Table of content
Why Card Values Matter
At first glance, blackjack looks simple: get to 21 or closer to 21 than the dealer. But every decision (hit, stand, double, split, surrender) depends on the numeric value of the cards in your hand and the dealer’s upcard. That single Ace that can be 1 or 11 creates soft hands and strategic options that don’t exist in many other casino games.
Understanding values gives you the ability to:
Evaluate bust risk precisely.
Choose the best action against any dealer upcard.
Recognize opportunities for doubling or splitting that shift expected value.
Lay the groundwork for advanced play (deck composition and counting).
And in the end, without this understanding, you won't even be able to play properly. We’ll build from the rules to exact calculation examples and then show how values change your strategy and outcomes
Core Card Values
So, let's analyze the cost of each card.
2 → 2 points
3 → 3 points
4 → 4 points
5 → 5 points
6 → 6 points
7 → 7 points
8 → 8 points
9 → 9 points
10, J, Q, K → 10 points
Ace → 1 or 11 points (player’s choice to avoid bust)
Face cards (Jack/Queen/King) are identical in value to “10” for tallying totals. The Ace’s flexibility is the single biggest tactical lever in blackjack. One Ace can be treated as 11 until it would make the hand exceed 21, at which point it drops to 1 automatically. Casinos implement this auto-adjustment in software or dealer procedure — you don’t have to decide mid-hand which value to use beyond following a basic strategy.
Soft vs Hard Hands — Definitions, Importance, and Examples
Before that, it is worth explaining in detail how the value of an ace changes.
Use logic. If the Ace were always 11, hands would bust quickly (A + K + 9 = 30). If it were always 1, you’d lose the upside of hitting strong two-card hands (A + K = 21). So the rule gives flexibility — count the Ace as 11 initially, but if the total would exceed 21, convert one (or more) Ace to 1 to avoid busting.
If the sum of the other cards is ≤ 10 → Ace = 11 (since 11 + ≤10 ≤ 21). If the other cards sum to ≥ 11 → Ace = 1 (because 11 + ≥11 > 21).
Here is the simple algorithm for multiple Aces:
Add up all cards, counting each Ace as 11 at first.
While the total > 21 and there are Aces counted as 11, reduce the total by 10 (treat one Ace as 1 instead of 11).
Repeat until total ≤ 21 or all Aces are counted as 1.
Example: A + A + 9 → start 11 + 11 + 9 = 31 → convert one Ace: 11 + 1 + 9 = 21 → optimal result.
Now we can talk about hands.
Soft hand (flexible Ace)
Definition: a hand containing at least one Ace that can be counted as 11 without busting. Example: A+6 = soft 17 (counts as 17 but won’t bust if you hit a large card — the Ace can become 1).
Strategic significance: Soft hands reduce bust probability on an extra hit and open up profitable doubling opportunities (in certain dealer-upcard matchups). They often call for more aggressive play than equivalent hard totals.
Hard hand (no flexible Ace)
Definition: a hand with no Ace counted as 11 (either no Aces at all, or Aces forced to count as 1 because counting them as 11 would bust). Example: 10+7 = hard 17, or A+9+K = hard 20 because Ace must be 1.
Strategic significance: Hard hands have a higher bust risk on hits, so the threshold for standing is lower (e.g., stand on hard 17+).
Examples
A + 6 = soft 17 → you can hit safely or double in many rule sets (depends on dealer upcard).
A + 7 = soft 18 → often stand vs dealer 2, 7, 8. Hit or double vs dealer 9, 10, Ace, depending on table rules.
A + A + 9 — interpret as (11 + 1 + 9) = 21 (one Ace counts as 11, the other as 1).
9 + 8 + 5 = 22 → bust (no Aces to save you).
How Totals Are Calculated — Step-by-step, Including Multi-Ace Logic
Here is a step-by-step short instruction, use it to make sure you count everything correctly.
Sum numeric cards and 10-valued cards normally.
Count Aces initially as 11, then reduce the value of Ace(s) from 11 → 1 as needed to avoid busting.
If you have multiple Aces, treat one as 11 and the rest as 1 where possible, if that still busts, reduce all to 1 (or as many as necessary).
Multiple-Ace examples
A + A = either 2 or 12. Practically, it’s soft 12 (11 + 1).
A + A + 9 = (11 + 1 + 9) = 21 → the best configuration.
A + A + K + 9 = (1 + 1 + 10 + 9) = 21 (both Aces forced to 1).
In live casino play, dealers and software auto-adjust Aces — you just act according to the visible total and whether basic strategy calls for a hit/stand/double/split.
Why Card Values Change Strategy
Your hand total directly affects the expected value (EV) of every possible action. Small changes in totals — especially the difference between a hard hand and a soft hand — can flip the correct play. Below are the core anchors, each with the why and a short example:
Hard 17 or higher → Stand.
