Blackjack Card Values: The Core of Every Decision

Master blackjack card values: cards 2–10 score at face value, while all face cards equal 10. The Ace counts as 1 or 11, ensuring flexible strategy and smarter plays.

Blackjack card values are the absolute foundation of the game. I don’t care if you’re sitting at a high-limit Vegas table or just messing around with friends at a kitchen table — if you don’t know the value of each card in blackjack, you’re not really playing… You’re just guessing. 

And trust me, blackjack is not a game where you want to guess. 

Every hand, every decision, every smart move comes down to knowing exactly how much each card is worth. That’s especially true when Aces are involved — because let’s be honest, nothing causes more confusion at a blackjack table than trying to figure out what an Ace is worth. 

If you’ve ever sat there staring at an Ace and wondering, “Is this 1 or 11? Am I supposed to hit or stay?” — Don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone. 

I’ve been there too. We all have. 

But once you understand how blackjack card values work, the whole game opens up. It starts to feel less intimidating. Less confusing. And way more fun. 

The Simple Truth About Blackjack Card Values 

Alright, let’s start from the very beginning. Blackjack uses a standard 52-card deck, and most of the cards are wonderfully simple to understand. Any card between 2 and 10 is worth its face value. A four is worth four. A nine is worth nine. Nothing tricky there. 

Then you’ve got the face cards — Jacks, Queens, and Kings. In blackjack, every single face card is worth ten points. Doesn’t matter if it’s a King of Hearts or a Queen of Spades, it’s still worth ten. Players sometimes wonder things like how much a Queen is in blackjack or if a King is worth more, but in this game, they’re all equal. All tens. All day long. 

Where things get interesting — and honestly, a little fun — is when the Ace shows up. 

The Most Powerful Card on the Table 

So, what is an Ace in blackjack? What does an Ace mean in blackjack strategy? Simple. The Ace is the only card in the deck that can change its value based on what’s best for your hand. 

An Ace in blackjack can count as either 1 or 11. That means if you’re holding an Ace and a 6, you’ve got a total of either 7 or 17. This is what makes hands with Aces so flexible and so valuable. 

But here’s the thing a lot of beginners miss — the Ace’s value adjusts automatically depending on whether counting it as 11 would bust your hand. If it would? The Ace just quietly drops down to being worth 1. No drama. No announcement. It just happens. 

I still remember one of my early casino sessions where I had Ace-3 against a dealer’s 10. I froze, wondering if I should treat the Ace as 11 or 1. The dealer leaned in with a grin and said, “It’s worth whatever keeps you alive, kid.” Honestly? That line has stuck with me ever since. 

Knowing how much an Ace is worth in blackjack — and trusting that it can be both 1 and 11 depending on the situation — is what separates beginners from players who actually get the game. 

Face Cards in Blackjack: Jack, Queen, King 

Now, I’ve seen people ask some pretty wild questions at the table, like how much a Queen is worth in blackjack or if a King is worth more than a Jack. The answer is always the same — in blackjack, all face cards are worth 10 points. 

Period. A Queen of Hearts? That’s 10. King of Clubs? Still 10. Jack of Spades? You guessed it—10. 

There’s no bonus for matching face cards or special value for certain suits in blackjack. Blackjack isn’t poker. The suits don’t matter. The only thing that matters is the numerical value. 

And while we’re at it — no, jokers are not part of standard blackjack. So if anyone asks how much a joker is worth in blackjack, the answer is easy: zero. It’s not even in the deck. 

The Importance of Knowing Blackjack Card Values Instinctively 

In fast-paced blackjack games — especially in live casinos — you don’t have time to stop and think, “Wait… how much is this card worth in blackjack again?” You need to know instantly. 

This is why understanding blackjack card values inside and out is crucial. If you’re fumbling over whether an Ace is 1 or 11 or how much a Queen or Jack is worth, you’re not going to keep up. And that’s when mistakes happen. 

The smoother you get with card values, the easier it becomes to focus on what really matters — making good decisions, playing smart, and knowing when to press your advantage. 

FAQs

1. Do face cards differ from the 10 in any way?

No—face cards (J, Q, K) and the 10 each contribute 10 points to your hand. Strategically, they’re treated the same.

2. Do suits matter in blackjack?

In most blackjack variations, suits (hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades) have no impact on the card’s value or on any payouts. Blackjack is primarily about total card points.

3. What happens to my Ace if I bust with 11?

Your Ace’s value shifts from 11 to 1 automatically if counting it as 11 would push your total over 21.