Blackjack Queen Worth
The Ace is a powerful tool for any successful hand because of its unique flexibility to count as either one or 11 points, at the player’s discretion. All learned blackjack players know we need to use this card wisely, and not let it go to waste.
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If you make this bet in a multi-deck game, and your first two dealt cards are suited (known as an Easy Match) the payoff is 5 to 2, with a Royal Match - a suited King and Queen - paying 25 to 1. In addition, you receive a 5 to 1 payoff for a suited blackjack. However, the jack, queen and king are worth 10 points. So in a standard 52 card deck, 16 of those cards are worth 10 points. Blackjack Ace and Ten Cards. The most powerful combination of cards are the aces and tens. A 'blackjack' is a term used when a player scores the highest possible points using only two cards, which would be a ten and an ace.
1 or 11 – How to Use an Ace
Required to form a natural two-card blackjack in all variants of the game (and thus a higher pay-out), the Ace is the pillar of the game of 21. A natural blackjack will always trump the dealer’s hand, or possibly force a push (otherwise known as a tie) if the dealer also draws to blackjack. And the Ace’s flexibility to be valued at either one or 11 points can be used according to which value is most advantageous for us, and this should not be taken for granted.
A hand with an Ace is known as a “soft hand” based on the fact that if we hit, we cannot bust. For example, if we hold an Ace/Four (five or 15 points in total) as our first two card dealt, it is impossible to bust by drawing another card, because if we drew a card valued at 10 points, we would simply give the Ace a value of one, for a hand total of 15. If we drew another Ace from the Ace/Four hand, such a hand could total either six or 16.
Drawing an Ace and a high-valued card such as a Seven, Eight or Nine give the player a strong starting hand, and needs to be played based on what the dealer is showing. It is important to play to the Ace’s strengths, but also be aware of the potential danger we face when the dealer shows an Ace; it’s equally as deadly a weapon when used against us.
If we draw two Aces, our first course of action is to always split them. While the Ace is a powerful card on its own, if we are dealt a pair of Aces on our first draw and opt to keep them together, their combined total value is either two or 12 points. While drawing another card would not bust our hand, starting with a soft-12 is a much poorer hand with much weaker odds of winning, than beginning afresh with two new hands which both have the potential to draw to blackjack.
While we are required to place another bet equal to our original wager when we split our cards, it is well worth the money, as we stand in a much stronger position than before. And should we win, the payout will be greater. Keeping the Aces together wastes the inherent value of the Ace card by itself. Always split them to have the best possible chances of bettering your hand.
The Catch With Split Aces
Because the decision to split a pair of Aces is universally agreed upon, because of the favourable odds such a move hands the player, casinos employ certain rules to counter its effectiveness.
- If we split our Aces and draw a 10-valued card to achieve blackjack with either hand, many land-based casinos enforce the rule that such a hand is not considered a natural blackjack, and therefore, we are not be entitled to the usual 3 to 2 payout; instead we only receive a 1 to 1 payout. We have more freedom playing online simply because of the vast range of different games with different rules, but there are still quite a few variants which enforce this rule, so be mindful of it before you let rip at not scoring a bigger return from your hard-earned 21.
- Another rule which can counter the effectiveness of split Aces states we are only allowed to be dealt one additional card to each Ace, with no allowance for hitting (just like if we were to double down). This significantly hurts our chances if we are dealt two lower cards, such as a Deuce and a Four, two our Aces, giving us totals of 13 and 15 respectively, and leaving us with no other option but to stand. Again, with the flexibility of online gaming, try to play games of 21 which do not own such a rule.
- One other rule which is far less enforced but still exists, is the simple rule which dictates players are not permitted to split Aces, full stop. There are subtypes of blackjack where this regulation is imposed. Steer clear of such games.
How to Maximise Our Aces
Using an Ace to its full potential is a key part of basic strategy. Whenever we are dealt an Ace, it is important to take note of the dealer’s up-card before we proceed (as it is with any other card). To understand what moves we should make with any hand containing an Ace, familiarise yourself with basic blackjack strategy here.
Exploiting an ‘Ace rich deck’ is a tactic used by many gamblers. A single standard deck has 52 cards, and there is one Ace for every thirteen cards. Should we be playing a single deck game, we should take note if no Aces appear in the first deal of 13 cards, or if even luckier, the second or even third deal of 13 cards. If such a scenario arises, we tend to call the deck an Ace rich deck, as none of the four Aces have yet been dealt.
If no Ace card shows in the first 13 cards dealt in a single-deck game, we should double our starting bet, and raise it again by around $5-$10 for every subsequent 13 cards dealt without an Ace. While this rare situation gives us only a slight boost in our odds, it should be taken advantage of whenever possible so as to potentially net us more bang for our buck.
She is a Beauty
We here at blackjack.com.au like to personify the Ace. Whenever we see that first letter of the alphabet appear on a card, we get excited, and more often than not, we reap the rewards of being dealt an Ace. So it’s only fair we pay tribute to her beauty. Her value is unique, akin to no other card, and in the game of blackjack, if we are ever so lucky to be dealt a pair of Aces, split them apart so they don’t get jealous of one another. Naturally, there is an increased risk when splitting, as we need to double our bet to create two hands, but she’s worth every penny.
