{"id":4810,"date":"2022-06-13T08:42:46","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T08:42:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/energycasino.com\/blog\/?p=4810"},"modified":"2023-03-16T08:31:07","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T08:31:07","slug":"blackjack-card-values","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackjack Card Values And Hands Values"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_45_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"ez-toc-toggle-icon-1\"><label for=\"item-69d0314802837\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-69d0314802837\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/#The_Origins_of_Blackjack\" title=\"The Origins of Blackjack\">The Origins of Blackjack<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/#Blackjack_Rules\" title=\"Blackjack Rules\">Blackjack Rules<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/#Blackjack_Cards_Value\" title=\"Blackjack Cards Value\">Blackjack Cards Value<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/#Blackjack_-_Soft_or_Hard_hands\" title=\"Blackjack &#8211; Soft or Hard hands?\">Blackjack &#8211; Soft or Hard hands?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/#Placing_bets_in_Blackjack\" title=\"Placing bets in Blackjack\">Placing bets in Blackjack<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/#Possible_Actions_in_Blackjack\" title=\"Possible Actions in Blackjack\">Possible Actions in Blackjack<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/#Signaling_Intentions\" title=\"Signaling Intentions\">Signaling Intentions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/#The_dealers_turn\" title=\"The dealer\u2019s turn\">The dealer\u2019s turn<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/blackjack\/blackjack-card-values\/#Blackjack_payout\" title=\"Blackjack payout\">Blackjack payout<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>Blackjack<\/strong>, or as it\u2019s also known, the game of <strong>21<\/strong>, has established itself in every casino around the world. Whether you visit a traditional land-based casino or an online casino, Blackjack has truly made it big! You\u2019ll be able to find different variations and more tables than you can imagine where any player can try out this exciting game. Although it\u2019s still a popular game amongst friends, you can also compete against a virtual dealer anytime you want to test your luck. Read and learn <strong>blackjack card values.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In this article, you&#8217;ll learn:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The origins of Blackjack<\/li>\n<li>Blackjack rules<\/li>\n<li>Card values<\/li>\n<li>How to play Blackjack<\/li>\n<li>Blackjack actions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But why has this game skyrocketed in popularity? Well, anyone looking for a straightforward game has hit the jackpot with Blackjack as it\u2019s very easy to learn. There\u2019s no need to memorise hands like in Poker; the player&#8217;s task is simple &#8211; he must beat the dealer by building a stronger hand. The player just needs to learn how to play the game, know the card values, and the best strategic moves he can make in relation to his hand value and that of the dealer. Thus, Blackjack also requires some skill and strategy, unlike other casino games which simply count on luck. The game of 21 boasts a low house edge, and the player can put himself in a more favourable position if he plays according to the <a href=\"{base_url}en\/guides\/blackjack-basic-strategy\">Blackjack Basic Strategy<\/a>. This strategy chart is based on the theory of probability, so it recommends the best actions to take in each possible scenario, consequently increasing the player&#8217;s chances of leaving the table with a win.<\/p>\n<p>Before you get involved with Blackjack, you must get acquainted with the fundamentals &#8211; which is what this guide is all about. So if you\u2019re still new to Blackjack, this is an excellent place to start before you set out on your casino adventure.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"text-transform: uppercase; background-color: #ffdd00 !important; font-weight: 800; color: currentcolor; padding: 15px 30px; width: 100%; border-radius: 8px;\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino.com\/en#action:user.register\">Register<\/a><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Origins_of_Blackjack\"><\/span>The Origins of Blackjack<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The origins of Blackjack are not so clear-cut. It\u2019s widely believed to have been introduced in Spain around the 15th or the 16th-century. In one of Miguel de Cervantes&#8217;s novels, we find references to a game known as \u2018Veintiuna\u2019, which stands for twenty-one in Spanish, and subsequent references to the game \u2018Vingt-et-un\u2019 were also found in France. Consequently, Blackjack found its way to America! How? Thanks to the pursuits of the colonising Europeans in the 1800s. As a way to promote this game, casinos introduced a 10 to 1 payout to players whose hand consisted of a jack of clubs\/spades and an ace of spades. Thus, the derivation of the name \u2018Blackjack\u2019 we know today.