In card games where aces can take on different values, one of the most common questions is whether an ace should be counted as a 1 or an 11. The answer depends on the specific game and situation. In this article, we’ll examine how aces are valued in popular card games like blackjack and poker, and the strategic considerations for when to count an ace as a 1 or 11.
Aces in Blackjack
In blackjack, aces have a unique and flexible value. At the start of a hand, aces can be counted as either 1 or 11, whichever is more advantageous for the player. Getting an ace as your first card is great, because you can treat it as an 11 without going over 21.
However, if you get multiple aces in your hand, you may have to count one or more of them as 1 to avoid busting. Here are some examples:
- You are dealt an ace and a 5. Your hand totals either 6 or 16. You would count the ace as 11.
- You are dealt an ace and a 7. Your hand totals either 8 or 18. You would count the ace as 11.
- You are dealt two aces. Your hand totals either 2 or 12. You would count the first ace as 11 and the second ace as 1.
The flexibility of aces allows players to adjust their value based on what’s needed to improve the hand. The goal in blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. Counting aces as 11 whenever possible helps players reach higher totals.
When to Count an Ace as 1 in Blackjack
There are a few situations where it becomes necessary to count an ace as 1 rather than 11:
- You have two aces in your hand. Counting both as 11 would total 22, which would bust.
- Your hand total with an ace counted as 11 would exceed 21. For example, if you had a 7, 8, and an ace, counting the ace as 11 would total 26 (bust).
- Drawing another card, like a 10-value card, would push your hand over 21 if the ace is counted as 11. In this case, you would “reduce” the ace to a 1.
Keeping track of aces is an important blackjack strategy, especially when drawing additional cards. A hand that goes from 18 to 28 because an ace changed value from 11 to 1 can turn a great hand into a losing one.
Aces in Poker
In poker, the rules for aces vary by game type:
Texas Hold’em
In Texas Hold’em, the most popular poker game, aces always count as high. That means an ace is always valued at 14, above a king. When making a five-card poker hand, an ace can go at the top or bottom of a straight (A-2-3-4-5 or 10-J-Q-K-A).
Omaha
The rules for aces are the same in Omaha as they are in Texas Hold’em. Aces always count high as 14.
7-Card Stud
In seven-card stud, aces count high, just like in Texas Hold’em and Omaha. One difference is that in seven-card stud, aces cannot be used to start both high and low ends of a straight at the same time. For example, A-2-3-4-5 and 10-J-Q-K-A cannot both be made in the same hand.
Razz
In razz, a variant of seven-card stud where the lowest hand wins, aces always count low. An ace is valued at 1 in razz, so it plays well for making straights and low hands.
When to Count Aces as 1 or 11 in Poker
Unlike in blackjack, you don’t have the option to value aces at 1 or 11 in most poker games. The value of aces is fixed:
- Aces count as high (14) in Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and 7-card stud.
- Aces count as low (1) in razz.
The only flexibility comes in seven-card stud when deciding whether an ace will be played high or low in a straight. You can’t make both options, so you have to choose which way gives you the best possible hand.
Ace Value in Specific Scenarios
Let’s look at some specific scenarios where you need to decide whether to play an ace as high or low in seven-card stud:
You have A-2-4-6: Play the ace low
With these cards, it’s best to play the ace low and make a straight to the 5. Playing the ace high doesn’t improve your hand since you don’t have good connectivity above the ace.
You have A-K-Q-J: Play the ace high
With these cards, it’s best to play the ace high as the top of your straight. You have good connectivity high with the K-Q-J.
You have A-2-3-4-5: Play the ace low
With a perfect low straight, keep the ace on the low end to maximize your hand value. There are few scenarios where playing the ace high with these cards makes sense.
Should You Ever Split Aces?
In some blackjack games, players are allowed to split pairs, including aces, into two separate hands. Is this a good play? Let’s weigh the pros and cons:
Pros of Splitting Aces
- Allows you to double your bet and get more money in play when you have a strong starting hand.
- Provides the opportunity to capitalize when getting multiple good cards and hands.
- Can help avoid going bust when the dealer has a strong upcard.
Cons of Splitting Aces
- Turns a single strong hand into two weaker hands.
- Prevents the opportunity to hit to 21 when starting with an ace.
- Requires doubling your initial bet.
Here is a quick pro/con breakdown:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Get more money in play with strong hand | Turns one strong hand into two weaker hands |
| Capitalize when getting multiple good cards | Prevents hitting to 21 with initial ace |
| Avoid busting vs. strong dealer upcard | Requires doubling the bet |
The Verdict: Only split aces against weaker dealer upcards
While tempting, splitting aces is often not the optimal play. You convert a really strong hand into two mediocre ones. However, against a dealer showing a weaker upcard like a 5 or 6, splitting aces makes more sense. You reduce the chances of the dealer turning over 21 and beating your strong hand.
How to Manage Aces in Multi-Deck Games
So far we’ve looked at ace strategy in single-deck blackjack. The rules and decisions change slightly when playing multi-deck blackjack, as you can’t track cards as easily. Here are some tips for managing aces when the shoe contains 4, 6, or 8 decks:
- Be less hesitant to split aces since getting another ace on the split is less likely.
- Stand more often on hard 12-16 versus a dealer 2-6 since they are less likely to have a 10 in the hole.
- Double down less on hard 9 and 10, since the odds of improving are lower.
The main takeaway is that card removal effects become diluted with more decks in play. This impacts how aggressively to play hands involving aces.
Conclusion
Determining the value of aces requires strategic decision-making based on the game rules and card combinations. The flexibility of switching ace value gives blackjack players an edge, but isn’t an option in most poker games. While tempting, splitting aces in blackjack is often not the optimal play and should be done selectively based on the dealer upcard. Understanding when to leverage the dual 1 or 11 value of aces is key to maximizing your edge as a player.