Origins of the Ace
The term Ace first began in dice games rather than card games, and was used to refer to the side of the dice with only one dot. Ironically, in the earliest forms of card games and card gambling, the Ace was considered useless. It had the lowest value of all cards and was the worst one to draw. This is a far cry from its high value today.
When the French game of Vingt-et-Un (meaning twenty-one), came to America via French colonists, it helped to change the way Aces were perceived and used in blackjack, by shifting the previous perception of royal cards as being the best cards, especially following the beheading of King Louis XVI.
French gamblers, who felt it was politically incorrect for the royal cards to continue being considered high-value, replaced their crowns with personified representations of the ideals of democracy, liberty and honesty, while raising the Ace – considered now to be the personification of the common man – to the highest value. It has retained its status until this very day.
Blackjack is one of the most exciting games offered at any casino and with many sites offering the game to be played online, players from all over the world can enjoy great action and have the best chances to win. The game offers some excellent odds for the player, which is why many players will head straight for the blackjack section of an online casino.
By practicing the game and employing some basic strategies, the house edge is only 0.5%, so it is clearly evident that players have an advantage and have excellent opportunities to collect payouts when playing different blackjack variations. When playing online, players will have the ability to play for real money or for free and will be pleased with the selection of games, with some sites offering 10 or more blackjack variations that can be enjoyed.
Objective of Blackjack
Many players believe that the objective of the game is to come close to obtaining a hand that is valued at 21. This is not the true objective of the game. The ultimate goal is to beat the dealer and this can be done with many different hand values. It is possible to beat the dealer and win with a hand that is valued at just 13, so the 21 aspect is not the true objective. Since the dealer can bust, players will often win with low valued hands. Players need to remember that the goal is to beat the dealer, either by having a higher valued hand that is below or equal to 21 or having the dealer bust.
Card Values
There are different types of hands that are created when playing blackjack and players will use all of the cards in the deck, ranging from Ace to King. The cards are valued as they are in poker, but the main difference with blackjack is that the Ace can be worth 1 or 11, whichever will benefit the player. All other cards are worth face value and Jack, Queen and King are worth 10.
Blackjack Queen Worth Aj
- Hard Hand – When playing blackjack, players will hear the term Hard Hand. This means that the hand does not have to contain an Ace, but it can. The value of the ace will be 1 instead of being 1 or 11.
- Soft Hand – With a Soft Hand, the Ace can be 1 or 11 and players will have more chances to draw and beat the dealer. With a soft hand, the Ace will usually count as 11, so a hand with an Ace and a 5 is considered a soft 16.
Single Deck and Multiple Deck Blackjack Games
Blackjack Queen Worth Anything
Online casinos offer different types of games and players will find blackjack games that use a single deck of cards and those that use multiple decks. Whenever possible, it is beneficial for players to choose a single deck game. The reason for this is that players will get more blackjack hands when playing with a single deck. It can also benefit those that count cards since it is easier to keep track of just 52 cards in play. Unfortunately, most online casinos offer games that use multiple decks.
With multi-deck games, players will see casinos using between 2 and 8 decks on most blackjack games. The number of decks used will vary based on the blackjack variation that is selected. 2 deck games are rare, but when players can find them, they are beneficial to play. The most commonly found 2 deck game is Vegas Downtown Blackjack. It is always beneficial for players to play blackjack games that use the fewest decks.
The Play
The game begins with placing a bet on the table, which can vary per casino and pr game, so always check the game minimum and maximum bet amount. Once bets are placed, the dealer will deal two cards to each player and two to himself, one face up and one face down. Based on the value of player cards, they can choose to do different things. The game choices are explained below and each of these options can be used to enhance the chances of winning.
- Blackjack/21 – If players are dealt an Ace and a face card or a ten, they will immediately receive a payout as this is a blackjack.
- Hit – If players desire, they can hit and take an additional card to increase their hand value. This can be done as many times as needed.
Queen Worth In Blackjack
- Stand – When players do not wish to make any more moves, they will choose to stand and their turn ends.
- Double Down – With the double down option, players will double their bet amount and take only one more card.
- Insurance – If the dealer card is an Ace, players can take Insurance. This is a side bet on whether the dealer has a blackjack. The bet offers even money in return, but there is a high house edge, so players should avoid taking insurance.
- Surrender – The surrender option allows players to only risk half the bet amount. This is a good option when players are sure they will lose the hand, but it is not offered in many online casinos.
Using A Basic Strategy
To benefit from the low house edge and have the most success playing real money blackjack, players should learn and always employ the basic blackjack strategy. There are tables offered online that offer players information on how to play every hand combination. While it can be difficult to memorize all actions, players can refer to these charts when they are playing online, but will not be able to reference them if they are playing at a land based casino.
A basic strategy will tell players when to hit, stand, double, split or surrender. Using this strategy will reduce the house edge to the lowest of 0.5% and will provide players with the best opportunities to win.
Practice Blackjack for Free Online
Not every player is familiar with the rules or strategies of blackjack, which is why free games are beneficial. These games require no wager, so there is no risk to the player. However, they will be able to play multiple hands of blackjack and practice their skills and strategies to prepare for when they start to play for real money. Most online casinos offer an array of free games so that players can test out different variations and learn the rules of the games before betting.
Our team at BlackjackGala have listed a nice selection of free Blackjack games, courtesy of a few prominent online casinos, that you can play without any download or installation. Go here to see the full list of free blackjack games that you can start playing in just in a matter of a few seconds.