If you master blackjack and play the game strategically, it can be one of the most rewarding casino table games. Plus, you can even turn the odds in your favour.
To become a blackjack aficionado, one of your first steps is to learn and understand the blackjack card values. But don’t worry, they’re quick to learn. Let’s start with our simple guide to the value of cards in blackjack
Card Values in Blackjack
What are cards worth in blackjack? It’s simple, and you only need to learn it once. Whilst there are different versions of blackjack, they nearly all use a conventional 52-card deck. The cards are assigned the following values:
PLAYING CARD | VALUE IN BLACKJACK |
Ace | 1 or 11 |
2 | 2 |
3 | 3 |
4 | 4 |
5 | 5 |
6 | 6 |
7 | 7 |
8 | 8 |
9 | 9 |
10 | 10 |
Jack | 10 |
Queen | 10 |
King | 10 |
What are the Point Value of Blackjack Cards?
Blackjack card values are consistent across the different variants of blackjack:
Spot Card Blackjack Values
The spot cards, numbered 2 to 10, are worth their normal value in blackjack. For example, a 1 card is worth 1, an 8 card is worth 8, etc.
Face Card Blackjack Values
The face/royal/court cards, Kings, Queens, and Jacks, are all worth 10 points in blackjack.
Ace Blackjack Value
An Ace can count as either 1 or 11 in blackjack. Usually, they count as 11. The exception to this is when an Ace would make your hand exceed 21, when it reverts instead to a value of 1.
Do Card Suits Have a Value in Blackjack?
No. Card suits have no function in blackjack. It doesn’t matter if you have a King of Clubs or King of Hearts, they’re both simply worth 10 points.
Hand Totals in Blackjack
The total of a hand of cards in blackjack is the sum of the values of each card in your hand. For instance:
3 + 7 = 10
Jack + 9 = 19
4 + King + 7 = 21
Ace + 5 = 16
Ace + King = 21
Ace + 7 + King = 18
What is a Soft Hand in Blackjack?
A soft hand in blackjack is one that contains an Ace that can be currently valued as either 11 or 1. It’s called a soft hand, as in that moment the hand is capable of having different values.
For example, if you had a hand of Ace + 7 that hand could be counted as a soft 18 . This is because it can count as 18, but also as 8 depending on which cards are drawn next.
What is a Hard Hand in Blackjack?
A hard hand in blackjack is one that either has no Ace in it or that has an Ace that has to be counted as one. It’s called a hard hand, as that hand can only have one value.
For instance, a hand of: King + 5 + Ace . The Ace would have to be counted as one (giving a hand value of 16). If it was counted at 11, the hand would be valued at 26, which is over 21 and a bust.
What is a Blackjack Hand?
You have a blackjack hand when the first two cards you’re dealt total 21 – a winning hand – without any further actions needing to be taken.
Blackjack hands can be:
Ace + 10
Ace + Jack
Ace + Queen
Ace + King
The Dealer’s Hand
Blackjack is played against the dealer, with your aim to get a hand of cards closer to 21 than the dealer, without your hand going over 21.
At the start of a round of blackjack, the dealer will hand you two face-up cards. They’ll deal themselves one face-up card (called the up-card) and one card face-down (called the hole card). This is called the dealer’s hand .
Whilst you’ll be able to see your hand’s total value at all times, the dealer’s hand won’t be revealed until every player at the table has finished taking actions (like holding, hitting, and splitting).
Once every other player has finished, the dealer will then reveal their hole card. If the value of the dealer’s hand is 17 or higher, they’ll automatically stand. If the hand is worth 16 or lower, they’ll add another card.
What is a Bust Card?
A bust card is a rather controversial topic in gambling circles.
Typically, a bust card is when a dealer deals themselves a 6 as their face-up card. It’s called a bust card, as in many situations the dealer is more likely to go bust with this hand than not.
However, whether or not this is really the case will depend on how many decks are used at that table (usually 6 or 8 decks). And you aren’t always guaranteed to win if the dealer has a 6, as the outcome will also depend on the cards you’re dealt.
What is the House Edge in Blackjack?
The House Edge is the mathematical advantage that the house (the casino) has over the player in any given game. For instance, with any bet made in a casino it’s more likely the house will win than the player.
In blackjack, the dealer is more likely to win on average than the players because of the “double-bust” rule. The players must take their actions before the dealer, and if they go bust, they lose their hand. The dealer may have a bad hand, but that won’t matter if the other players go bust. Essentially, the dealer is more likely to win or less likely to lose, as they will typically go bust less often than the players.
The House Edge will vary by blackjack variant and table, but is commonly around 2%. This means that the house has a 2% advantage over the players. But good blackjack players can reduce the House Edge by playing strategically.
Basic Blackjack Strategy
Basic strategy in blackjack is founded on taking the mathematically optimal course of action based on your hand and what you can see of the dealer’s hand. It was created by a computer simulation that played millions of rounds of blackjack, with all different player and dealer hand combinations to work out which actions had the best chances of success.
Basic strategy involves taking actions based on the hand you have versus the value of the dealer’s up-card. The best way to learn basic blackjack strategy is to find a blackjack strategy chart online, print it out, and then play blackjack with it in order to learn the recommended plays.
Card Counting
If you’re good with numbers – especially holding them in your head – card counting is another blackjack strategy that can be used to tip the odds a little further in your favour.
The idea with card counting is that you mentally keep track of which cards have been drawn, allowing you to better predict which ones are still to come. The easiest way to count cards in blackjack is to hold a single number in your head. When a new deck or shoe of cards is introduced, as each card is drawn, you change that number along the following lines:
● If a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 card is dealt, add 1.
● If a 7, 8, or 9 card is dealt, keep the number the same.
● If a 10, J, Q, K, or A is dealt, subtract 1.
As the number in your head rises you raise your bets, as more higher value cards are still left to be dealt. These cards are more likely to award you a win in blackjack.
Please note, that you can’t count cards in online blackjack games as the cards are drawn entirely at random. There is no deck of cards.
Different Casino Rules for Blackjack
Different casinos may offer variations and changes to the basic blackjack game, such as:
Minimum and Maximum Betting Limits: Blackjack tables often offer different minimum bet amounts that must be placed per hand, and maximum amounts that can’t be exceeded.
Single-deck Versus Multi-deck Tables: Most blackjack tables play with multiple decks of cards shuffled together – usually six, seven or eight. Some casinos, however, offer tables played with a single deck, which can offer much better odds to players who can count cards effectively.
6 to 5 Blackjack: Most Blackjack tables payout at 3 to 2, but some blackjack tables reduce this to 6 to 5. You should try to avoid these games, as you’ll receive less back each time you win than you would at a regular 3 to 2 table.
Doubling After Splitting (DAS) games : Some casinos/tables will allow players to double-down after splitting a hand, whilst some won’t. Doubling-down after splitting is typically advantageous for the player.
Re-Splitting Aces (RSA): Some casinos will allow you to re-split a pair of Aces if you receive a third Ace and more, up to a total of four hands. A starting Ace is a great hand, so if you’re lucky enough to receive multiple aces (and the table allows it), you should seek to split as many times as you can.
Play Blackjack with BoyleSports
Blackjack is a casino game that rewards careful and intelligent play. If you can master the rules of the game , the value of cards in blackjack, and blackjack strategy , you can reduce the House Edge and improve your chances of winning. That starts by understanding how much cards are worth in blackjack
And once you’ve got your head around blackjack card values, you can practise your blackjack skills online with BoyleSports Games. Check out our online blackjack games and our live blackjack tables .