How a hand works
Each player and the dealer receive two cards. Number cards count their printed value, face cards count 10, and aces count 1 or 11. Players act first. If you exceed 21, you lose, even if the dealer later busts.
Common actions
Hit takes a card; stand keeps your total. Doubling adds an equal bet and gives exactly one more card. Splitting creates two hands from a matching pair. The practice game supports hit, stand and double; splitting and insurance are intentionally omitted.
Know the table rules
Blackjack paying 3:2 is normally better for the player than 6:5. Check whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17, which doubles and splits are allowed, and how many decks are used. House edge depends on these rules and correct play.
Selected basic-strategy examples
With a hard 17 or higher, stand. With a hard 12, stand against dealer 4, 5 or 6, and normally hit against 2, 3 or 7 through ace. With a hard 13–16, generally stand against dealer 2–6 and hit against 7 through ace. These are examples, not a complete strategy chart; exact strategy depends on rules.
A correct strategy reduces the mathematical house advantage. It never makes a particular hand certain to win.
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Practice tools are for education only. Real casino rules and paytables can differ.
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