The race to 21
Your aim is a total nearer to 21 than the dealer's without busting past 21. Cards come from a multi-deck shoe. You receive two face-up cards; the dealer shows one up-card and keeps a hole card hidden until later.
How cards count
- 2โ10 score their printed value
- Jack, Queen, and King each score 10
- An Ace scores 1 or 11 โ whichever helps the hand without busting
Natural blackjack
An Ace plus a ten-value card on the first two cards is a blackjack. Teaching tables often pay 3:2 when the dealer does not also have blackjack. Matching blackjacks usually push. If the dealer later makes 21 with three or more cards, your two-card blackjack still wins.
Hit, stand, and comparing totals
Without a natural, you may stand (keep your total) or hit (take another card). Busting loses immediately. If you finish at or under 21, the dealer plays out; closer to 21 wins even money, equal totals push, and a lower total loses.
Our demo table rules
Card Game Academy uses a six-deck shoe and a dealer who hits soft 17. You may hit, stand, double, or split once. Insurance and surrender are omitted so the lesson stays focused.