Blackjack Card Values: Ace’s Worth & Two Aces Meaning
Knowing how each card contributes to your hand is fundamental if you’re learning how to play blackjack, and the ace holds a particularly important role. Its flexible value may influence the outcome of a hand, often turning a borderline total into a strong, playable one.
This Ivy Casino blog post will explain the two possible values of the ace, the implications of being dealt two aces, how splitting works, and when an ace counts as either high or low. It will also place the ace in context alongside other card values, providing a clear and complete picture.
Read on to find out more.
What Is the Value of an Ace in Blackjack?
In blackjack, the ace is the only card with a flexible value. It can count as either 1 or 11, whichever keeps the hand total as strong as possible without going over 21.
If treating the ace as 11 would push the total above 21, it instead counts as 1. That switch can happen as new cards arrive. For example, an ace with a 7 can be 8 or 18. If a 9 is then drawn, the ace shifts to 1, so the total becomes 17 rather than 27.
This ability to adjust is why the ace is so useful, but it also means the player needs to track the total carefully as the hand develops. That flexibility also explains why the ace is treated differently in the rules.
Why Does the Ace Have Two Possible Values?
The ace is unique in blackjack because it can count as either 1 or 11. This flexibility is built into the rules to help keep your hand in play for longer. If you’re holding an ace and your total is still below 21, it can count as 11. But if drawing another card would push you over, the ace can shift to a value of 1 instead, helping you avoid going bust.
If you’re dealt a hand where the ace is counted as 11, it’s known as a soft hand. Because the ace can adjust if needed, soft hands are generally more forgiving than hands made up of only fixed-value cards. This rule is standard across most blackjack tables and plays a key role in how the game flows.
But what if you’re dealt two aces at once? Let’s take a look at what that means for your hand.
What Happens If You’re Dealt Two Aces?
If you’re dealt two aces, you’re in an unusual but potentially strong position. Counting both as 11 would give you 22, which goes over the limit, so one ace counts as 11 while the other becomes 1. This gives you a starting total of 12.
However, while technically this is considered a soft 12, it behaves very differently in practice. Most blackjack players choose to split two aces right away because a starting total of 12 is weak and doesn’t make full use of what the aces can offer. Playing two aces as a single hand is uncommon, as splitting them gives you a much better chance to try to improve both hands.
While 12 might not seem like much, it offers a lot of flexibility. Drawing just one card can quickly improve your position. For example, if you draw a 9, the total becomes 21. And because one ace can switch to a value of 1 if needed, even drawing a high card usually keeps your hand in play.
At many tables, you’ll have the option to split the pair into two separate hands, each beginning with an ace. Whether this is allowed, and how it works in practice, depends on the house rules at the table.
So, what does it really mean to start with two aces? Let’s take a closer look at how splitting works and what it might offer if you choose to go that route.
How Do Two Aces Affect Your Blackjack Hand?
Starting with two aces gives you a total of 12, but it behaves very differently from a typical 12. This is technically considered a soft hand (because one ace counts as 11), but due to the unique nature of two aces together, many players opt to split them. It’s rare to play two aces as a regular soft hand, since splitting tends to offer better odds of potentially making a winning hand. For example, if you draw a 10, one ace shifts to a value of 1, keeping the total at 12 and leaving you free to draw again. If you draw a 9 instead, your total jumps straight to 21. This ability to adapt makes two aces one of the most flexible starting hands in blackjack.
If the table allows you to split the pair, the potential benefits become even clearer. Each new hand would begin with an ace, so if you draw a 10-value card on either one, you immediately reach 21. However, some tables place limits on how split hands can be played, which may reduce how much freedom you actually have in that situation.
Since the rules can vary between casinos and tables, it’s worth checking in advance what’s allowed where you’re playing. If splitting is an option, here’s what usually happens.
Splitting Aces in Blackjack Explained
Splitting aces is an option only when the first two cards are both aces. The player adds a second stake equal to the original, the pair is separated, and each ace becomes the first card of a new hand. A fresh card is then dealt to each hand.
House rules often limit what happens next. Commonly, only one additional card can be dealt to each split ace, with no further hits allowed. Some tables permit resplitting if another ace appears, while others do not. If a 10-value card lands on a split ace, it usually counts as a total of 21 rather than a natural blackjack, so it is treated differently for settlement.
In most casinos, this means the hand is paid as a regular 21—often at even money rather than the standard 3:2 payout for a natural blackjack. However, this rule may vary by house. Some casinos may still pay 3:2 on 21 from a split ace, so it’s important to confirm the payout policy before playing.
These differences do not change the core idea. Splitting creates two independent chances to build a solid total, but exactly how those hands can develop depends on the table’s rules. All of this rests on whether the ace counts as 1 or 11.
When Is an Ace Considered High or Low?
An ace is considered high when it counts as 11 without taking the hand above 21. For example, an ace with a 5 totals 16 with the ace high. If a further 6 arrives, the ace can remain high for a total of 22, which is not allowed, so it instead becomes low and counts as 1, making the total 12.
When the ace counts as 11, the hand is a soft total. When it counts as 1, it is a hard total. Players do not declare this; the value adjusts automatically as cards are added. Seeing how that works makes it easier to judge the next card’s effect.
Blackjack Card Values Compared to the Ace
In blackjack, all cards have fixed values, except for the ace. Number cards from 2 to 10 are worth exactly what they show, so a 4 counts as 4, and an 8 counts as 8. The face cards, Jack, Queen and King, each count as 10.
The ace is the exception. As we’ve discussed, it can count as either 1 or 11, depending on what keeps the hand in play. This one rule gives hands with an ace far more flexibility. Where a hard hand (with no ace, or where the ace must count as 1) can be pushed over 21 by a single card, a hand with an ace often has room to adjust.
Having a clear understanding of how all the card values work helps everything else in the game make more sense. And if you do choose to play, it’s always best to set clear limits and only bet what you’re comfortable losing.
**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.