Free Blackjack / Card values in blackjack

Card values in blackjack

In blackjack, cards 2 to 10 count their number, jacks, queens and kings count 10, and an ace counts 1 or 11. Suits have no value.

How the ace works

An ace counts 11 unless that would put your hand over 21. Then it counts 1. You never choose: the hand takes the best total. Ace and 6 is 17. Hit it and draw a 9, and the ace drops to 1: 1 + 6 + 9 = 16.

Soft and hard hands

A soft hand has an ace counted as 11, like ace and 6, a soft 17. One more card cannot bust a soft hand, because the ace can drop to 1. A hard hand has no ace, or an ace that must count 1, like 10, 6 and ace, a hard 17. At freeblackjack.fun a soft hand shows both totals, like 17/7.

Ten-value cards

A 6-deck shoe has 312 cards and 96 of them count 10: the 10s, jacks, queens and kings. That is almost a third of the shoe, which is why so many hands land on 20.

Blackjack

An ace and any ten-value card as your first two cards is a blackjack and pays 3 to 2. It is the best hand in the game.

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More: Blackjack rules · How to play blackjack · How to deal blackjack · Blackjack odds and payouts · Blackjack insurance · Soft 17 in blackjack · Blackjack terms · Blackjack hand signals