The game starts with everyone besides the dealer placing a bet. If your hand totals higher than 21, it is called a “bust”, which means you are out of the game. The goal of Blackjack is to have a hand that totals higher than the dealer’s, but doesn’t total to higher than 21. X Research source This rule varies by casino, though, so double-check with your dealer before you try this maneuver. If you end up getting a point total of 21 on one of your hands, this isn’t considered a Blackjack (in terms of payout), but it still pushes if the dealer gets a Blackjack. Even if one hand busts, you still continue playing with your other hand. Think of splitting as just giving yourself an extra turn for the round-each hand is separate from the other. Place the same number of chips down for your split bet, and then ask for the dealer to “hit” each of your hands. SplittingIf your second card is identical to your first (e.g., two 8 cards), you have the option to “split” your hand into 2 separate ones.