A Pair of Aces vs Dealer 10: Always Split?
Split, under every common rule set.
Why split is right
Yes - even against a 10. Played as a hand, A,A is a soft 12: the worst soft total in the game. Split, each Ace becomes an 11-point head start with a roughly 31% chance of catching a ten for 21. The dealer's 10 doesn't change the math enough to matter; the gap between 'two hands starting at 11' and 'one hand of 12' is that large. Most casinos give you only one card per split Ace - you split anyway.
How the rules change the answer
This one is easy to memorize - the play doesn't change with the table rules.
| Table rules (6 decks) | Correct play |
|---|---|
| S17 · late surrender offered | Split |
| S17 · no surrender | Split |
| H17 · late surrender offered | Split |
| H17 · no surrender | Split |
Common questions
What is the correct play for a pair of aces against a dealer 10?
Split. In a standard 6-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17 and late surrender is offered, basic strategy says to split. This play holds under every common rule variation.
Does the dealer hitting soft 17 (H17) change the play for a pair of aces vs a dealer 10?
No. Split is correct whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17, and whether or not surrender is offered.
Reading charts doesn't build reflexes. Drill this exact decision until it's automatic - our trainer deals from a real 6-deck shoe and grades every move.
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