How to play a pair of 7s in blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular table games in history. You most likely already know the basics: the goal is to have a hand worth 21 or as close as you can without going over – anything above 21, and you go bust. However, many people don’t know that blackjack rewards player efforts quite a bit. There are myriad strategies to help increase your chances of winning, and that’s true of most pairs in the game. In this article, we’ll explore what to do with a pair of 7s in blackjack.

If you’re wondering how to play a pair of 7s in blackjack, in other words, you’ve come to the right place. Starting the round with a pair of sevens is a difficult hand to handle. This is because if you hit, you’ll likely go bust. If you stand, you’ll likely lose. Sometimes your best option is to split, but not always. Let’s go over some of the basics you need to know to handle a pair of sevens in the game.

When should I split on a pair of sevens?

You may be wondering, ‘Do I split a pair of 7s in blackjack?’ The answer here is, ‘It depends’. In some instances, you should absolutely split, while in others, hitting is the best option. More specifically, when the dealer’s upcard is a two through seven, consider splitting. On any other card, including all face cards, hit. Your chances of winning aren’t great at that point because you could easily go bust, but your odds of winning against these upcards are better if you hit.

Note here that in general, your two main options are hitting and splitting. If you take one piece of information away from our blackjack 7s tips, let it be this – standing will very likely lose you the round.

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

In blackjack, splitting 7s can be hugely profitable depending on the dealer’s upcard. In general, you should split against an upcard of two through six. You can also split against a dealer seven as long as you can double down after splitting (DAS). Unfortunately, not all tables allow this.

Games of blackjack are typically categorised into two main groups: tables that allow DAS and tables that do not allow doubling down after splitting (NDAS). If you have the option, choosing a table that allows DAS is likely your best shot with a wide variety of hands, including a pair of sevens.

At LeoVegas, we offer a wide variety of live casino blackjack games through a range of hosts. Games by Evolution and OnAir Entertainment are always well run, but they do not allow DAS. Playtech Games such as All Bets Blackjack, on the other hand, do.

Do a bit of research into the games we have to offer before picking a lobby and playing your favourite table game.

Probabilities of success when hitting with a pair of sevens

Starting your hand with a blackjack pair of 7s is difficult because you’ll likely bust if you hit and lose if you stand. It’s not the easiest hand to play. What is the best blackjack pair of 7s strategy? While two sevens isn’t the strongest start to a hand, there are a few things you should know to make the experience a bit less painful. With a bit of luck, you can still salvage the round.

First, splitting is likely your best option. Breaking down the 14 total into two sevens gives you a better chance of improving your hand without going bust. If the dealer has a two through seven upcard, split the pair. This is especially true if the dealer has a five or six, which gives you the highest winning chance (42%) because they are more likely to bust.

In most other scenarios, you should hit. You’re at a significant risk of busting, but it’s still the better alternative to splitting. Hit against a dealer eight through ace and face cards.

Blackjack Strategy: Splitting vs. Hitting