How to play
Get close to 21. Take the pot. Trust no bastard.
The objective
Every player throws chips into one shared pot. There is no dealer hand to beat — you are beating the other players. The best valid hand at or under 21 takes the whole pot.
Card values
Hit
Take another card. Keep drawing while you like your odds.
Stand
Lock your hand and wait for the rest of the table to finish.
Cause Trouble
Lean on the dealer instead of the deck. Bribe him for a friendlier card, threaten him, buy him a whiskey, or pray. Most of it is theatre. Some of it is not.
Table stake
Every table has one fixed stake. Everybody antes the same amount each round, so nobody risks less than anybody else.
ALL WIN
Short of the stake? You are still dealt in with every chip you own. Lose and you lose it all; win and you take the winner’s share.
Blackjack
An Ace plus any ten-value card on your first two cards. It beats a 21 built from three or more cards.
Bust
Over 21 and you are out of the round. Your chips stay in the pot.
The shared pot
Stake times players, all in one pot. One winner takes everything.
Tied winners
Equal best hands split the pot evenly. Any odd chip that will not divide carries into the next round as a jackpot.
Bailout
Drop below $100 and you can beg the house for $1,000 more. It costs you 5 reputation and the whole saloon hears about it.
High stakes. Low morals.