How to play

Desktop

pip install -e ".[gui]"
python -m chaos_blackjack.gui

On Windows, start_game.bat also launches the game. Create a player with Start game, then choose Classic Table , Poker Head's Table or J-54's Table in New run. A new player first gets an optional practice with Poker Head, then opens the tables one by one: Poker Head's Table after a Classic win at the top stake, J-54's after a win at Poker Head's Table; a table not open yet shows as a silhouette with its condition. Review the table's goal, bets, rules, host and payout, choose how many chips to bring from your vault and, if you like, early-bust insurance. Nothing is taken until Start run.

New runs begin with the host's dialogue. Enter / click advances and Escape skips. Continue run resumes a checkpoint without replaying the introduction.

Phase	Mouse	Keyboard
Betting	left-click chips to add, right-click to remove; Clear / Max; table Shop	Up / Down adjusts, Enter deals, B opens Shop
Your turn	Hit / Stand / Double / Surrender; inventory	H / S / D / R; I opens Bag; Tab opens the run panel
Round over	Next Round	Enter
Poker Head's Table	click the host portrait for advice	Enter closes the reply
Anywhere	Settings	Escape confirms leaving; F11 fullscreen; M mute; + / − volume; F5 reload art and sounds

Home's Shop sells cosmetics for chips from your vault. The table Shop uses this run's cash. See Player progression. Click the player badge for Profile; Switch player manages slots.

Collection is grouped by Classic Table and dealer series. The Classic section contains the core table and common items; Poker Head's section introduces his character, rule pool and table-only items. Tab changes section; wheel or Page Up / Page Down scrolls. Rule/item details can show deterministic offline demos: Space pauses, R replays, Left / Right steps. Demos do not spend tokens or alter player progress.

Browser and phones

The authenticated browser edition runs the same Pygame game in WebAssembly, with account saves. Registration requires a 16-digit invitation token. The first load may take time; loading feedback distinguishes downloading from starting. If prompted, tap Start game to start playback and unlock browser sound, including on iOS Safari. Browsers that allow audio automatically may skip that prompt. On touch devices, name creation and renaming use a native input field supporting composition; Save / Done confirms, Cancel keeps the existing name.

See browser compatibility and builds and deployment instructions.

On touch devices, swipe vertically to scroll lists, reference text and history details. A short tap selects; releasing a drag does not select an entry. Gestures inside the game scroll its content, while the surrounding web page remains scrollable.

Text CLI and agents

python cli/main.py
python cli/main.py --enable-chaos
python -m chaos_blackjack.agent new --seed 7 --chaos

The text CLI retains the original hit / stand loop. The agent interface supports the controller's actions but does not use a player's chip vault. Its --chaos flag remains for legacy play; --mode chaos starts the current build Table; see Agent players.

The default Chaos backend is offline. Enabling a real model through the game's configuration makes billed requests; details are in the game's README.

Poker Head begins with a core choice. Permanent products, consumables and finance each have their own timing. The side item slots support keys 1–9; Tab opens the run panel, Left / Right changes tabs, Escape or Tab closes it. See the build guide.