21 For Fun was one of the first games on prizegames.com that I played quite a bit and feel pretty knowledgeable about. As of 12/17/00, I held the 4th best-ever free play score .

Follow this link if you want to find out why I think the top score in the image below is not legitimate

Object of the game

In 21 For Fun, you are presented with a grid consisting of 5 columns, and a deck of cards. The object of the game is to place cards in each column so that each column of cards adds up to 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over. As in blackjack, each 10 and face card counts as a value of 10, and each ace has a value of either 1 or 11.

Game Play

A complete game consists of three rounds. In each round, you are given a fresh deck of cards to use. Each total round score is determined by adding together the total score of all the columns; this total is displayed near the top right of the playing field as the game progresses. If your total score reaches 95 or more (out of a maximum possible 105), your number of total points for the round and a time multiplier are outlined. At the completion of the round, you receive points equal to the time multiplier times the number of ticks you have left on the clock at the end of that round.

If you score 94 or less points for any particular round, the time multiplier is 50. As you approach a perfect round of 105, the time multiplier increases. If you score 104 or 105, the time multiplier goes up A LOT, so you really want to try hard to get a score of 104 or a perfect round of 105. The following table compares your round score with the value of the time multiplier:

During each round, you must "Pass" one card, meaning that you do not use that card in the playing field. Instead, the current card is discarded and is replaced with the next card in the deck. You must pass exactly one card per round.

Each round only takes about 20-25 seconds to play. After you have completed 3 rounds, the game is over; thus, a complete game usually only takes about 75 to 90 seconds to play. Your total points for each round are added together and you are awarded prizebucks according to the points to prizebucks table at the left of the playing field.

For each game you play, you can score an additional 25,000 bonus points if you satisfy BOTH of the following two requirements:

1. The total number of cards you have used for the game is at least 44
2. The total number of ticks on the clock you have used for the game is 99 or less.

Tips

Here are some tips that I have found helpful while playing 21 For Fun:

• You want to play reasonably quickly in order to try to get the end-of-game bonus points. On average, try to use less than 33 ticks of the timer for each round. But don't play so quickly that you inadvertently bust a column! If you bust a column, you will get 0 points for that round.
• Instead of trying to remember to add to 21, try more simply to just make columns totaling 11, then simply add a 10 or face card to the column to make exactly 21.
• To make columns totalling 11, you can either use a single ace, or use a pair of cards from this list: 9-2, 8-3, 7-4, 6-5.
• Instead of waiting for the end of the round use your pass, instead use your pass in a way that it might be more helpful. For example, if you already have three columns totaling 21 and two columns totaling 11, and your next card is a 5, you might wish to pass the 5 in hopes of getting two more 10's instead of using the 5 on one of the two 11's.
  
  
• Intermediate tip: If you have columns that already total 21 and consist of a soft 21 (i.e., you have an ace in the column and the cards total 11), you can add another 10 to that soft 21 column. You may with to do this for two reasons: (a) it uses another card and therefore helps you achieve the goal of using at least 44 cards per game; (b) it is similar to another free "pass" in that you get to see the next card in the deck, which might complete one of your other columns.
  
  
• Advanced tip: if you have a few columns totaling 14 through 18 along with one or two columns that are soft 21's, and your next card is an 8 or 9, you might want to consider breaking up your soft 21 with the 8 or 9 in hopes that you'll then get a couple medium/small cards that will help you complete your other columns.