Blackjack Hand Values: Card Points Guide for Beginners
Blackjack is one of the most widely played card games in the UK and you will often see it featured in the game libraries of online casinos, such as Rose Casino. To understand the game properly, it can be useful to know how each card is valued and how these values affect the strength of your hand.
This guide introduces you to the basics of hand values in blackjack. It explains how cards are counted, why some are more flexible than others, and how this knowledge shapes the choices made during a game. By the end, you will have a clearer picture of how blackjack works and what those numbers in front of you really mean.
Understanding How Card Points Work in Blackjack
In classic UK blackjack, each card contributes a set number of points to your total. Number cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value, so a 7 counts as seven points and a 10 counts as ten.
Face cards such as Jack, Queen and King are all worth ten points. The Ace is flexible and can count as either 1 or 11, whichever gives you a stronger hand without going over 21.
Your total is the sum of your cards. For example, an Ace with a 7 can be either 8 or 18. The aim is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, because going over 21 is called busting and results in an automatic loss.
With the basics in place, it may help to look at each card value in a simple breakdown.
What Is the Value of Each Card in Blackjack?
Each card in a standard deck has a fixed value in blackjack, and knowing these at a glance can help keep the game smooth and clear.
Here’s a simple guide to each card value:
- Cards 2 to 10 are worth their number in points.
- Jacks, Queens and Kings each count as 10 points.
- Aces can be used as either 1 point or 11 points, depending on what best supports your hand.
For example, a 6 and a Queen total 16 points. An Ace and an 8 can be 9 or 19, depending on how you count the Ace.
How Are Aces Counted in Blackjack?
Aces are unique because they can shift between 1 and 11 as the hand develops. The chosen value is simply the one that keeps your total at 21 or below and as strong as possible.
Take an Ace and a 7. That can be either 8 or 18. If you then receive a 6, the Ace changes to 1 so the hand becomes 14 rather than 24.
With more than one Ace, only one can effectively count as 11 at a time. Two Aces together are usually treated as 12, but if the total would go over 21, they can be counted as 2 instead. For instance, Ace, Ace, 9 can be 21 by counting one Ace as 11 and the other as 1.
This flexibility is what creates “soft” hands, which we will look at next.
Soft Hands vs Hard Hands Explained
Understanding soft and hard hands can help you read how much room for manoeuvre you have before risking a bust.
A soft hand contains an Ace counted as 11, without the total exceeding 21. For example, Ace and 6 is a soft 17. If a new card would push the total too high, the Ace can be adjusted to 1, potentially turning that soft 17 into a safer total after the hit. A common example is Ace and 7, which can be treated as 18, or as 8 if a high card arrives.
A hard hand either has no Ace, or has an Ace that must be counted as 1. For example, 10 and 7 is a hard 17. With a hard hand, the total is fixed, so any card that pushes the total past 21 causes a bust.
Soft hands give breathing space because the Ace can convert from 11 to 1. Hard hands do not have that safety net, which is why they are treated more cautiously.
With those ideas clear, adding up any blackjack hand can become more straightforward.
How to Add Up Your Blackjack Hand Value
Counting a hand is simply a matter of adding each card’s points and adjusting for Aces when needed.
A Jack and a 5 make 15. A 4, a 6 and a Queen make 20. Those are hard hands because there is no Ace acting as 11.
When Aces are involved, totals can shift. Ace and 8 is 19. If a 5 is added, the Ace drops to 1, so the total becomes 14 instead of 24. With two Aces and a 7, the best total is 19, because one Ace counts as 11 and the other as 1. Ace, 3 and 7 neatly makes 21, while Ace, 9 and 9 is 19 because the Ace is counted as 1 to avoid a bust.
Once you are comfortable reading totals this way, the different game formats may start to make more sense.
Discover Online Blackjack Games at Rose Casino
At Rose Casino, you will find a range of online blackjack options to suit different preferences.
Rose Casino is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, so you can expect games to meet UK standards for fairness and player protection.
You can log in or join Rose Casino to browse the full lobby and see what is available.
If you choose to play, set limits, take breaks, and only spend what you can afford. Understanding hand values is a good foundation for confident play, and when you are ready, we are here with plenty of tables to explore. Please play responsibly.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.