Blackjack is one of the most popular card games found in both online and land-based casinos across the UK. For anyone new to the game, understanding what each card means is a key starting point. The ace, in particular, has a special role unlike any other card in the deck.
Whether you’re playing at a local casino or at an online table, it could help to know how the ace works and why its value can lead to very different results. A clear grasp of this single card may potentially make the rest of the game far easier to follow. Read on to learn more.
What Does the Ace Mean in Blackjack?
In blackjack, the ace is a unique card because it has two potential values. It can be worth either 1 or 11, depending on what works best for your hand. This means you can count the ace as either number to give you the most favourable total. For example, if you have an ace and a 7, your hand could be valued at 8 or 18.
The ace stands out from the other cards, as most cards have only one definite value. All cards numbered 2 to 10 keep their face value, while face cards like kings, queens and jacks are each worth 10. The ace is the only card that lets you adjust its value during play.
Because of that flexibility, the ace can keep a hand alive when higher cards arrive or push a borderline total closer to 21 without going over.
If you do decide to try your hand at blackjack, remember to do so responsibly and within your means; never wager more than you can afford to lose.
What's the Value of an Ace in Blackjack?
The ace holds a special place in blackjack because of its flexible value. In any hand, the ace can be counted as either 1 or 11, depending on what suits your cards best. This can offer additional choices during a round.
If your other card is, for example, a 6, your total could be 7 (if the ace is used as 1) or 17 (if the ace is used as 11). This flexibility is especially useful early on, when more cards may still be drawn.
In online games, the software will usually total your hand and apply the value that gives you the highest number without going over 21. At a physical table, the dealer will count your ace in the way that keeps the total within the rules. If you are playing a variant such as single-deck or multi-deck blackjack, the help section will explain any differences, though the way the ace is valued is typically the same.
What Happens If You Get 2 Aces in Blackjack?
If you are dealt two aces as your starting hand in blackjack, each ace can be worth either 1 or 11. If both are counted as 11, the total is 22, which is over the limit. To stay in play, one ace is usually treated as 11 and the other as 1, for a total of 12.
Most casinos give you the option to split your hand when you get two aces. If you split, each ace becomes the starting card for a new hand, and you place a second bet equal to your original wager.
In many games, after splitting aces, you receive only one more card for each hand. Whether you then hit again or resplit depends on the table rules. The chance of drawing another ace after a split depends on the number of decks being used, which is why games list their deck count and rules in the information section.
Why Do Players Split Aces in Blackjack?
If two aces are dealt as your opening cards, you have the option to split them into two hands. The main reason players split is that it gives each new hand a much better route to a strong total. Kept together, two aces add up to 12, which is not particularly flexible. Split apart, each hand begins with an ace that can count as 1 or 11.
If the next card to either hand is a 10, jack, queen or king (each worth 10), the total becomes 21 with just two cards. Some tables treat this differently from a natural blackjack that comes from the initial two-card deal, so payouts may vary after a split.
Many variants limit how aces can be split and whether more than one card can be taken on each split hand. These small details influence decisions, which is why knowing the house rules is part of playing with confidence.
How Does the Ace Compare to Other Card Rankings?
In blackjack, each card has a set value and plays a specific role in your hand. Cards numbered 2 to 10 are straightforward, as each holds its face value. For example, a 5 counts as five and a 9 counts as nine.
Face cards, such as kings, queens and jacks, are each worth 10. They do not outrank each other in blackjack, so all three carry the same point value.
The ace stands apart from all other cards because it can count as either 1 or 11. No other card in a standard 52-card deck can change its value during play. That is why the ace is often described as the most versatile card on the table.
Does the Value of an Ace Change During a Hand?
The value of an ace in blackjack can switch between 1 and 11 as your hand develops. If using the ace as 11 would put your total over 21, it is counted as 1 instead. If your other cards mean you can use the ace as 11 without busting, it will be counted as 11.
For instance, if you start with an ace and a 5, your hand totals either 6 or 16. If you then receive a 7, the ace’s value can move from 11 to 1, making your total 13 instead of 23. This adjustment helps keep a hand in play when higher cards arrive.
In online blackjack, these totals update automatically, and at live tables the dealer keeps the count according to the rules shown on the layout or in the game information.
Can an Ace Count as Both 1 and 11 in the Same Hand?
In blackjack, the ace is a flexible card and can be worth 1 or 11, but it does not count as both values at the same time in a single hand. Its value shifts based on the other cards you hold.
If your cards add up to less than 11, the ace will usually count as 11 to give you a higher total. If counting it as 11 would push your total over 21, the ace changes to 1. With more than one ace, the total is worked out to keep the hand at the lowest value that does not exceed 21.
Understanding how the ace behaves, on its own and when paired, makes core decisions like splitting, standing and taking another card much clearer. Always keep responsible gambling practises in mind.
**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.
*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.