Face cards are an essential part of many card games, and understanding them can help you enjoy these games more.
In a standard deck of cards, face cards are the Jack, Queen, and King. They are called "face cards" because they depict a person's face on them.
Each face card has its own value, depending on the game you're playing. However, in blackjack, each face card is worth the same number of points.
By grasping what face cards are and their value, you can build your knowledge of how these cards may act in different casino games. Let's explore this topic further.
What Are Face Cards?
Face cards are part of a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
There are twelve face cards in total. This includes four Jacks, four Queens, and four Kings. Each suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) has one Jack, one Queen, and one King.
The reason they are called "face cards" is because each one features an illustration of a person's face, unlike the numbered cards, which show the different suit symbols.
Face cards are often used in many popular card games, from poker to blackjack, and even in board games. Their appearance and value can vary based on the game being played, but they are a staple in traditional playing card decks.
Understanding face cards can help you better learn the rules of different games when they refer to these cards and their different uses or abilities.
What Are Face Cards Worth?
The value of face cards can differ depending on the game you're playing.
In blackjack, for example, each face card (Jack, Queen, and King) is worth 10 points. This makes them quite valuable cards to have in your hand, especially since the aim is to get a total hand value closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.
In poker, face cards can help you form strong hands. A combination of these cards can make pairs, three of a kind, or even a straight. The face card ranks come into effect in poker - the Queen is above the Jack, while the King is above the Queen. This is important if the showdown comes down to a high card or two players having the same hand but different ranks. For example, if the final players both have pairs, and one has two Jacks while the other has two Kings, then the player with two Kings wins.
In some games, face cards might have no specific point value but can still be crucial for winning. For example, in some versions of rummy, face cards can either be worth points or simply be part of sets.
It's important to check the rules of each game to understand how face cards are valued. This can help you make better decisions and potentially enjoy the game more.
Is Ace a Face Card?
An Ace is not considered a face card. Face cards specifically refer to the Jack, Queen, and King, each featuring an illustration of a person.
The Ace is a unique card in the deck. It does not have a person's face on it. Instead, it typically features a single symbol of its suit, such as a heart, diamond, club, or spade.
The value of an Ace varies depending on the game. In blackjack, for example, an Ace can be worth either 1 point or 11 points, whichever benefits the player more. In poker, an Ace can be the highest or lowest card, depending on the hand.
Understanding the difference between face cards and the Ace can help you better navigate various card games.
Should You Split Two Face Cards In Blackjack?
In blackjack, you might come across a situation where you have two face cards of the same value.
Generally, you should not split two face cards. Splitting them means you would be breaking up a strong hand worth 20 points.
A hand worth 20 points can only be beaten by a hand totalling 21, which is the highest you can achieve in blackjack. This makes it quite a powerful hand that stands a good chance of winning because the chances of the dealer hitting 21 exactly are slim.
Splitting face cards can lead to two separate hands that are likely to not be as strong as a single hand worth 20. So, it's often better to keep the 20 points as it is unlikely that the dealer is going to beat your hand. However, this doesn't mean it's not possible.
Always check the specific rules of the blackjack game you are playing, especially pertaining to what happens if the dealer hits a 22. But as a basic rule, keeping face cards together is often the best strategy, as it is very difficult to make a stronger hand.