How to Play Aces in Blackjack

How to Play Aces in Blackjack

Published Date · June 22, 2022 · Last Updated · Nov. 8, 2023 ·Read Time · 3 mins

The ace in blackjack is a powerful tool that players should use wisely. This is simply because there are many cards worth 10 in the game, giving players a good chance of getting 21. As a result, certain rules govern how players use the aces when playing blackjack.

What is an Ace in Blackjack?

Like in poker, the ace is an important card in blackjack. This is simply because it can make reaching 21 so much easier. An ace in blackjack is worth either 1 or 11, and it is up to the player to decide how they use it.

If one of your initial cards is an ace, it means that you have two courses of attack. For example, if you have an ace and a 6, your hand is worth 7 or 17. This is known as a soft 17.

rules-of-blackjack

How to Play Aces

Players can decide if they want to play an ace as being worth 1 or 11. However, players generally tend to count an ace as 11 unless this would cause you to go bust.
For example, if your hand contains an Ace and a 6, your hand is worth either a soft 17 or a hard 7. If the next card you received were a 5 or above, the ace would automatically become worth 1 as you would go bust otherwise.

What Happens When a Player Has Two Aces?

A pair of aces gives a player a value of either 2 or a soft 12. Both values are potentially problematic, and players should be using them with caution. If you have two aces, experts say that you should split. This is simply because the ace is the most powerful card in the deck, and splitting gives you two chances at hitting blackjack. The deck has more cards worth 10 than any other card, and so you have a higher probability of drawing a card worth 10. This will then give you a greater chance of beating the dealer and winning.

If you split your double aces in blackjack, remember that you can only add one additional card to each ace. Therefore, you must also wager the same amount as your original bet on the second hand. After splitting aces, if the next card dealt into one of the hands is a 10, this does not count as a natural blackjack, meaning the player is unlikely to be eligible for a bonus on their wager.

number-21-blackjack

What Happens If the Dealer Has Two Aces?

The dealer’s first ace will always be worth 11 unless this will bust the hand. Therefore, if the dealer has two aces in blackjack, the second ace and any subsequent aces will be worth 1

Can You Split Aces Twice in Blackjack?

When playing blackjack, players can usually only split aces once during a single game. However, some land-based Las Vegas casinos and some online casinos allow players to split aces twice, so always double-check the casino’s specific rules.

To conclude, aces can be worth either 1 or 11, depending on the total value of your hand. This means that aces are an incredibly powerful card in blackjack, regardless of whether you are playing online or in a land-based casino. Therefore, by playing aces carefully, players can greatly increase their chances of winning a blackjack game.

Subscribe and Get 100% Up To $1000 + $25 on the House

Author

Matthew Wojciow

Content Writer