In the fast-paced world of Blackjack, every card tells a story. Knowing the value of every card in your hand and waiting in the deck isn't just helpful - it's essential to success. Learning this crucial piece of knowledge is your first step to mastering this classic casino game, and can be the difference between a win or an L.

Ready to turn the Blackjack tables in your favor? This article will explore the Blackjack card values, how to determine the value of a hand, and how card values play into the iconic card counting strategy.

How Do You Find a Hand's Total Value?

In a traditional land-based casino, Blackjack is played with a conventional deck of 52 cards, where the suits and card colors don't matter, with no impact on the final outcome of the round.

Online Blackjack casinos like Rivalry tend to use multiple decks for a Blackjack game. This makes a basic strategy like counting cards difficult, although not impossible.

Tracking the card values in Blackjack is simple, as outlined below:

• Cards numbered at 2 through to 10 (10s, 9s, 8s, 7s, 6s, 5s, 4s, 3s, and 2s) all count at face value. For example, a 9 of Spades will count as 9, 2 of Hearts is a 2, etc.
• Face cards (King, Queen, Jack) in Blackjack all count as 10 with the same value.
• Aces are flexible and can count as 1 or an 11, depending on which value benefits the overall hand the most. If the hand is close to a Bust, the Ace will be valued as 1.

You can determine your hand's total by adding the values of your cards together. For example, you'll have a soft hand if you have an Ace and a 6 of Diamonds, totaling 17. A Jack and a Queen will make 20, as face-value cards, count as 10.

What is a Blackjack hand?

A Blackjack hand is when the point value of the two initially dealt cards total 21, also known as a natural Blackjack. This occurs when the player is dealt a card with a 10-point value (10 suit cards, Jack, King, or Queen) and an Ace of any suit.

For example:

• 10 (Diamond, Spades, Clubs, Hearts) + Ace = Blackjack
• Queen (Diamonds, Spades, Clubs, Hearts) + Ace = Blackjack
• King (Diamonds, Spades, Clubs, Hearts) + Ace = Blackjack
• Jack (Diamonds, Spades, Clubs, Hearts) + Ace = Blackjack

A player's Blackjack hand will automatically beat a Dealer's hand, even if it totals 21 in three or more cards.

Basic Blackjack Terminology

Before we get into how to play Blackjack, you'll need to know the basic terminology, as this classic game has its own language and terms used in all Blackjack games, whether you're playing online or at a casino in Las Vegas.

• Hit: The action of asking for one more card from the Dealer.
• Stand: When the player no longer wants new cards and is happy with their current hand.
• Split: An option for the player to split their hand if they hold two cards that are the same number, like two eights or two sixes, and play them as two separate hands rather than just one.
• Double: In addition to their initial bet, players can sometimes double their bet if they believe they have a strong hand.
• Bust: This is when a hand, either the players or the Dealers, goes over the sum of 21 in Blackjack. It essentially means "game over."
• Blackjack: When you hear Blackjack, a hand has reached the sum of 21, meaning they have won outright.
• Soft Hand: This means the player has a hand with an Ace, favoring their victory as they have two possible values. Aces can become an 11 or 1, depending on their current hand.
• Hard Hand: This is when the player has a hand without an Ace, meaning they have fewer combinations available to get Blackjack.

How to Play Blackjack

The ultimate goal of Blackjack is to beat the Dealer. You can do this in one of three ways: by drawing a hand value higher than the Dealer's hand, by the Dealer's hand going over 21, or by getting a natural Blackjack, aka 21, straight away with your first two cards.

There are also two ways you can lose Blackjack: your hand Busts (going over 21) or the Dealer's hand total exceeds yours at the end of the round, without them going over 21.

Here's a quick and simple step-by-step guide on how to play online Blackjack with Rivalry.

1. Log in or create a Rivalry account. Make sure you get verified to use our promotions and welcome bonus. Feel free to connect a crypto wallet to start collecting NUTZ.
2. Navigate to Casino.exe and find "Blackjack." You'll find it in "The Best Table Games section," or you can find it manually using the search bar at the top of the UI. You can choose from the RNG Blackjack against AI or play Live Blackjack, hosted by Evolution Gaming.
3. If you choose Live Blackjack, there are plenty of options and variants, including Lightning Blackjack, Power Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, and other lobbies in Spanish and Portuguese, each with separate rules, features, and side bets.
4. The single-player RNG Blackjack game resembles a traditional experience, with a semi-circle table and various side bets available. The minimum bet amount for this game mode is $0.50, with a maximum bet of $1,000 in one round.
5. Once your bets have been placed, the cards will be dealt clockwise, ending with the Dealer. One card is dealt face-up to the Dealer, while the player cards values are both face-up. If you have a natural 21 in this round, you win automatically. If not, you must decide whether to Hit, Stand, or Double based on the two cards you have.
6. Once all decisions have been made, the Dealer shows their down card. If they have less than 16 points, Dealer must Hit. If the Dealer's cards are 17 or more, they Stand. Players will win if their final hand's value is closer to 21 than the virtual Dealer or if the Dealer busts.

What are Blackjack Side Bets?

When playing Blackjack, you may also notice additional side bets you can wager on. The most common types of side bets are Perfect Pairs, 21+3, and Lucky Ladies. You must still place a main bet on either the Player's hand, the Dealer's hand, or a Tie before placing an optional side bet.

Perfect Pairs

The Perfect Pairs side bet refers to the cards dealt in the first round. This bet wins if the two cards form a pair (same rank).

