Blackjack card values
The goal in blackjack is to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. Every decision starts with the value of your cards.
| Card | Value in blackjack |
|---|---|
| 2 through 10 | Face value. A 7 is worth 7, a 9 is worth 9, and so on. |
| Jack, Queen, King | Each face card is worth 10. |
| Ace | An Ace can count as 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand without busting. |
How much is an Ace worth?
An Ace is the most flexible card in blackjack. Ace-6 can be 7 or 17. Ace-9 is usually 20. Ace-King is blackjack because the Ace counts as 11 and the King counts as 10.
The Ace changes automatically as needed. If you have Ace-6 and draw a 10, the hand becomes 17, not 27, because the Ace switches from 11 to 1.
Soft hands and hard hands
A soft hand contains an Ace counted as 11. Soft hands are safer because one bad draw usually does not bust the hand. A hard hand either has no Ace or has an Ace that must count as 1.
- Soft 17: Ace-6.
- Hard 17: 10-7, 9-8, or Ace-6-10.
- Blackjack: Ace plus any 10-value card as your first two cards.
How many decks are used in blackjack?
Blackjack can be played with one deck, two decks, six decks, or eight decks. Online games and casino shoe games commonly use multiple decks. More decks generally make card counting harder and can slightly change basic strategy details.
For beginners, the exact number of decks matters less than learning the main decisions. Once you understand card values and hand types, move to hit, stand, split, and double down decisions.