Blackjack simulator
Play blackjack free against the dealer with play money, with a basic strategy hint for every hand. The simulator counts how often you leave basic strategy and what that costs on average; perfect basic strategy at a 3:2 table leaves a house edge of about 0.57%.
Checked 2026-11-07. Source: basic strategy solver.
How cards count: 2 to 10 score their number, J, Q and K score 10, and an ace scores 11 or 1, whichever helps. Closest to 21 without going over wins; going over is a bust.
Press Deal to start. Play money: you begin with 1,000 chips.
Table rules and hints
19+ in most of Canada (18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec), 21+ in most US states. A calculator shows what a bet pays, not how likely it is to win. Free help: 1-800-GAMBLER (US), ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600 (Ontario), 211 (Alberta). More help.
Rules and moves explained step by step: how to play blackjack.
What common mistakes cost
| Mistake | Basic strategy | Cost per $100 bet |
|---|---|---|
| Standing on 16 against a 10 | Hit | $0.06 |
| Not splitting 8s against a 10 | Split | $5.03 |
| Hitting 12 against a 4 | Stand | $0.25 |
| Not doubling 11 against a 6 | Double | $33.37 |
| Splitting 10s against a 6 | Stand | $12.84 |
| Standing on soft 18 against a 10 | Hit | $3.45 |
| Hitting soft 18 against a 2 | Stand | $5.88 |
Dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, no surrender, 3:2. Cost = expected value of the best play minus the expected value of the mistake.
How to practise
- Play with hints on until the moves feel natural, and check the full chart on the basic strategy page.
- Turn hints off and watch the mistakes counter. Under 1 mistake in 50 decisions is good.
- Drill the hands you miss in the strategy trainer, which can deal only pairs or soft totals.
Chips go up and down a lot over a few dozen hands even with perfect play. The house edge shows up only over thousands of hands, so judge your play by the mistakes counter, not the chip count.
Questions
Is this blackjack simulator free?
Yes, and it uses play money only: you start with 1,000 chips and can reset any time. Nothing is deposited or paid out.
What rules does the simulator use?
A 6-deck shoe reshuffled when a quarter is left, dealer peeks for blackjack, one split per hand, split aces get one card each. You choose whether the dealer hits soft 17, whether you can double after a split or surrender, and 3:2 or 6:5 blackjack.
How do the hints work?
Each hint is the basic strategy play from our solver for your exact hand and the dealer's upcard. Played perfectly under good rules, basic strategy leaves a house edge of about 0.57%.
What does "what mistakes cost" mean?
Each time you play differently from basic strategy, the simulator adds the expected loss of that choice compared with the best play, in chips. It shows the long-run price of a habit, not what happened in that hand.