• Mixed Pair: Different suits of different colors, like a 10 of Hearts and 10 of Spades.
• Colored Pair: Different suits of the same color, like a 2 of Hearts and 2 of Diamonds.
• Perfect Pair: Same suit, like two Aces of Spades.

21+3

The 21+3 side bet is based on your first two cards plus the Dealer's upcard combined, creating any of the following winning combinations (similar to a Poker hand).

• Flush: Non-sequential cards in the same suit, like 3, 7, and 9 of Clubs.
• Straight: A numerical sequence but different suits. For example, 2 of Spades, 3 of Hearts, 4 of Clubs.
• Three of a Kind: Same card value but different suits, like 3 of Clubs, 3 of Hearts, and 3 of Diamonds.
• Straight Flush: A numerical sequence and the same suit, like 8, 9, and 10 of Diamonds.
• Suited Trips: An identical triplet of cards, like 3 Queens of Diamonds.

Lucky Ladies

The Lucky Ladies side bet accounts for the two drawn cards, and if their total is 20 exactly.

• Unsuited 20: Two cards that total 20 but aren't the same suit, like a 10 of Spades and Queen of Diamonds.
• Suited 20: Two cards totaling 20 and are of the same suit. An example would be 10 of Spades and Queen of Spades.
• Matched 20: Two Queens of the same suit, like 2 Queens of Clubs.

Counting Cards in Blackjack

Learning the Blackjack card values is crucial to understanding the game and tracking the ratio of high-to-low cards remaining in the deck, influencing the game's final result. Understanding this concept can help you gain a deeper insight into the Blackjack cards and potentially improve your performance.

Card counting is a popular strategy for many experienced Blackjack players to gain an advantage and count cards that have already been dealt to predict ones that could be left.

The basic idea is to determine whether the deck is rich with high-value cards (10s and Aces) or low cards (2-6), which can influence if the player Hits, Stands, Doubles, or Splits.

The most common card counter strategy is the Hi-Lo system, where cards are assigned point values to help the player keep a running total.

• 2-6: These low cards are given a value of +1 points each
• 9s, 8s, and 7s: These cards are neutral with a value of 0
• 10s, Face Cards, Aces: These high cards have a value of -1

The player will keep a running count as the cards are dealt. A positive running count indicates a large proportion of lower card values have been dealt, so the deck is rich with high cards, working in the player's favor if they need to Hit.

To adjust for the number of decks in play, players convert the running count into a true count by dividing the running count by the number of decks remaining. The true count gives an accurate representation of the player's advantage.

Effects of Card Values on Blackjack House Edge

The house edge in Blackjack can be affected by the card values and their distribution in the deck. For example, when the deck has a large volume of high cards left (10s, face cards, Aces), players are more likely to get Blackjack or strong hands like a total of 20. Meanwhile, the Dealer is more likely to bust on a stiff hand (a hand with a value of 12 - 16).

When card counting and the true count is positive, players can increase their bets because their likelihood of winning increases. A negative true count indicates that the deck is rich in lower-value cards, so players can adjust their bets accordingly. Many casinos will shuffle the decks after a certain percentage of cards have been dealt to prevent players from gaining too much of an advantage through card counting. The greater the deck penetration before the reshuffle, the more effective card counting can be.

Counting cards is easier in games with only one deck, with the difficulty increasing the more decks added. Most casinos, like Rivalry, use multiple decks, making counting cards significantly harder but not impossible.

Play Live Blackjack on Rivalry

From calculating the total value of your hand to implementing strategies like card counting, mastering these concepts can elevate your Blackjack gameplay and increase your chances of winning big.

The next time you sit down at the classic Blackjack table, remember that every card you hold is a puzzle piece. Knowing its value could be the key difference between a win and a loss. Stay sharp, play smart, and let the cards work in your favor.

If you want more guides on Blackjack or any other casino game offered on Rivalry's Casino.exe platform, take a look below:

• Blackjack Odds & Probability, Explained
• How to Make Money Playing Blackjack
• The Best Blackjack Betting Strategies
• How to Play Aviator
• Lightning Baccarat Rules & How To Play
• Biggest Slot Machine Wins
• How to Win at Roulette

What are you waiting for? Create a Rivalry account today to use our welcome bonus, collect NUTZ, and bet on Blackjack! If you want a break from the Blackjack table, we have over 200 casino games to play, promising endless entertainment and fun for everyone. If you have any questions or queries, contact our 24/7 customer support team.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about card values in Blackjack.

What is the value of face cards in Blackjack?

Every face card in Blackjack (Jack, Queen, King) holds a value of ten. This means that Kings, Queens, Jacks, and Tens have the same value.

Are Jokers used in Blackjack?

No, Joker cards are not used in traditional Blackjack. This card game only uses numbered cards (2 through 10), face cards (King, Jack, and Queen), and Aces. Jokers are commonly used in card games like Rummy or Poker, but not Blackjack.

What is double deck Blackjack?

Double deck Blackjack is when the game is played with two standard 52-card decks instead of the usual six or eight decks used in many casinos. This works great for people who count cards in Blackjack, as there are fewer cards to track. This Blackjack variation also has a lower house edge because of the reduced deck size.

How many decks in online Blackjack?

The amount of decks in Blackjack games can vary depending on the casino and the provider. Evolution Gaming's live Blackjack games typically use 8 decks of cards, which is consistent on most of their live Blackjack tables. The decks are shuffled and dealt from a shoe, with the cards reshuffled peirodically to maintain fairness.

What are the card values in Blackjack card counting?

A standard Blackjack card counting strategy uses the following values for the cards:

• 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: Worth +1
• 7, 8, 9: Worth 0
• 10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings: Worth -1