Rules Reference
The blackjack rules that govern gameplay in True Count.
True Count follows standard blackjack rules with a specific set of defaults chosen for balanced, realistic gameplay. This page covers the rules as they apply in the app today.
Card Values
- Number cards (2–10): Face value
- Face cards (J, Q, K): 10
- Ace: 1 or 11
The app automatically calculates the optimal Ace value for each hand. A hand with an Ace counted as 11 that doesn't bust is called a "soft" hand.
Current Game Rules
These are the default rules that govern every hand in True Count:
| Rule | Setting |
|---|---|
| Number of Decks | 4 |
| Dealer on Soft 17 | Stands (S17) |
| Blackjack Payout | 3:2 |
| Surrender | Disabled |
| Double Down | Any two cards |
| Double After Split | Allowed |
| Re-split Aces | Not allowed |
| Max Split Hands | 4 |
| Shoe Penetration | 75% (reshuffles with fewer than 15 cards remaining) |
This configuration represents balanced, mid-range casino conditions with a fair house edge for the player.
Rule Details
Decks
The shoe contains 4 standard 52-card decks (208 cards total). The shoe reshuffles automatically at 75% penetration.
Dealer Strategy
The dealer stands on all 17s, including soft 17 (Ace + 6). This is the more player-favorable setting, often labeled S17 on casino table felt.
Blackjack Payout
A natural 21 (Ace + 10-value card in your first two cards) pays 3:2. On a 100-point bet, a blackjack wins 150 points.
Double Down
You can double down on any two cards. Double After Split is allowed, but doubling on split aces is not. See Hand Actions for full details.
Surrender
Surrender is currently disabled. The game engine supports both late and early surrender, but the feature is not active in the current version.
Splitting
You can split pairs up to 4 total hands. Re-splitting aces is not allowed. Split aces receive one card each and auto-stand. See Hand Actions: Split for the full split mechanics.
Customization (Internal Testing)
Beta Tweaks
The app includes a Beta Tweaks screen accessible from the betting view. This is an internal testing tool, not part of the player experience. The team uses it to experiment with different rule configurations and determine the best defaults for the production environment.
Through Beta Tweaks, the following rules can be adjusted for testing purposes:
| Rule | Available Options |
|---|---|
| Number of Decks | 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 |
| Dealer on Soft 17 | Stands / Hits |
| Blackjack Payout | 3:2, 6:5, 1:1 |
| Surrender | None, Late, Early |
| Double Down | Any, 9–11 only, 10–11 only |
Three presets are also available for quick testing:
- Player+: Most player-favorable (1 deck, S17, 3:2, Late Surrender, Double Any)
- Standard: Balanced mid-range (4 decks, S17, 3:2, No Surrender, Double Any)
- Casino: House-favorable (8 decks, H17, 6:5, No Surrender, Double 10–11)
Beta Tweaks also displays a real-time estimated house edge that updates as you change parameters, color-coded from green (< 0.5%) to red (> 2%). This helps the team evaluate the impact of each rule change before settling on final defaults.
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