Blackjack Practice

Practice chips have no value. Even perfect play loses a little over time: the house keeps an edge. 19+.

How to play blackjack

Beat the dealer: finish closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over.

The goal
  • You and the dealer each get cards. Closest to 21 wins.
  • Go over 21 and you bust: you lose straight away, even if the dealer busts later.
  • An ace plus a 10, J, Q or K as your first two cards is a blackjack. It pays 3 to 2 (bet 10, win 15).
What the cards are worth
  • 2 to 10: the number on the card.
  • J, Q and K: 10 each.
  • Ace: 1 or 11, whichever helps you.
  • A hand with an ace counted as 11 is “soft” (soft 17 = ace + 6). One more card can’t bust it. Every other hand is “hard”.
Your moves
  • Hit: take one more card.
  • Stand: keep your hand. Your turn ends.
  • Double: double your bet and take exactly one more card. First two cards only.
  • Split: two cards the same? Split them into two hands, with a second bet the same size. Each hand plays on its own.
  • Surrender: give up the hand and get half your bet back. First two cards only, where the table allows it.
What the dealer does
  • The dealer shows one card face up. That card tells you most of what you need.
  • The dealer has no choices: they must hit until they reach 17 or more.
  • Same total as the dealer is a push: you get your bet back.
Five rules to start with
  • Always split aces and 8s.
  • Never split 10s or 5s.
  • Double 10 or 11 when the dealer shows 9 or lower.
  • Hard 12 to 16: stand when the dealer shows 2 to 6, hit when they show 7 or higher. (Hit 12 against a 2 or 3.)
  • Always stand on hard 17 or more.
How to use this table
  • Pick your starting chips. Tap a chip, then tap a seat to bet, then tap Deal.
  • Turn on Show odds to see each move’s chance on its button. BEST marks the right move.
  • Switch to Test me and every move is checked against the chart, with a score.
  • Tap Chart for the right move on every hand: your hand down the side, the dealer’s card across the top.
  • On the chart: H = Hit, S = Stand, D = Double (hit if you can’t), Ds = Double (stand if you can’t), P = Split, R = Surrender.