what is an ace in blackjack

In blackjack, an ace can be worth either 1 or 11, and it is up to the player to decide how they use it. If a player has an ace in their initial hand, they have two ways of using it. For example, if a player has an 8 and an ace, they can play a 9 or a 19. If they decide to play a 19, this would be referred to as a soft 19. The reason why most people choose to play their ace as an 11 is that it gives them a better chance of reaching 21. However, if a player runs the chance of going bust, they should not play an ace as an 11. Aces count as 1 or 11, and all other cards are at face value.