diff --git a/src/components/frontend/minigames/blackjack/BlackjackFeltCanvas.tsx b/src/components/frontend/minigames/blackjack/BlackjackFeltCanvas.tsx
index 47a7c77..b996e93 100644
--- a/src/components/frontend/minigames/blackjack/BlackjackFeltCanvas.tsx
+++ b/src/components/frontend/minigames/blackjack/BlackjackFeltCanvas.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
-import { handValue, type Card, type PublicPlayerView } from "@/lib/minigames/blackjack";
+import { handValue, type Card, type PublicPlayerView, type Rank } from "@/lib/minigames/blackjack";
 import type { BlackjackSnapshot } from "@/app/(frontend)/minigames/blackjack/actions";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 import { CardView } from "./CardView";
@@ -40,6 +40,15 @@ function signedAmount(value: number): string {
   return `${value >= 0 ? "+" : ""}${value.toLocaleString()}`;
 }
 
+// Upcard label reads the card's point value, not its rank: face cards (J/Q/K)
+// count as 10, aces read "ace", and 2-10 show their pip count.
+function upcardDisplay(rank: Rank | undefined): string {
+  if (!rank) return "";
+  if (rank === 14) return "ace";
+  if (rank >= 11) return "10";
+  return String(rank);
+}
+
 export function BlackjackFeltCanvas({
   snapshot,
   onSnapshot,
@@ -196,8 +205,7 @@ export function BlackjackFeltCanvas({
               )}
               {view.dealer.holeHidden && view.dealer.cards.length > 0 && (
                 <span className="font-mono text-sm uppercase tracking-[0.2em] text-white/60">
-                  Dealer showing{" "}
-                  {view.dealer.cards[0]?.rank === 14 ? "ace" : (view.dealer.cards[0]?.rank ?? "")}
+                  Dealer showing {upcardDisplay(view.dealer.cards[0]?.rank)}
                 </span>
               )}
             </div>
diff --git a/src/components/frontend/minigames/blackjack/BlackjackLeaderboard.tsx b/src/components/frontend/minigames/blackjack/BlackjackLeaderboard.tsx
index 89efad6..702809e 100644
--- a/src/components/frontend/minigames/blackjack/BlackjackLeaderboard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/frontend/minigames/blackjack/BlackjackLeaderboard.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { Trophy } from "lucide-react";
 import type { PresenceParticipant } from "@/hooks/useRealtimePresence";
+import { PROFILE_UPDATE_EVENT } from "@/hooks/useGameTick";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
@@ -84,6 +85,20 @@ export function BlackjackLeaderboard({
 }: BlackjackLeaderboardProps) {
   const [rows, setRows] = useState<readonly LeaderboardRow[] | null>(null);
   const [failed, setFailed] = useState(false);
+  const [refreshTick, setRefreshTick] = useState(0);
+
+  // Read-only surface: keep it fresh without a page refresh. A profile update
+  // (a fellow player's result) and a 30s poll both bump refreshTick, which
+  // re-runs the fetch below. Rows only update on success, so no loading flash.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const handleProfileUpdate = () => setRefreshTick((tick) => tick + 1);
+    window.addEventListener(PROFILE_UPDATE_EVENT, handleProfileUpdate);
+    const poll = window.setInterval(() => setRefreshTick((tick) => tick + 1), 30_000);
+    return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener(PROFILE_UPDATE_EVENT, handleProfileUpdate);
+      window.clearInterval(poll);
+    };
+  }, []);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     let cancelled = false;
@@ -135,7 +150,7 @@ export function BlackjackLeaderboard({
     return () => {
       cancelled = true;
     };
-  }, [currentUserId, refreshKey]);
+  }, [currentUserId, refreshKey, refreshTick]);
 
   return (
     <Card className="rounded-none">