Card values
Blackjack Card Values
Card values are the foundation of blackjack. Once you understand how aces work, the rest of the strategy system becomes much easier to follow.
Number and face cards
Cards 2 through 10 count as their printed number. Jacks, queens, and kings count as 10. That means there are many ten-value cards in the deck.
Because ten-value cards are common, player totals such as 10 and 11 are often powerful starting points for doubles.
How aces work
An ace can count as 1 or 11. The hand uses whichever value helps the total without going over 21.
A hand such as A,6 is soft 17 because the ace can count as 11. If another high card would bust the hand, the ace can shift down to 1.
Hard and soft totals
Hard totals have no flexible ace. Hard 16, for example, cannot absorb a high card without busting.
Soft totals have more room to improve. This is why soft hands can double or hit in situations where a hard total would be too fragile.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ace always 11?
No. An ace is 11 when that does not bust the hand, and 1 when counting it as 11 would make the total too high.
What are face cards worth in blackjack?
Jacks, queens, and kings are all worth 10.
What is soft 17?
Soft 17 is a total of 17 that includes an ace counted as 11, such as A,6.