A Guide To Casino Blackjack Card Values And Basic Hands

Blackjack is the absolute crown jewel of the casino table games pit, offering the best mathematical odds for the educated player.


To achieve this, you must understand exactly how every single card in the deck is valued and scored.

How Much is Each Card Worth in Blackjack?

All face cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) are universally worth exactly 10 points each.


An Ace can be counted as either 1 point or 11 points, depending entirely on which value helps your hand the most without busting.

A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a 'Soft' hand (e.g., Ace + 6 = Soft 17), meaning you cannot bust if you take one more cardA hand without an Ace, or where the Ace must be counted as a 1 to avoid busting, is called a 'Hard' hand (e.g., 10 + 6 = Hard 16)Because there are so many cards worth 10 points (10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings), you must always assume the dealer's hidden down-card is a 10
Understanding Your Options at the Table

Once you are dealt your first two cards, you have several primary choices to make regarding how to play the hand.


If you are dealt a strong starting hand (like an 11), you can choose to 'Double Down'.

Player ActionHand SignalWhen to Use It (Basic Rule of Thumb)HitTap the feltWhen your total is low and you risk nothing by taking a cardStandWave hand horizontallyWhen your total is 17 or higher (Hard 17+)

Once you understand how the hands are scored, you can begin memorizing the mathematical charts that tell you exactly when to hit or stand.