Lawrence Revere, a casino pit boss and author, once said, “Blackjack, also known as 21, is the only casino game an amateur can learn to play and win.”
You don’t have to be an expert at playing the game of 21; you only need to learn the basics and follow the game’s rules.
True to its name, the goal of 21 is to get a hand value closer to 21 without exceeding it. Each card in a blackjack deck has its own value and how it contributes to the game. To start with, a deck has numbered cards ranging from 2-10, face cards ( the king, queen, and jack), and then the ace that’s worth either 1 or 11.
Understanding these card values and how they form hands is the best way to excel at a blackjack table, whether you’re playing at a physical casino or online. If you’re interested in playing blackjack, slots, and other online casino games online, you can find 250+ game providers reviews here. This article will give you a clear guide on how to play blackjack, including the rules and value of each card.
What Are Blackjack Card Values?
As mentioned earlier, blackjack cards have different values. There are numbered cards that start from 2 and end in 10. The face cards with the royalties. And the ace card that’s worth 1 or 11. We will break down the values of these cards in blackjack and how they affect your hand total (the sum of the values of all the cards you have in hand).
| Card Type | Value |
| Numbered Cards (2-10) | Face Value (2-10) |
| Face Cards (Jack, Queen, King) | Value of 10 |
| Ace | Either 1 or 11 |
Types of Hands in Blackjack
Blackjack has two types of hands– the soft hand and the hard hand.
A soft hand is when you have an ace that can be counted as 1 or 11 without busting. Soft hands are flexible because you can always change your ace back to 1 if you draw a higher-value card.
A hard hand, on the other hand — no pun intended, is one without an ace or with one that can be counted as 1 to avoid exceeding 21. Hard hands are less flexible since their values are fixed once dealt.
Key Blackjack Rules to Remember
There are four major rules you mustn’t forget in blackjack:
The First Two Cards
You’ll be dealt two cards to set the stage for your blackjack hand. You have a blackjack if you receive a 10-value card and an ace. If you don’t, you may need to draw more cards.
To Hit or Stand
Hit is when you take another card because your first two cards’ total isn’t close to 21. Stand is to keep your current hand based on your hand value and the dealer’s visible card. You must know the best time to hit or stand in blackjack.
Bust
You bust and lose the game if your hand total exceeds 21.
Soft 17
Soft 17 is a tricky stage where you must decide whether to hit or stand. A common rule in many casinos is to know whether the dealer must hit or stand on a soft 17. Knowing this can influence your strategy.
How Blackjack Card Values Make Hands
Understanding blackjack cards and their values is crucial for forming winning hands and educating your strategies. Each card impacts the total hand value and determines whether you should hit, stand, or employ other strategies. We’ll explain what these terms mean shortly. In the meantime, we’ll discuss how each card’s values make hands.
Face Cards in Blackjack
The Face Cards — The King, Queen, and Jack are all 10-value cards. If you are dealt a total of 7 and draw either of these cards, you’d have a hand total of 17.
Ace in Blackjack. Can the Value of an Ace Change During the Game?
The ace card is worth 1 or 11, depending on what favors your hand value more. Arnold Snyder believes that “mastering the ace card is key to mastering blackjack.”
We agree with him. Here’s how it works. If you have an ace and a 6, the hand can either be a “soft 17” or just 7 if you count the ace as 1. If you already have a hand close to 21, and you get an ace, you can count it as 1 rather than 11. It’ll save you from busting your hand.
King in Blackjack
Like all other face cards, the King is valued at 10 points. This card forms powerful combinations when paired with lower-value cards. For example, a king and a 9 will give you a strong total of 19.
Queen in Blackjack
The Queen is similar to the King. It’s worth 10 points and contributes to strong hand totals as much as the King. This card is a staple in basic blackjack strategy. A queen and a 10-value card make a total of 20, which is a hard hand to beat.
Numbered Cards in Blackjack
Each numbered card in blackjack has its face value. For instance, a 4 is worth 4 points, and a 7 is worth 7 points— they’re straightforward, and their values are added directly to your hand total. So, let’s say you had a total of 7, and you were dealt a 4; you have a total of 11.
Jack in Blackjack. Are Jokers Used in Blackjack?
Jack cards hold the same value as the King and Queen. It is valued at 10 points and can help you change your hand into a more favorable one. The Joker card is another card that comes with the deck but isn’t often mentioned because it’s not used in Blackjack.
Most Joker cards are often used as a substitute for missing cards. The standard 52-card deck is used in physical and online blackjack, but there are 56 cards, including the 4 Joker cards.
What Happens if the Player’s Hand Exceeds 21?
The goal of blackjack is to have a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer’s without exceeding it. But if the player’s hand exceeds 21, they would bust their hand. It’s a critical moment that every player avoids because a bust means an immediate loss for the player, regardless of the dealer’s cards.
Conclusion
Mastering how an ace can change your hand value and how face cards are invaluable in a round of blackjack is key to excelling at the game. It’s also advisable to know when to give up and when to forge ahead—knowing these rules and following reliable strategies will help you bring your A-game to every blackjack table.
