Face Cards

Face cards are the ones that bear a picture on their face in a standard deck of cards, so comprise the Jacks, Queens and Kings. Each of these cards have a value of 10 in blackjack.

Since the invention of card counting, which views 10-value cards as being of particular importance, the number 10 has also been bundled together with face cards by many players, even though it technically isn’t one.

It was Dr. Edward Thorp who, in 1962, developed the first method of card counting using an IBM 704 computer, and then followed up on his finding by writing the classic book, Beat the Dealer. Thorp’s theory was based on counting cards with a value of 10, (10 cards and all face cards). He figured that the counter could determine the percentage of 10's against the other cards in the deck, and use that information to determine whether the deck was favourable to the house or to the player.

In a deck of 52 cards, there are 16 10-value cards (comprising four 10s and twelve face cards) and 36 others. After each shuffle, the deck stands at 2.25 to 1 which slightly favours the house. When the percentage drops below that 2.25 threshold, it favours the player, so it makes sense for him to increase his bet. Conversely, when the deck favours the house, the player would usually wager less. 

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