Blackjack has gained popularity since its beginnings. In its lifetime, it has evolved from a card game that could only be played physically to a game that can be played digitally and virtually by a player connected to a strong and reliable internet connection via a compatible device.
With Blackjack’s popularity only growing, we wanted to share with you seven hands you could potentially hold within an online Blackjack game so you know exactly what they are and what they mean.
Card values
Before we delve into the seven hands, let’s first uncover the card values to help you better understand how to find your hand’s total. In Blackjack, the value of each card is straightforward and essential to understanding how to play the game. Here’s a breakdown of the card values:
- Number cards (two to 10): Each card is worth its face value. For example:
- A two is worth two points.
- A seven is worth seven points.
- A 10 is worth 10 points.
- Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): Each face card is worth 10 points.
- Ace: The Ace is the most versatile card in Blackjack, as it can be worth either one point or 11 points, depending on which value is more beneficial to your hand. For example:
- If you have an Ace and a seven, your hand can be either a “soft 18” (where the Ace counts as 11) or a “hard eight” (where the Ace counts as one).
- If you draw another card that makes the total over 21, the Ace automatically counts as one to prevent you from busting.
Example hands:
- A hand with a Queen and a five is worth 15 points.
- A hand with an Ace and a nine is worth either 10 or 20 points, depending on how the Ace is valued.
These values are crucial for making decisions during the game, such as whether to hit, stand, split, or double down.
The 7 hands of Blackjack
- Natural Blackjack: This is the best possible hand, consisting of an Ace and any 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King), totalling 21. This hand usually pays out at 3:2 unless the dealer also has Blackjack, resulting in what’s known as a push.
- Hard hand: A hand that does not contain an Ace, or if it does, the Ace is counted as one rather than 11 to prevent busting. For example, a hand of 10-8 is a hard 18.
- Soft hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11. For instance, a hand with an Ace and a six (Ace-six) is a soft 17. A soft hand gives you flexibility because you can draw additional cards without the risk of immediately busting.
- Pair: When the first two cards dealt to you are of the same rank, such as two eights or two Kings. You have the option to split these into two separate hands if you wish.
- Bust hand: Any hand that exceeds a total of 21. When you bust, you lose the round automatically.
- 21 with multiple cards: A hand that totals 21 but with more than two cards. For example, a hand with seven, eight, and six totals 21, but it’s not a natural Blackjack.
- Five-card Charlie: A special hand in some variations of Blackjack where if you draw five cards without busting (exceeding 21), you automatically win, regardless of the dealer’s hand. This rule is not standard in all Blackjack games.
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