Why: the risk of busting on another card is high, while the chance of improving enough to matter is low.
Example: with 10 + 7 (hard 17), hitting is more likely to bust you than to produce a significantly better final hand.
Hard 12–16 → so-called Stiff zone — decision depends on dealer upcard.
Why: these totals are vulnerable to busting if you hit, but they’re also weak against strong dealer upcards. If the dealer shows a weak upcard (2-6), the dealer is more likely to bust — so you stand and let the dealer risk it. If the dealer shows 7-Ace, they’re unlikely to bust and can beat your total, so you hit to try to improve.
Example: Hard 15 vs dealer 5 → stand. Hard 15 vs dealer 10 → hit.
Soft totals (hands with an Ace counted as 11) → more flexible / often hit or double.
Why: because the Ace can drop to 1, hitting carries much less risk of busting. That opens opportunities to double or hit aggressively when the dealer is weak.
Example: A + 6 (soft 17) can be hit or doubled in many charts because if you draw a 10, the Ace becomes 1, and you don’t bust.
Doubling (highest EV on 9-11 hard, and certain soft hands).
Why: doubling increases your stake when you have a statistical advantage. Hard 9-11 are prime doubling spots vs weak dealer upcards because the chance of drawing a 10-value card is high. Soft doubles (A+2 through A+7) are profitable in specific matchups because the Ace gives flexibility.
Example: Hard 11 vs dealer 6 → double (very high EV). Soft 16 (A+5) vs dealer 4 → many charts advise double.
Splitting pairs → transforms one hand into two independent hands.
Why: splitting can convert a weak hand into two opportunities when the math favors it ( Aces, 8s). Some splits (like splitting 10s) remove a very strong single hand and are almost always wrong. The dealer upcard and deck composition affect the decision.
Example: always split Aces (you get two chances at strong hands). Never split 10s.
Remember — Tens and Aces drive outcomes
Tens and Aces shape blackjack results: tens create strong totals and, together with Aces, produce naturals (blackjacks). When the shoe is rich in tens/Aces, the player’s expected value goes up. That’s why many strategy rules pivot on whether your total is likely to improve more than the dealer’s when the next cards arrive.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake: always treating Ace as 11.
Fix: practice hand calculations with mixed Aces until you can instantly convert them to 1 when needed. Deal random hands and call out whether Ace=11 or 1.Mistake: thinking 10+Ace after splitting equals blackjack.
Fix: teach the rule — blackjack is only two-card natural from the initial deal. After splitting, 10+Ace = 21, but not a blackjack payout.Mistake: ignoring dealer rules (S17/H17).
Fix: memorize the table’s rules before sitting and pull up the basic strategy chart tailored to those rules.Mistake: miscounting totals with multiple Aces.
Fix: use the rule “one Ace as 11 unless busts, the others as 1” as a mental anchor.Mistake: overvaluing small edges.
Fix: understand expected value is per-hand and long-run, small percentage edges require many hands to matter.
Quick Cheat-Sheet
Card values: 2-9 = face value. 10/J/Q/K = 10. Ace = 1 or 11.
Top practical rules:
Hard ≥ 17 → Stand.
Hard 12–16 → Stand vs dealer 2–6; Hit vs dealer 7–Ace.
Soft 13–17 (A+2 through A+6) → Consider double vs weak dealer upcards; otherwise hit.
Always split Aces and 8s; never split 10s or 5s.
Blackjack (Ace + 10) on initial two cards pays 3:2 (most tables); check payout.
Print them out and use them when you practice. Or print them out and carry them around as a cheat sheet. And it's not an easy topic, I know. So here are some questions and answers that often cause confusion for newcomers.
Q: Is Ace always 11 if possible?
A: Dealers and software treat Ace as 11 whenever it doesn’t cause bust. For strategy, treat it as 11 if total ≤ 21, otherwise as 1.
Q: Does 10+Ace after splitting count as blackjack?
A: No — it’s a 21, not a natural blackjack (so payout differs).
Q: Why are 10s and Aces so important?
A: They create naturals and high totals, their abundance in the shoe strongly influences player advantage.
Q: Should I always follow the basic strategy?
A: Yes — basic strategy minimizes house edge. Only deviate with advanced, well-practiced techniques like counting (where legal/appropriate).
Page Information
Topics
Rules
Related
The rules are easy to learn — card values, when to hit or stand, and how the dealer plays. Once you’ve got those down, you can actually make smart moves and feel like you’re part of the game, not just waiting on luck.
Made famous by the MIT team and Hollywood movies, card counting is one of blackjack’s most intriguing strategies. Here you’ll find a simple breakdown of how it works, the systems behind it, and why online casinos make it tough to pull off.
Understanding blackjack odds and probabilities lets you make smarter decisions and improve your chances at the table.
Winning at blackjack isn’t about luck alone — the right strategies can tilt the odds in your favor.