Blackjack is a game of strategy where the player aims to get close to 21 without going over. Cards 2 through to 10 have their corresponding values while picture cards (queens and kings) count as 10. The ace can be worth 1 or 11, depending on the situation, and card suits have no value. The aim of the game is to beat the dealer, and a natural blackjack hand wins the player 3:2 on their bet.

A queen in a blackjack hand shows its value when it is paired with an ace, which forms the classic “blackjack”. This is the best possible blackjack hand and will win the player if they beat the dealer. In the event that the dealer has a blackjack too, it is a tie and the player’s original bet will be returned to them.

The player will receive two cards when they are dealt in blackjack, and they will see the dealer’s first card – known as the ‘hole card’ – before they decide how to play their hand. This information will help them to assess whether their initial hand is worth a ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ value. It is important that players consider this before they hit their cards as it could have an impact on the amount of money they can win.

If the player has a high value in their hand, they can choose to ask for another card, known as a ’hit’, which will increase their chances of making a winning hand. However, it is important to remember that there is a risk of busting, and once the total score of your hand exceeds 21, you are out of the game.

It is also possible for players to split their hand if they have two cards of the same value. This will give them two new hands and they can then play them independently. Depending on the rules of the casino, this may or may not be allowed.

The simplest way to determine how much a queen is worth in blackjack is to look at the overall value of the hand. Including the ace, the value of the hand is 17 + 10, which is a ‘hard’ blackjack hand. Alternatively, the queen can be played as part of a ’soft’ blackjack hand, in which case it will count as 12 + 10 – which is a ‘soft’ blackjack hand.

In addition to the card values, players should also consider the dealer’s upcard when deciding how to play their hand. If they can see that the dealer has a face-card worth 10, it would be wise to avoid taking insurance as this will have a negative expected value for the player, even when using a basic blackjack strategy.