Overview

21 Hustle is a synchronous, 1v1 multiplayer card game based on Blackjack. Both players receive identical cards in the same order and compete over 3 columns (lanes) to win best-of-3 matchups. The player who wins more columns, wins the game.

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Players

• 2 Players per match
• Live, server-based play with simultaneous turns

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Objective

Win at least 2 of the 3 columns by having a hand closest to 21 in each column without busting (going over 21).

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Cards & Scoring

• Number cards (2–10): Face value
• Face cards (J, Q, K): 10 points
• Ace (A): 1 or 11, whichever is more favorable without busting
• Bust: Column total > 21
• Perfect Score: Exactly 21

Gameplay Phase 1: Drafting phase

• Each player is shown one card at a time, face down.
• Players choose a column (1 of 3) to place the card.
• After both player’s make a choice, the card is turned face up & added to that column.
• Each column can have a maximum of 2 cards.
• This is repeated until 6 cards have been placed (2 per column).
• Cards are the same and appear simultaneously for both players.

Gameplay Phase 2: Match Up

• Each column is resolved one at a time in a fixed left-to-right order.
• Players simultaneously choose:
  • Hit: Draw another card (face down until both choose).
  • Stand: Lock the current total.
• If both hit → both receive the same next card.
• If one hits and one stands → the stander’s next card is skipped (so future hits remain synced)
• Players can hit multiple times unless:
  • They bust (column ends).
  • They reach 21 (column locks).

Win Conditions

• A column is won by the player who is closest to 21 without busting.
• If both players bust in the same hit, the column is a tie.
• If both stand at the same score, it’s a tie.
• First player to win 2 columns wins the game.
• If both players win 1 column and 1 is tied, match is tied.

Timers & Skips

• Drafting overall timer: 15 seconds
• Hit/Stand turn timer: 8 seconds
• If a player misses a move, a 30-second extra timer activates.
• If extra timer ends, player loses a skip (max 2 per match).
  • If 2 skips are lost → player forfeits the match.
• Auto-moves if timeouts occur:
  • In draft phase: card placed in column with lowest total & space.
  • In match-up: auto-hit if ≤16, auto-stand if >16.