Game rules

2 through 10 are worth their number. Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10. An Ace is worth 11, or 1 if 11 would put you over 21.

The house isn't a player - the table runs it. It deals two cards to each player and two to itself, leaving one of its own face down.

Before dealing, each player bets chips (between the allowed minimum and maximum, never more than they have) in turn.

In turn, each player decides whether to hit or stand. If you go over 21, you lose your bet immediately.

With your first two cards (and only then, before drawing any more) you can also double down: your bet is doubled, you get exactly one more card, and you automatically stand. You need enough chips to cover the doubled bet.

If your first two cards add up to 21 (an Ace and a 10-value card), you have blackjack: you automatically stand and get paid 3 to 2.

Once every player is done, the house flips its face-down card and draws until it reaches 17 or more, with no choices to make - it always follows this fixed rule.

If the house busts, everyone who didn't bust gets paid. If it doesn't, whoever got closest to 21 without going over wins; ties push (the bet is returned).

A blackjack beats a 21 made with more than two cards, and pays 3 to 2 instead of 1 to 1 (unless the house also has blackjack, which pushes).

Whoever runs out of enough chips for the minimum bet is eliminated. Whoever still has chips once everyone else is out wins.