The Complete Guide to Ace Value in Blackjack - 33rd Square (2025)

In blackjack, the ace is hands-down the most powerful and valuable card. But exactly how much is an ace worth in blackjack? The short answer is the ace can be counted as either 1 or 11, whichever benefits the player‘s hand the most. Let me explain further how ace value works in blackjack and provide some expert strategy tips for playing ace hands optimally as a newer blackjack player.

Card Values in Blackjack

First, a quick refresher on how each card is valued in a game of 21:

• Cards 2 through 10 = Face value
• Jacks, Queens, Kings = 10 points
• Aces = 1 or 11 points

The flexible value of the ace is a key aspect that makes blackjack a game of skill versus pure chance. Understanding when the ace counts as 1 versus 11 can help you make better strategic choices during play.

Soft Hands Versus Hard Hands

The terms "soft" and "hard" refer to the value given to an ace in the player‘s current hand:

• Soft Hand: The ace counts as 11 without the total going over 21. For example, A+5 is "soft 16."

• Hard Hand: The ace can only be counted as 1 or the hand would bust. For example, A+8 is a "hard 9."

With a soft hand, the ace is still able to switch from 11 to 1 if a future card drawn causes the total to exceed 21. That flexibility provides more options for the player on soft ace hands.

When the Ace Counts as 11 Versus 1

Whether an ace counts as 11 or 1 depends on the player‘s other cards in that hand:

• With a hand total of 11 or less, the ace always counts as 11 to start. This helps maximize the starting value.

• With a hand total between 12-21, the ace counts as 1. This prevents going over 21.

• If the player‘s hand goes over 21 with the ace as 11, then the ace must switch to a value of 1.

The only common exception is when dealt two aces. In that case it‘s best to count them as 1 each to start, treating it as a hard 12 rather than a risky soft 22.

Basic Strategy for Hitting and Standing

Here are the recommended moves for soft and hard ace hands:

• Soft hands: Always hit when the total is soft 17 or less. Stand on soft 18, 19 or 20. The flexible ace gives you room if the hit busts.

• Hard hands: If the total is 11 or less, hit in every scenario. Between 12-16, hit or stand varies based on the dealer‘s upcard. Stand on any hard total of 17 or more.

Let‘s say you have A+6 for a soft total of 17. The basic strategy says to stand since it is a soft 18-or-higher hand. But with a starting hand of A+2, making a soft 13, the correct play is to hit and try to improve your hand.

Following these hit/stand rules will optimize your ace play. Of course exceptions can be made if you are an advanced player using card-counting strategies.

Splitting Pairs of Aces

When dealt a pair of aces, the statistically best play is to split them into two separate hands almost every time. By splitting aces, you convert a soft 12 into two hard 11s, for which the strategy is to always hit.

Some key advantages of splitting aces:

• You double your chances of being dealt a 10-value card for a blackjack.

• You lower variance since only one hand can potentially lose to a dealer blackjack.

• You enable the ability to hit, double down, or split again, depending on the rules.

The only common exception would be a game with unfavorable rule restrictions on resplitting or doubling after splitting aces. Otherwise, go ahead and split those bullets!

Impact of the Dealer‘s Upcard

The dealer‘s exposed card, also called the upcard, has a significant influence on correct basic strategy. The stronger the dealer‘s upcard, the more conservatively you should play your own hand:

• Weaker dealer upcards (2-6): Stand more aggressively on soft 18+ hands. More likely to double down or hit hard hands below 17.

• Stronger dealer upcards (7-Ace): Hit more aggressively on soft 17-and-under hands to improve total. Less likely to double down or hit hard hands below 17.

This adjustment based on the dealer upcard gives you a slight mathematical edge to counteract the house advantage.

Advanced Plays: Doubling Down and Surrender

Besides just hitting or standing, here are two advanced plays to consider on ace hands:

Doubling Down: Doubling your original bet in exchange for hitting just one card. This is favorable when your hand is strong and dealer is weak.

Doubling recommendations:

• Soft 18 vs dealer 2-6 (otherwise stand)
• Soft 19 vs dealer 3-6 (stand against 7-A)
• Hard 11 vs any dealer upcard (always double)

Surrender: Forfeiting half your bet and throwing away a weak hand. Offered at some casinos in early and late formats:

Early surrender – Before dealer checks for blackjack
Late surrender – After dealer checks, does not have blackjack

In either format, surrender hard 15 against a dealer ace or ten to minimize losses when dealer likely has blackjack. Know the rules before attempting!