<\/p>\n<p>Over time, more exciting variations started cropping up, and with the introduction of online Blackjack, players could begin to enjoy further advantages. Online casinos began offering attractive bonuses and promotions which could help players enjoy more possible wins, and provided lower minimum bet limits than brick-and-mortar casinos.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Blackjack_Rules\"><\/span>Blackjack Rules<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The player has one clear goal in Blackjack &#8211; to beat the dealer by building a hand with a value equal to or <strong>as close as possible to 21<\/strong> without busting. If the player exceeds 21, he loses immediately. The <strong>best Blackjack hand<\/strong> he can obtain is a natural Blackjack &#8211; an ace and a ten-value card. In this case, the player wins automatically and enjoys an exciting payout of 3 to 2, unless the dealer also has a natural Blackjack. This unlikely situation would result in a tie, and the player&#8217;s bet is pushed forward to the next round. Unlike other casino games, the player only competes against the dealer in Blackjack, even if there are other players at the same table. Each one has the same objective &#8211; that of beating the dealer.<\/p>\n<p>So how do you achieve this mission? There are three ways a player can emerge a winner:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>You get a natural Blackjack when the dealer deals your cards &#8211; an instant win<\/li>\n<li>You build a hand stronger than the dealer\u2019s<\/li>\n<li>The dealer goes bust while you\u2019re still in the game.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Sounds simple enough, no? However, you still need to tread carefully when playing Blackjack if you want to increase your chances of winning. You may draw too many additional cards &#8211; in the hope of improving your hand\u2019s value &#8211; where you\u2019ll risk going bust. Otherwise, you may find yourself trying to play it safe by not drawing another card &#8211; where you end up with just an average hand which can be easily defeated by the dealer\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Blackjack_Cards_Value\"><\/span>Blackjack Cards Value<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Before you decide to start placing any bets on Blackjack, you must first understand the card values. They\u2019re easy to remember and retain the same value in nearly all the Blackjack variations.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cards 2 to 10<\/strong> &#8211; Value is equal to their numerical value.<\/li>\n<li>Face cards (<strong>Jack<\/strong>, Queen and <strong>King<\/strong>) &#8211; Value is equal to 10.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ace<\/strong> &#8211; A value of 1 or 11<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The ace is the most dynamic card in the whole deck as it can take on one of two values. It\u2019s up to the player to determine which value will make his hand stronger than the dealer\u2019s, depending on his current hand situation. It\u2019s generally regarded as an 11-value card, but if the player&#8217;s hand value exceeds 21, the ace is assigned a value of one. Thus, it\u2019s the one card which gives the player a level of flexibility with his choices.<\/p>\n<p>Bear in mind that although card values remain intact in most Blackjack variations, the rules may vary in a few, so you need to keep yourself up-to-date. For instance, in the Caribbean 21 Blackjack variation, the ace always counts as one, so the best hand you can build will have an ace and two 10-value cards.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Blackjack_-_Soft_or_Hard_hands\"><\/span>Blackjack &#8211; Soft or Hard hands?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In Blackjack, the player can either acquire a hard hand or a soft hand. What differentiates them? It all boils down to the value of the ace card. A hard hand has no ace or an ace worth 1, while a soft hand has an ace which counts as 11. In most scenarios, if your soft hand goes over 21, it becomes a hard hand as the ace\u2019s value will revert to 1. Which hand you have will determine the playing strategy you adopt. Let\u2019s say you have a hard 16 &#8211; drawing additional cards is too risky because you\u2019re too close to 21. However, you can choose to draw more cards with a soft 16 because if you exceed 21 with the extra card you draw, the ace\u2019s value can be reverted to 1.<\/p>\n<p>The dealer will also have a different set of rules imposed by the casino with regards to the actions he can take with a hard and soft hand. If the dealer is only required to stand on a hard 17, he can draw additional cards on a soft 17, shifting the odds in his favour. On the other hand, if the dealer must also stand on a soft 17, the player is in a more favourable position.