Blackjack Split – Not A Must Blackjack Split is a move that becomes available to players when the initial two cards dealt happen to be of the same rank. Under these circumstances the original dealt hand can be split into two as shown in the image above. It requires the placing of an additional equal bet, thereby doubling the staked amount. Players that are not aware of the optimum blackjack strategy tend to split hands whenever the occasion presents itself. You must split certain hands to gain maximum advantage and if you split the other hands, you will endanger not only the initial stake but the additional one as well. I will discuss blackjack split strategy in a later blog. Here I want to highlight a rule that has insidiously crept in some blackjack games, mostly at online casinos. Split is available only if the initial cards are of the same rank. Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings all have 10 pints, but are not of the same rank. So, in normal blackjack game...