The goal

Finish with a hand closer to 21 than the dealer's, without going over. Going over 21 is a bust and loses straight away, even if the dealer busts later.

Card values

Number cards count their number, J/Q/K count 10, and an Ace counts 11 or 1, whichever is better. A hand with an Ace still counting as 11 is soft (it can't bust on the next card).

A round

1. Pick chips to set your bet, then Deal. You get two cards face up; the dealer gets one up and one face down.
2. An Ace plus a 10-value card on the first two cards is a blackjack and pays 3 to 2.
3. On your turn: Hit takes a card, Stand keeps your total, Double doubles your bet for exactly one more card, and Split turns two cards of the same value into two hands, each with its own bet.
4. Then the dealer reveals the hidden card and must hit until reaching 17 or more.

Payouts

• Win: 1 to 1 · Blackjack: 3 to 2 · Tie (push): bet returned.
• Insurance: when the dealer shows an Ace you can bet half your stake that the hidden card is a 10. It pays 2 to 1. It's usually a bad bet.

At this table

• Six-deck shoe, reshuffled when about a quarter is left.
• Dealer checks for blackjack when showing an Ace or a 10, and stands on soft 17.
• Double on any first two cards, including after a split. Split up to four hands. Split Aces get one card each.
• Your bank is saved on this device.

Basic strategy is the mathematically best play for every hand against every dealer card. Following it cuts the house edge to about half a percent. The hint under the buttons shows it for your current hand.

Hard hands (no Ace counting as 11)

• 17+: stand.
• 13–16: stand if the dealer shows 2–6, otherwise hit.
• 12: stand against 4–6, otherwise hit.
• 11: double against 2–10, hit against an Ace.
• 10: double against 2–9. 9: double against 3–6. 8 or less: hit.

Soft hands

• A,8 / A,9: stand.
• A,7: double against 3–6, stand against 2, 7, 8, hit against 9, 10, A.
• A,6: double against 3–6. A,4 / A,5: double against 4–6. A,2 / A,3: double against 5–6. Otherwise hit.

Pairs

• Always split Aces and 8s. Never split 10s or 5s.
• 9s: split against 2–6, 8, 9; stand against 7, 10, A.
• 7s, 2s, 3s: split against 2–7. 6s: split against 2–6. 4s: split against 5–6.