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"text-transform: uppercase; background-color: #ffdd00 !important; font-weight: 800; color: currentcolor; padding: 15px 30px; width: 100%; border-radius: 8px;\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino.com\/en#action:user.register\">Register<\/a><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Placing_bets_in_Blackjack\"><\/span>Placing bets in Blackjack<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Now it\u2019s time for the Blackjack game to commence! Each round begins with the player placing his bets. If you\u2019re playing at a land-based casino, you either buy chips at the table or at the casino\u2019s cash desk. You stack your chips neatly in front of you, with the higher-value chips at the bottom and the low-value chips at the top, and place your desired bets in the designated betting sectors. Chips are colour-coded according to their value to avoid confusion. The values are as follows: white &#8211; \u20ac1, red &#8211; \u20ac5, green &#8211; \u20ac25, black &#8211; \u20ac100, purple &#8211; \u20ac500 and orange &#8211; \u20ac1000. If you\u2019re playing at an online casino, all you need to do is place a deposit into your casino account and put virtual chips on the table. Bear in mind that you can play two hands at one time if there are empty seats at the table.<\/p>\n<p>Once the betting stage is over, the dealer deals two face-up cards to each player on the table, and one face-up and face-down card for himself. The face-down card is known as the hole card and is what gives the dealer the higher edge. As soon as the dealer deals the first two cards, it\u2019s the player&#8217;s job to study the cards\u2019 values. Suits have no impact on the game of Blackjack, so all he needs to calculate is his hand value and that of the dealer. As we\u2019ve already mentioned, the player only competes against the dealer, so don\u2019t waste time scrutinising other players\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Possible_Actions_in_Blackjack\"><\/span>Possible Actions in Blackjack<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s now the player&#8217;s turn to play! You have five possible actions to take &#8211; each one with its own set of rules. Making the right choice is crucial as it can profoundly impact the outcome of the game. For this reason, you must take into consideration both your hand and the dealer\u2019s and make the best use of the Blackjack basic strategy to decrease the house edge. As the casino game with the lowest house edge, you can significantly boost your chances of winning if you play strategically. This basic strategy showcases all the favourable actions for each scenario which can come into play. Still, you need to remember that an absolute win cannot be guaranteed since the value of the dealer\u2019s hole card is unknown. Nevertheless, following this strategy will be useful in the long-run, and you\u2019ll be able to keep losses to a minimum.<\/p>\n<p><b>Here are all the possible actions, together with a quick overview of when to choose each one.<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Surrender<\/strong> &#8211; First and foremost, you need to decide whether you prefer to surrender. Not all Blackjack tables offer this option, but when it is available, you\u2019ll be able to withdraw from the game as soon as the dealer deals your first two cards. In return, you\u2019ll receive half your bet back. Although you might want to surrender when your initial hand has a very low value, the odds of improving your hand\u2019s value in such a situation are quite high. In fact, the basic strategy recommends players to surrender when the dealer has a 9, 10 or ace, and they have a hard 15 or 16. The dealer is at an advantage when you have such average hands as the chances of winning are not so good.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Split<\/strong> &#8211; If you decide not to surrender, your next decision should be whether to split your hand or not. A split is only possible if your hand consists of an identical pair of cards, but it\u2019s not recommended for all pairs. According to the basic strategy, you should always split a pair of aces and eights to increase your chances of winning, but never to split fives and tens. For other values, you must take into account the value of the dealer\u2019s hand to make your decision. You can find more detailed info in our Blackjack Basic Strategy guide. One final point to remember &#8211; if you do split your hand, you must place a second bet equal to your first bet on your new hand.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Double Down<\/strong>&#8211; You may decide to double your bet if you have a good hand and the dealer has a lousy upcard. This action is only possible as soon as your first two cards are dealt unless your hand is a Classic Blackjack and you enjoy an instant win. You\u2019re not allowed to double your bet once you draw another card. One important rule to remember is that you can only draw one card after you double down. Thus, if your third card is a low-value card, you may risk losing both your original bet and your second bet, so you should only double down when you have lower chances of losing against the dealer. The basic strategy advises players to double their bet only in particular circumstances, depending on their hand value and the dealer\u2019s, and whether they have a hard or soft hand. It\u2019s generally advised to double on a hard nine, 10 or 11 except in some instances, and on soft hands between 13 and 19 against selected dealer upcards\u2014more info in the Blackjack strategy guide.