# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison Card Games

Blackjack vs. Hearts

Comparing 2 standards across 20 specifications. 20 key differences identified.

Comparing:
Blackjack
Hearts

Blackjack (21) is a casino banking game where players compete against the dealer to achieve a hand value closer to 21 without exceeding it (busting). Standard rules payout natural Blackjacks at 3:2, require dealers to stand on hard 17 (and often soft 17), allow doubling down on initial two-card totals, and offer 2:1 insurance against a dealer Ace.

View full Blackjack spec sheet →

Hearts is an evasion-style trick-taking card game for 4 individual players where the objective is to avoid scoring penalty points. Each Heart card taken in tricks counts as 1 penalty point, and the Queen of Spades counts as 13 penalty points. If a single player takes all 26 penalty points in one hand ('Shoots the Moon'), all opponents receive 26 points instead.

View full Hearts spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

20 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
Standard Shoe Size
6 to 8 decks (52 cards each)
Natural Blackjack Payout
3:2 (Standard) vs 6:5 (Unfavorable)
Card Values (2–10)
Face Value (2–10)
Face Cards (J, Q, K)
10 points each
Ace Value
1 or 11 (Soft Hand)
Dealer Standing Rule
Stands on 17 (Soft 17 varies by table)
Insurance Payout
2:1 against dealer Blackjack
Double Down Option
Permitted on 2 cards (1 card dealt)
Splitting Pairs
Permitted up to 3–4 hands
Split Aces Restriction
1 card dealt per Ace (no re-split)
Base House Edge
0.4% to 0.6% with Basic Strategy
Total Players
4 individual play
Deck Size
52 cards (13 dealt per player)
Hearts Penalty Value
1 point per Heart card (13 total)
Queen of Spades Value
13 penalty points (Black Maria)
Total Points Per Hand
26 penalty points
Shooting the Moon Bonus
0 pts (or -26) to shooter, +26 to all opponents
Game Ending Threshold
100 points (lowest score wins)
Passing Rotation (4 Rounds)
Left -> Right -> Across -> No Passing
Opening Lead Card
2 of Clubs (2♣) mandatory first lead