Card Values in Blackjack – What Each Card Is Worth

image of blackjack card values

Blackjack may seem to be one of the simplest casino games to play for the uninitiated. This is not entirely true. When it comes down to it, a player has a lot to keep track of in order to have the best possible chances.

In this guide on playing blackjack online, we will discuss the many hands that may be played, the card values as well as the crucial terminology, and explain what each of these things means for you as a player.

Blackjack Card Values

As a blackjack player, it is essential to know the worth of each hand. Before playing any cards, players should take the time to think about each one and get acquainted with the scoring rules.

image of card values in blackjack

Click/tap here to download the Blackjack Card Values Chart (49kb)

Blackjack CardValue
Ace1 or 11
22
33
44
55
66
77
88
99
10, Jack, Queen or King10

The values of the numbered cards in blackjack are straightforwardly determined by their numerical designations. A card with the number four, for instance, has a score of four, while a card with the number six provides a score of six. There are 36 cards with numerical values in a standard deck of playing cards.

Then there is the ace.

There are two potential values for the ace in blackjack, making it a one-of-a-kind card. One of the values it could be is 11; the other is 1. When a player has an ace in their hand, they often have the choice of deciding whether the ace counts as 1 or 11, depending on the circumstances. In a standard deck of playing cards, there are four aces.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s see what the face cards are all about. These are the three highest cards in the deck: the jack, the queen, and the king. Every single one of them is worth 10 points. In every deck, there are a total of 12 face cards.

Depending on the number of players at the table or the casino’s preference, blackjack may be played with up to eight decks of cards. By doing this, the dealer may continue playing without pausing to shuffle the deck between rounds.

Blackjack Terms Explained

Before sitting down to a game of blackjack, players should educate themselves about the lingo and signals used at the gambling tables. Here are some of the most vital ones to get you started:

AceIn blackjack, an ace may be valued at either 1 or 11, making it the most valuable card in the deck. If you get a 10-card and an ace, you’ve got Blackjack!
ActionThe total amount of money that has been wagered, whether it was on a single hand or for the whole of the blackjack game.
AnchorAt a given table, this is the last player to act before the dealer.
BankrollThe entire amount of money that a player has accessible for wagering.
Bet SpreadThe difference between the maximum and lowest possible bet values that a player may make.
BlackjackA hand in the card game consisting of an ace and a card with a value of 10. It is considered to be the finest conceivable combination of cards in the game.
Burn CardThe card of the deck that the dealer discards before dealing. As a security precaution, burning a card ensures that no one can tell which card is the first one dealt from the deck to any player.
BustThe point at which your hand total has exceeded 21, and you have lost your wager.
Double DownWhen a player doubles their stake by putting an extra bet equal to their initial bet and drawing one and only one more card.
HouseThe casino who you are playing against in a game of blackjack – represented by the blackjack dealer.
Flat BettingBetting the same amount on each round, whether it’s for the duration of the game or only for a few hands.
HitTo make a request for another card, with the goal of reaching closer to a total of 21.
SurrenderWhen you give up your hand but keep half of the money you wagered at the beginning of the game. This can only be done as the first and only action in your sequence.
Multi DeckIt is common practice to use more than one deck of cards in the shoe while playing blackjack. This minimizes the capacity of players to count cards.
PitThe pit is a section of the casino floor where players may find gaming tables where they can play games like blackjack, craps, and roulette, among others.
PairA hand consisting of two cards that have the same value.
SplitWhen a player is handed two cards of the same rank (pair). They then have the option to play each card independently and place a wager for each one.
StandWhen you “stand,” you decide not to draw any more cards from the deck.
Up CardThis is the only card that may be seen by the player from the dealer’s hand.
Card CountingThe act of keeping a mental count and record of the cards that have been dealt before. It is possible to use this information to calculate the likelihood of future card trends.
InsuranceInsurance bets are optional wagers that can only be placed if the dealer’s upcard is an ace. In essence, you’re defending yourself against a dealer blackjack. Typically, the stake pays 2 to 1 and is equal to half of your first bet.
Push/Stand-offWhen both the player and the dealer have an equal number of points. They will get the amount that they first wagered, but they will not win any further money.

Blackjack Hands

Blackjack hands and the value of cards are both essential concepts for beginners to grasp. It is possible to improve your performance at the blackjack table by gaining a comprehensive grasp of the game’s regulations. This will also help you avoid making the mistakes that are so common among rookie players.

Let’s take a look at the hands that you will always be dealt at some point in the course of the game, as well as some strategies for dealing with such cards so that you come out on top.

The Best Hands

  • Blackjack

A “blackjack” is defined as a hand that consists of an ace plus any one of the following cards: ten, jack, queen, or king. Of course, this is the absolute best hand that can be achieved in this game. With this combination, players will begin with a total of 21 and will be unbeatable. A tie may occur if both the dealer and the player have identical beginning hands. This is extremely rare, but it can happen.

image of blackjack hand blackjack
  • Hard 20

With a mathematical probability of a whopping 80%, the second-best hand is a hard 20. It consists of two cards with a value of 10. Given the player’s hand, the dealer does still have a chance to win, but to do so, they will need to have a total value of 21.

This is also extremely rare.

Players have a better chance of winning when the dealer has a hand totaling 18 or 19, since then they will have to stand.

Image of blackjack hand hard 20
  • Hands that total either 11 or 10

Players who are dealt a beginning hand with a total value of either 11 or 10 will also have a solid starting hand. Players will be able to essentially double their bets thanks to this. That’s because the third card drawn has a good possibility of making 20 or 21.

Although, it is important to remember that this might also be true for the dealer.

The Worst Hands

  • Cards whose values total to 16

When the dealer has a 10-valued card, 16 is statistically the lowest beginning hand in blackjack. At this point, your best bet is to take an additional card at 16 and hope for the best, since the dealer’s card indicates that their final score will be 20 or less.

  • Starting hand of 16 versus a dealer’s Ace or 9

The beginning hand of 16 against an ace is the second-worst possible starting hand in this circumstance. A starting hand of 16 against the dealer’s nine is the third-worst possible starting hand.  With that, you must consider your hands with a value of 15 in comparison to the dealer’s card combination, which might be a ten, an ace, a nine, etc.

image of worst blackjack hands

Cards Valued at 13 or 14

A 13 or 14 might also be considered unfavorable, although this is debatable. You may be hesitant to stand but you run the chance of going bust if you hit.

This is the downside that comes with it.

However, if the dealer has a bad upcard, like a 4 or 5, you should bet against them and stand. Third card drawing is mandatory for the dealer, who will presumably have a very high second card.

All Set?

It’s nice that these hands and card values are almost the same in practically every variation of the game. Even if you play Blackjack online or at a conventional casino, similar principles apply.

Knowing the greatest and worst hands to play in blackjack may make the difference between a frustrating and a profitable gaming session. There are more advanced strategies to learn but this is more than enough to get you started.