Card and hand values
- Cards 2 through 9 count at face value.
- 10, jack, queen, and king each count as 10.
- An ace counts as 11 unless that would bust the hand, in which case it counts as 1.
A two-card 21 made from an ace and a ten-value card is a natural blackjack. It is distinct from a 21 made with three or more cards.
How a round works
- The player commits a wager; Third Base uses simulated chips only.
- The player and dealer receive two cards. One dealer card is initially hidden.
- If the dealer shows an ace or ten-value card, the Third Base rules use a peek procedure for blackjack.
- The player completes each hand with the legal actions available.
- The dealer reveals the hole card and draws according to S17 or H17.
- Non-busted hands are compared and settled.
Player actions
Hit
Take another card. A total above 21 busts and loses immediately.
Stand
Take no more cards and wait for the dealer to finish.
Double
Add an equal simulated wager, receive exactly one additional card, then stand.
Split
Divide an eligible pair into two hands and add an equal wager for the new hand.
Settlement in Third Base
A natural blackjack pays 3:2 unless the dealer also has blackjack, which pushes. An ordinary winning hand pays 1:1. Equal totals push and return the stake. A player bust loses regardless of the dealer’s later result.
These are simulated outcomes. Third Base does not accept deposits, process payments, or award anything of value.
The exact trainer rule set
- Choose 4, 6, or 8 decks.
- Choose dealer stands on soft 17 (S17) or hits soft 17 (H17).
- Blackjack pays 3:2 and the dealer peeks for blackjack.
- Doubling after a split is allowed.
- Split to a maximum of four hands.
- Split aces receive one card each.
- No late surrender and no insurance.
The Third Base strategy chart and calculator are scoped to these assumptions.
Why rule variations matter
Other games may pay 6:5 for blackjack, prohibit doubling after a split, use European no-hole-card procedure, offer surrender, restrict splitting, or use a continuous shuffler. These changes can affect both the game and the correct strategy.
Never assume that a familiar table layout means familiar rules. Read the posted rules first, then select a matching strategy source. For the dealer-rule exception used here, see S17 vs H17.
From rules to decisions
Once the procedure is clear, learn how player total, dealer up-card, and legal actions combine in Blackjack Basic Strategy. Then use the interactive trainer for free recall practice without real-money wagering.