Get as close to 21 as possible without going over. Play a friendly home version with matchsticks, points, or candy instead of money.
One player is dealer; everyone else competes separately against that dealer. Use one or more 52-card decks.
Beat the dealer's total without exceeding 21. Going over is an immediate bust.
Home game: use points, buttons, matchsticks, or candy.
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| 2–10 | Face value |
| Jack, queen, king | 10 |
| Ace | 1 or 11 |
| Blackjack | Ace plus a ten-value card as the first two cards |
| Result | Return |
|---|---|
| Blackjack | 3 to 2 |
| Regular win | 1 to 1 |
| Push | Stake returned |
| Bust or loss | Stake lost |
With hard 12–16, usually stand against dealer 2–6 and hit against 7–ace. Soft hands allow safer draws because the ace can change from 11 to 1.
Insurance rarely offers good value in a casual standard game.
The video explains the rules in English. Check your table's house rules before you begin.
Agree whether the dealer hits soft 17, doubling after splits is allowed, five-card Charlie applies, or the dealer wins ties in a home version of 21.
Nothing up your sleeve—just legal moves that make everyone wonder when you got so sharp.
The risk of busting is usually too high; let the dealer take the risk.
Ten-value cards are common, so a dealer showing seven may already have seventeen.
Against most dealer cards, eleven has excellent potential for a one-card finish.
Aces create two chances at strong hands; two eights turn a weak sixteen into two starts.
Twenty is already one of the strongest possible hands.
Mostly. Twenty-One often refers to informal home variants.
No. Points or harmless tokens work well.
A two-card blackjack usually beats 21 made with three or more cards.
Rules reviewed on 24 September 2026. House rules vary; this page describes one clear standard version.
Deal two cards each and see who dares to hit on sixteen.