Blackjack is broadly regarded as one of the most rewarding of all casino games online because the rules are so simple that anyone can learn how to play. That said, the gameplay itself is always challenging and fun. The reason? It’s all in the cards. Even with a single deck of cards, you and the dealer have 1,326 possible combinations for two-card hands. The strategic possibilities are endless since the most popular blackjack variants are played with six or eight decks.
Sounds overwhelming? It shouldn’t. All you need to keep afloat while playing blackjack online is a solid understanding of blackjack rules, starting with face card values. In blackjack, these numbers are the bedrock of the game. The cards you’re dealt — and the dealer’s up card — will determine all your actions and decisions during a hand. Among the most important cards you’ll be dealt are the face cards. Because of their high value, face cards can set you up for blackjack or make you go bust. Read on for a closer look at the value and uses of blackjack face cards.
Face Card Values in Blackjack
So, what are face cards worth in blackjack? The answer is simple: all cards with numbers on them (2–10) have the same value as those numbers. Face cards — that is, jacks, queens, and kings — all have a value of 10. This value is fixed and never changes, unlike the value of aces, which can be worth either 11 or 1, depending on the player’s choice. The best possible blackjack hand you can be dealt is a combination of a face card and an ace. If you decide that the ace is worth 11, it combines with the face card’s 10 to produce 21, the exact number of a winning hand in blackjack. This qualifies as an instant win and typically gets you payout odds of +150, or 1.5x your bet. The probability of being dealt blackjack is once in every 20.72 hands — if you’re playing with a single deck of cards.
Tips for How To Play With Blackjack Face Cards
Whether you play blackjack online or in a casino, chances are you’ll often find yourself holding face cards. So, how does one play them? The basic decision is whether to hit (ask for another card) or stand (stick with the hand you’ve got).
If you’re dealt two face cards (consider 10 to be a face card for the purpose of discussion), then you’re in a very strong position. The value of your hand is less than 21, but the probability of the dealer getting blackjack is low, so the odds are on your side in this scenario, and you should stand.
Below 20, things get trickier. When you’re dealt a face card and any other card 2–9, you get a hard total of 12–19 (a “hard hand” is any hand that doesn’t contain an ace or that will go over 21 if the ace counts as 11). Here are some tips on how to play:
- Hard 12: Stand when the dealer’s up card is 4, 5, or 6, and hit when the dealer has anything else showing.
- Hard 13–16: Stand when the dealer’s up card is 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, and hit when the dealer has anything else showing.
- Hard 17–19: Stand. You’re liable to go bust if you take another card.
Note that these tips are based on mathematical probabilities over the long term. You may not win every single hand if you apply these strategies, but you should win more often than you lose.
What about soft hands? If you’re dealt a face card, the only soft hand you can ever have is a soft 11. This is a hand that makes no sense to play because you can elect to have the ace be worth 21, which is natural blackjack.
Putting Blackjack Theory Into Practice
Reading about how to play blackjack is one thing — actually playing the game is another. Fortunately, with so many online blackjack games available, you don’t have to travel to a casino to get to grips with the game. A good place for beginners to start is RNG (random number generator) virtual blackjack games. The advantage of these slick simulations is that they give you the chance to practice blackjack solo and at your own pace without worrying about other players. Many RNG blackjack variants also allow you to play multi-hand games, allowing you to place bets on multiple hands simultaneously.
If you’re looking to enjoy a more realistic casino experience in the comfort of your own home or any other preferred gaming space, live dealer blackjack is the way to go. Here, you can play against a real live dealer operating an authentic card table with real playing cards dealt from a shoe. There are multiple live dealer blackjack variants to explore, ranging from classic blackjack at a seven-seater table to blackjack with an infinite number of players. Many live dealer blackjack games also come with intriguing side bets, such as 21+3 and Perfect Pairs.
Play Real Blackjack at Borgata Online
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