Should You Double a Soft 20?

A common rookie mistake is doubling down a soft 20 hand thinking "it‘s just one card, I can maybe get 21." But a soft 20 already is a 21! There‘s no reason mathematically to double a soft 20 even against a dealer 5 or 6 since you likely have the best hand already. Save that double for when it will improve your odds, like a soft 18 or hard 11.

Card Counting Values for Aces

In card counting systems like Hi-Lo, aces and 10-valued cards are assigned a value of -1. These are favorable cards for the player.

As more aces and face cards are dealt from the deck, the running count becomes more positive. This signals fewer low cards left in the remaining deck, giving the advantage to the player.

An ace-rich deck calls for increasing bets aggressively and standing more often on stiff hard hands that are likely to bust if hit. Advanced blackjack players watch the ace and face card count closely to capitalize on high-count situations.

Playing Multiple Hands With Aces

While playing multiple hands, like splitting pair or side bets, keep these tips in mind:

• If dealt aces on both hands, apply the proper soft/hard strategy discussed earlier. Don‘t assume both aces count as 11.

• When deciding to hit or stand, consider both hands in your decision, not just one in isolation. Think holistically about how the next card(s) could impact your total hands value.

• Be aware that splitting lowers volatility but also reduces the chance of getting a high multiple-hand total. Consider the tradeoffs.

• Doubling or splitting again is possible on multiple hands, but understand the math and risks before making this play if allowed.

Common Pitfalls and Misconceptions

Let‘s debunk some common myths and faulty logic about playing blackjack hands with aces:

• Hitting soft 17 or higher because you feel "due for a ten" – Incorrect, stand on these hands per the basic strategy guidance.

• Not re-splitting aces because "8 and 12 is a 20 and that‘s a good hand" – Splitting is still better mathematically.

• Hitting hard 16 against dealer 9 because "you‘re afraid to bust" – Odds say hit and try to improve total. Can‘t play scared!

• Doubling soft 20 because "you might get a 21" – Soft 20 already is 21, so don‘t double.

• Not doubling hard 10 vs dealer 10 because "pushing is ok" – Doubling has higher EV than standing and is correct play.

• Taking insurance "because you have an ace" – Insurance only makes sense at very rare high positive counts, not just for having an ace.

Ignore hunches, and stick to proper basic strategy for optimal results. The math doesn‘t lie!

By the Numbers: Ace Probability and Impact

Let‘s analyze some key probabilities and statistics that reveal why the ace is so powerful in blackjack:

• Chance of being dealt an ace – 16% (4 aces in 52 card deck)
• Chance of a 21 from two cards with an ace – 31%
• Increase in average hand value from adding ace – +8% (from 13 to 21)
• Increase in odds of blackjack from splitting aces – 155% (from 4.8% to 12.2%)

As you can see from the numbers, starting with an ace in blackjack provides a major statistical advantage compared to non-ace hands. But you have to know the proper strategy to maximize its potential!

Example Hands for Practice

Let‘s walk through some sample blackjack hands step-by-step to reinforce optimal ace strategy:

Hand 1) You are dealt A+5 against a dealer 4.

Correct play: Hit, because A+5 is a soft 16 and basic strategy says to hit soft 17 or under.

Hand 2) You receive A+8 against a dealer 7.

Correct play: Stand, because A+8 is a hard 19 which is a strong hand to stand on vs all dealer upcards.

Hand 3) You are dealt A+A and split against a dealer Q.

Correct play: Split the aces, because pairs of aces should almost always be split for the reasons discussed earlier.

Hand 4) You have A+2 and double down against a dealer 5.

Correct play: Incorrect – you should simply hit the soft 13 rather than double down in this scenario.

Get comfortable practicing hands like these with ace combinations and remember the strategy rules outlined above.

In Summary: Embrace the Power of the Ace!

While intricate, the value of an ace in blackjack comes down to understanding the circumstances under which it counts as a 1 or 11. Follow the guidelines provided on soft versus hard hands, dealer upcards, splits, doubles, and advanced plays. Being dealt an ace doesn‘t guarantee success, but properly maximizing its potential will give you a big edge against the house in the game of 21.

Hopefully this detailed overview gives you the confidence to embrace the power of the ace next time one lands in your hand at the blackjack table. Stay strategic, have fun, and watch those winnings stack up! Thanks for reading and good luck out there!

Related