both hands put players in a breaking position.
In this chapter, we will have a look at the situations where players are dealt a pair of 9s as their first two cards. Having such a pair is as tricky as having a pair of 8s, as both hands put players in a breaking position. Nevertheless, a hard total of 18 with paired 9s is still better than holding a hard 16 with a pair of 8s.
When Players Should Split a Pair of 9s
Whenever players have a pair of 9s, there are occasions when it is best to split because a total of 18 can easily bust with just one additional card. Moreover, remember that holding 18 is inadequate against strong dealer upcards such as 10s or aces. This is because the average winning total in the game of 21 is not 18 but 18.5.
What’s great about having 9s is that the correct plays for this pair are easy to memorise because they remain the same across all conventional blackjack games, regardless of the rules or number of decks in use.
This does away with the necessity for strategy modifications when transitioning from one blackjack table to the next. With that in mind, you have only two viable decisions, which further simplifies things for you if you are a blackjack rookie. You should either split or stand on your 9s.
Splitting your 9s is a good move against weaker dealer upcards such as 2 through 6 and 8. The split enables players to start two brand-new hands with a solid total of 9 each when the dealer is in a bad position. In turn, this translates into higher gains in the long term because the dealer’s probability of busting with such upcards is greater.
Splitting a Pair of 9’s
Splitting a Pair of 10’s
Dealer’s Up Card
Basic Strategy Money Management
Running True Count
This calls for a more aggressive play through splitting, which enables you to wager more money against the weaker dealer. A split of the 9s is also recommended whenever the dealer starts with a slightly stronger upcard such as an 8. It is important to point out that both splitting and standing against an 8 ensure positive expected returns for the player over the long haul.
However, splitting is considered the better play for the simple reason that it yields greater long-term profits compared to standing on hard 18. As for the dealer starting with a more solid upcard such as a 9, both splitting and standing offer negative expectation. You will lose in the long run either way, but a split of the 9s is preferable because it causes you to lose less.
Another reason why splitting is the best move here is that by doing so, players put themselves in a very favourable position. They will compete against the dealer’s weak upcard with two decent hands, as their totals will be at least 9. Moreover, drawing one more card to each hand will always leave them with a total higher than the dealer’s upcard.
Players have the chance to win more money when the dealer is in a weak position, and these are the situations that deserve special attention as they are extremely beneficial.
When Players Should Avoid Splitting a Pair of 9s
As already mentioned, there are some cases in which it is best for players to avoid splitting. They should choose to stand when the dealer’s upcard is a 10, an ace or a 7. Splitting against a dealer’s 7 is rather risky. Players should refrain from choosing this move, as the odds are not in their favour.
In fact, 9s versus 7 is considered one of the trickiest hands in blackjack and, as such, it is frequently misplayed by novices. A hard 18 holds up reasonably well against a dealer’s 7, and so does starting two hands with a 9 each. However, standing is the recommended move because it earns you more money in the long run compared to splitting.
This is because the dealer stands a good chance of having a ten in the hole and is more likely to stand on 17 when starting with a 7. Thus, the player has a decent probability of beating the dealer by standing on their 18.
In other words, the possible outcomes of this situation, if players decide to stand, will always place them in a favourable position. In the worst-case scenario, they will push with the dealer, and the chances of winning the hand are also high enough. It does not matter what the dealer’s hole card is, as the dealer is unlikely to beat the players’ total.
As usual, players should take advantage of the option to resplit, if available, provided they catch one or more 9s following the initial split of the pair. For instance, you receive 9s versus a 5, split, and get another 9 on the first hand. You should resplit the second pair of 9s to make a third hand. Resplit as many times as you are allowed to, which is usually no more than four times in most casinos.
Important Considerations
Whatever strategy players choose to follow, they need to bear in mind that their choices should always be based on the dealer’s upcard. The move that must be avoided whenever players have a pair of 9s, regardless of the dealer’s upcard, is hitting. This is not a good occasion to experiment, as this pair leaves them with a total of 18 and surpassing 21 is almost certain.
If players decide to hit, the odds of going bust are 77%. Even though there are cards that can lead to an instant win, it is best not to risk it in this case. All players need to do is stick to the basic strategy and make their decisions accordingly. This move should not even cross players’ minds as a possible option in the first place. Hitting such a high total will most likely result in a loss.
| 9-9 Basic Strategy for Blackjack | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player’s Hand | Dealer’s Upcard | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Ace | |
| 9-9 | P | P | P | P | P | S | P | P | S | S |
Conclusion
Splitting a pair of 9s can be a very good move, but not in every situation. As already indicated, there are cases in which it is best to stand against the dealer’s upcard. Players should choose a reliable strategy that they trust and apply it throughout the game. It is really important to make sense of basic strategy because, in this way, they will be able to remember it better.
In order to make it work, players should apply it consistently and make sure they understand its patterns. At some point during the game, players will inevitably receive two cards of the same rank. Therefore, it is crucial to know how to proceed in such situations. The first thing that comes to mind for most people when they get a pair is to split it.
In some cases, this move works quite well, whereas in others it leads to losing both hands. Lacking the necessary knowledge can cost them dearly, as players can turn one winning hand into two losing ones. To minimise their potential losses, it is best to become familiar with the alternative moves for every hand.