[The question earns a laugh, if only because it makes it all the more obvious how new Mal was to all of this. But--that's why he was here, wasn't it?]

All faces are worth ten, the numbered cards have their value. Aces can have the value of one or eleven, player's choice. Careful with the questions, or you'll give away the hand.

[He's guarding his own cards, frowning at the two that goes with the five lain face-up on the table. Shit deal. He signals the dealer for another hit. With luck, he'll get a face card to keep him in the game.]