How to play a pair of 9s in blackjack

Of all the table games that have come and gone over the years, blackjack is one of the most enduring and popular. It’s an easy game to understand. The goal is to reach a hand total of 21, or as close to it as possible without going over. If you go over, you bust and lose the round. Blackjack can be as complicated as you want it to be, however, and some strategies go far beyond hitting or standing. In this article, we’ll look at what to do with a pair of 9s in blackjack and how to maximise your odds of winning along the way.

A pair of nines is a great starting hand as the total equals 18. An 18 can win many rounds, so your chances are fairly good for a victory. With that said, sometimes splitting can increase your odds and your potential winnings at the same time. Are you wondering how to play a pair of 9s in blackjack? LeoVegas is ready to share everything you need to know.

When should I split on a pair of nines?

You may be wondering, ‘Do I split a pair of 9s in blackjack?’ The answer is ‘Most likely, yes’. Note that this hand only allows players two viable options to win: standing or splitting. While an 18 is a strong hand, it is not a guaranteed win, and splitting is the only way to improve your odds. Under no circumstances should you hit, regardless of what you think the dealer or other players might have. Doing so will almost always bust your hand and lose you the game.

If the dealer has anything other than a 10 or an ace/face card, then split. Stand against those particular cards because splitting is a bit too risky.

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

As you will most likely be splitting your blackjack pair of 9s, you might want to double down after doing so to increase your potential profits. This is not a bad play, but remember that not all tables allow this. Some will allow you to double down after splitting (DAS), while others will not allow you to double down after splitting (NDAS). Taking some time and finding the right table for your strategic goals is one of our top blackjack 9s tips.

We offer a wide variety of live casino blackjack tables, both DAS and NDAS. Our Evolution and OnAir Entertainment games, for example, are NDAS. If you’re hoping to double down, it’s better to opt for one of our other tables, such as one from Playtech Games. The studio’s All Bets Blackjack title, in particular, might be a good choice for DAS tables.

With the right table, splitting can be hugely profitable because it gives you two opportunities to land 19 on the double down, which is a very strong hand.

Probabilities of success when hitting with a pair of nines

First and foremost, remember that splitting your hand doubles your stake. You should wait until you have the highest probability of success to do so in order to avoid wasting your funds. The good news is that splitting two nines is a great idea in certain situations because it turns your already strong hand into two even stronger hands with a high chance of making 19 or 20.

The best blackjack pair of 9s strategy is to split against a dealer two through six and nine. You can also consider splitting on an eight, but you have slightly better odds when standing. This is especially important when the dealer has a nine upcard because they might have a 19, which would beat your 18. Do not split against a 10 or an ace – stand instead.

Note here that in blackjack, splitting 9s is the premier option. Avoid hitting at all costs as you will almost certainly bust. As an alternative to splitting, standing is also an option, and 18 is a reasonably strong hand.

Blackjack Strategy: Splitting or Standing