In blackjack, cards 2–10 keep their printed value. A jack, queen or king counts as 10. An ace counts as 1 or 11: count it as 11 only when that keeps the whole hand at 21 or below. Suits do not change these values.
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| 2–10 | The number on the card |
| Jack, queen, king | 10 each |
| Ace | 1 or 11, depending on the whole hand |
A standard blackjack pack has no jokers. The examples below explain hand totals, not a strategy for choosing bets or taking another card.
An ace can change value as the hand changes
You do not lock an ace at 11 when it arrives. Recalculate after each additional card.
- Ace + 6 = 17. Count the ace as 11. This is called a soft 17 because the ace can fall to 1 without the hand going over 21.
- Ace + 6 + 9 = 16. Keeping the ace at 11 would give 26. Count it as 1 instead: 1 + 6 + 9 = 16. This hand has not busted.
- 10 + 6 = 16. This is a hard 16. There is no ace counted as 11 to reduce if another card takes the total over 21.
A hand is soft when it contains an ace counted as 11. A hand with an ace counted only as 1 can be hard: the ace in ace + 6 + 9 cannot reduce the total any further.
How to count two or more aces
Start by counting every ace as 1. Add the other cards. If adding 10 leaves the total at 21 or less, one ace can count as 11 instead. Two aces cannot both count as 11 in a hand that stays at 21 or below.
| Hand | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Ace + ace | 11 + 1 = 12 |
| Ace + ace + 9 | 11 + 1 + 9 = 21 |
| Ace + ace + 9 + king | 1 + 1 + 9 + 10 = 21 |
| Ace + 9 + king + 5 | 1 + 9 + 10 + 5 = 25: bust |
In the last example, the total exceeds 21 even with the ace at 1. Changing its value cannot save the hand. These are constructed arithmetic examples, not results from playing a game.
A total of 21 is not always a blackjack
An opening ace with a 10, jack, queen or king makes a two-card blackjack, also called a natural. A hand such as 7 + 5 + 9 also totals 21, but it takes three cards to get there. Do not assume it receives a special blackjack payout just because the total is the same.
The Venetian’s published blackjack explanation defines blackjack using the initial two cards and lists different blackjack payouts for different tables. It illustrates why the actual game rules matter; it is not a recommendation to use that venue or a description of Philippine availability.
If a game lets you split a pair into separate hands, read its split-hand settlement rules. This card-value chart explains the total; it does not establish what a hand formed after a split pays.
Check the rules beyond the card values
A score tells you what is in the hand. It does not tell you the table’s blackjack payout, how the dealer handles soft 17, or which split and double options apply. Read those rules before making a decision. Our table-game checklist explains the details to look for.
If you are switching from baccarat, do not carry its scoring method into blackjack. In blackjack, a queen is 10 and totals can go above 9. See the separate baccarat card-value guide for that game.
Sources and corrections
Prepared under the LaroAtlas name with AI-assisted writing and review. This is educational content for adults aged 21 and over, with no claim of independent human review or personal playing experience.
- Bicycle Cards: Blackjack — card values, the pack and an opening natural; checked 2 November 2026.
- Pennsylvania Code § 633a.3 — corroborates card values and ace adjustment; checked 2 November 2026. This is a Pennsylvania rule, not Philippine law.
- The Venetian: How to Play Blackjack — initial two-card blackjack and table-specific rules; checked 4 November 2026.
Read our editorial standards or send an issue through Contact & corrections. Manuscript reviewed 4 November 2026.