When should a split be offered to a player?

A split should be offered to a player when they have two Aces or two Eights. Splitting Aces gives the player an opportunity to create two strong hands, each starting with an Ace, which can lead to a higher chance of hitting a blackjack or a strong total. Similarly, splitting Eights is a common strategy because starting with a total of 16 (two Eights) is relatively weak, while splitting can result in two potentially stronger hands, improving the player's chances against the dealer.

Players are generally advised not to split other totals like 10s or face cards, as doing so could diminish the strong hand that the player already holds, which is typically a total of 20. Other hand totals mentioned, such as 15, are not ideal for splitting as they also represent a relatively weak position in the game. Thus, the strategy around when to split is specifically tailored to maximize the potential strength of the hands based on the cards dealt.