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hit or Stand<\/strong>&#8211; After you split your hand, double your bet, or decide against any of these actions, your next step is to either hit (draw more cards) or stand (refrain from drawing any further cards). Your decision boils down to the type of hand you have, and your hand value and the dealer\u2019s total hand value. You can hit as many times as you want until you\u2019re satisfied with your hand\u2019s value, or you go bust, so be careful how long you keep hitting. If you decide to go forward with your current hand value, you stand and stop drawing more cards. So when is it recommended to stand or hit? If you have a soft total, it\u2019s advised that you stand on a soft 19 and 20, stand on a soft 18 unless the dealer has a nine, 10 or ace and hit a soft 17 or less. With regards to hard hands, you should always stand on a hard 17 and any higher number, stand on hard 13 to 16 if the dealer has a card between two to six and stand on hard 12 when the dealer\u2019s card is either four, five, or six. On the other hand, you hit whenever you have a hand value lower than a hard 11.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Signaling_Intentions\"><\/span>Signaling Intentions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you intend on playing at an online casino, this section is not relevant. You just need to click on the respective buttons on your screen. However, if you\u2019re playing at a traditional casino, you must learn how to signal your actions to the dealer when it\u2019s your turn:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Hit &#8211; Point at your two cards or tap on the table.<\/li>\n<li>Stand &#8211; Wave your hand across your cards without using your arm.<\/li>\n<li>Double down\/split &#8211; Place the second bet in the betting sector and raise one finger to double and two fingers to split. Remember &#8211; never touch the cards.<\/li>\n<li>Surrender &#8211; Draw your index finger across the green zone behind your cards.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_dealers_turn\"><\/span>The dealer\u2019s turn<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When all the players have executed their actions, it&#8217;s time for the dealer to make his moves. The possible actions he can carry out are determined by a set of rules imposed by the casino. Unlike the player, he cannot surrender, split his hand or double down; he can either hit or stand. The most common rule which the dealer must follow is to stand on a hard 17. Until his hand value is lower than 17, he must keep on drawing more cards, even if he\u2019s already outscored the player. Some tables might prove to be more favourable for players because they require dealers to stand on a soft 17, rather than on a hard 17.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Blackjack_payout\"><\/span>Blackjack payout<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A Blackjack round can have several different outcomes &#8211; each one with a different payout. Here are the possible wins you can enjoy when playing this popular casino game:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A Classic Blackjack pays 3 to 2<\/li>\n<li>A stronger hand value than the dealer pays 1 to 1<\/li>\n<li>A tie\u2019s payout varies according to the casino you\u2019re playing at. Your bet may be pushed forward to the next round or may count as a win or a loss for the player.<\/li>\n<li>f you surrender, you\u2019ll receive half your initial bet.<\/li>\n<li>An insurance (betting on the possibility that the dealer\u2019s hole card is worth 10 when his face-up card is an ace) pays 2 to 1, but the original bet is lost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"text-transform: uppercase; background-color: #ffdd00 !important; font-weight: 800; color: currentcolor; padding: 15px 30px; width: 100%; border-radius: 8px;\" href=\"https:\/\/energycasino.com\/en#action:user.register\">Register<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blackjack, or as it\u2019s also known, the game of 21, has established itself in every casino around the world. Whether you visit a traditional land-based casino or an online casino, Blackjack has truly made it big! You\u2019ll be able to find different variations and more tables than you can imagine where any player can try [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blackjack"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4810"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4810"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4810\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energycasino72.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}