Getting Started

Basic Strategy vs. Card Counting:
What Should You Learn First?

Two skills separate strong players from everyone else. Here is what they are and where to start.

The Basics

Two ways to improve at Blackjack.

Basic Strategy

Tells you the best move for every hand: hit, stand, double, or split. It is based on math and reduces the casino's edge to under 1%. You use it on every single hand you play.

Learn this first

Card Counting

Tracks which cards have already been dealt to figure out when the remaining deck favors you. When it does, you bet more. When it does not, you bet less. It is the mathematical layer of the game, and learning it is a skill exercise in its own right.

Add this once strategy is solid

Basic Strategy

It looks like a lot, but it is simpler than you think.

This is the complete strategy table. Every decision is already solved. You just need to practice until it clicks.

		DEALER
		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
YOU	1-8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
	9	H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	H	H	H	H	H
	10	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	H	H
	11	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H
	12	H	H	ST	ST	ST	H	H	H	H	H
	13	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	H	H	H	H	H
	14	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	H	H	H	H	H
	15	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	H	H	H	H	H
	16	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	H	H	H	H	H
	17-20	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST
	A,2	H	H	H	D/H	D/H	H	H	H	H	H
	A,3	H	H	H	D/H	D/H	H	H	H	H	H
	A,4	H	H	D/H	D/H	D/H	H	H	H	H	H
	A,5	H	H	D/H	D/H	D/H	H	H	H	H	H
	A,6	H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	H	H	H	H	H
	A,7	ST	D/ST	D/ST	D/ST	D/ST	ST	ST	H	H	H
	A,8	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST
	A,9	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST
	2,2	SP/H	SP/H	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
	3,3	SP/H	SP/H	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
	4,4	H	H	H	SP/H	SP/H	H	H	H	H	H
	5,5	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	D/H	H	H
	6,6	SP/H	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H	H
	7,7	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
	8,8	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP
	9,9	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	ST	SP	SP	ST	ST
	10,10	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST	ST
	A,A	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP

= Hit

D/H

= Double, otherwise Hit

= Stay

D/ST

= Double, otherwise Stay

= Split

SP/H

= Split, otherwise Hit

For example:

10♠

6♥

6♣

STAND

7♥

9♠

10♣

HIT

Same hand, different dealer card, completely different play. When the dealer shows a 6, they are likely to bust, so you stand and let them take the risk. When the dealer shows a 10, they are strong, so you hit and try to improve. The dealer's card changes everything.

Learn how to memorize the strategy chart →

Myths vs. Reality

What most people get wrong about Blackjack.

"You need to be good at math"

Basic strategy is just memorization. Card counting is adding and subtracting 1. No complex math required.

"Card counting is illegal"

It is not. Casinos do not like it, but using your brain is perfectly legal. They can ask you to leave, but you cannot get arrested for it.

"Going with your gut works"

It does not. Every time you deviate from basic strategy, you give the casino a bigger edge. The math is already solved.

The Right Order

Why you should learn basic strategy before card counting.

Card counting tells you when to bet more, but basic strategy tells you how to play every hand. If your plays are wrong, a bigger bet just multiplies your mistakes.

Learn basic strategy first

This alone brings the house edge down to about 0.5%.

Practice until it is automatic

You need to know the correct play instantly, without thinking. At a real table there is no time to hesitate.

Then add card counting

Once strategy is second nature, counting lets you adjust your decisions based on what cards are left in the shoe.

Ready to train?

Start training today. Your first session takes seconds.

How To Start

The easiest way to start learning basic strategy.

Start with hard totals 12 to 16
These appear the most and cause the most mistakes. Master them first.
Add splits and doubles
Once hard totals feel natural, learn pair splits and double down decisions.
Practice at realistic speed
At a real table, decisions happen fast. Train at speed so you are ready.

Blackjack Trainer strategy training screen

Start Training Today

Your next session is one tap away.

Free to download, no account needed. An optional subscription unlocks unlimited training and the full card counting course.

Basic Strategy vs. Card Counting:What Should You Learn First?

Two ways to improve at Blackjack.

Basic Strategy

Card Counting

It looks like a lot, but it is simpler than you think.

What most people get wrong about Blackjack.

"You need to be good at math"

"Card counting is illegal"

"Going with your gut works"

Why you should learn basic strategy before card counting.

Learn basic strategy first

Practice until it is automatic

Then add card counting

Ready to train?

The easiest way to start learning basic strategy.

Start with hard totals 12 to 16

Add splits and doubles

Practice at realistic speed

Your next session is one tap away.

Go deeper.

#477 Why Basic Strategy Is Not Optional

#491 How to Memorize the Strategy Chart in One Week

#476 The Hi-Lo System: A Practical Introduction

#475 5 Decisions That Cost Casual Players the Most

#489 Soft 17: The Hand Everyone Plays Wrong

Basic Strategy vs. Card Counting:
What Should You Learn First?