How to play Twenty-One

Twenty-One is played with a single die, and 2 to 8 players can join. Keep paper and a pencil handy for scoring. The goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, much like the card game of the same name.

On your turn you roll the die as many times as you like, adding the pips into a running total. You decide when to stop.

If you go past 21, you are bust and out of the round. If you hit 21 exactly, stop with a clear conscience; it does not get any better.

Once everyone has had their turn, the player standing closest to 21 without going over wins the round. If two or more players tie, they play an extra round between themselves. The first player to win five rounds wins the game.

Twenty-One is the dice version of blackjack and is traditionally played for small stakes. Use chips or points instead: let the losers of each round hand the winner one chip, and count up at the end.

Rolling late in the round is an advantage, since you know exactly what you need to beat. Pass the starting player one seat clockwise after each round to keep things fair.

If you like pressing your luck towards a number, try Macao, where the target is 9 and one player acts as the banker. Pig offers the same kind of choice, but there it is the 1s you need to fear.

The maths is simple: on 15 or less you cannot bust on the next roll. On 16 only a 6 can sink you, and on 18 half the rolls are dangerous. Many players stop somewhere between 16 and 18. If you roll late in the round you know what is required, and the choice often makes itself.

Yes, it works fine as a family game as long as you play for points or valueless chips. Counting towards 21 is good mental arithmetic, and the rounds are so short that nobody has time to get bored.