Basic Strategy
There are only 7 steps between you and knowing the correct play for every hand. Here is exactly how to get there.
The Challenge
Most players study the strategy chart but still make mistakes at the table. Here is why.
Hard totals, soft totals, and pairs each have different rules. That is a lot to remember without practice.
At a real table there is no time to look anything up. You need to know the play instantly.
Other players watching, the dealer waiting. Hesitation leads to bad decisions.
Your Roadmap
Do not try to memorize the whole chart at once. Work through these steps one at a time and each one builds on the last.
The most common hands and where most errors happen. Dealer shows 7 or higher, you hit. Start here to eliminate the biggest mistakes first.
Dealer shows a low card, they are more likely to bust, so you stand. One exception: 12 vs. dealer 2 or 3 is a hit. Practice until this feels automatic.
The easy ones. Always stand on 17+, always hit on 8 or below. This completes all hard totals with almost no extra effort.
This is when doubling is the correct play. Double on 11 (except vs. Ace), on 10 vs. dealer 2 through 9, and on 9 vs. dealer 3 through 6.
You cannot bust with a soft hand, so the plays are more aggressive. A-6 always hits, A-7 stands vs. 2, 7, 8 but doubles vs. 3 through 6. Learn each soft total one at a time.
Always split Aces and 8s. Never split 10s or 5s. The rest follows patterns based on the dealer's card. Easier than it looks once you practice.
Mix all hand types together and practice at table speed. The goal: see the hand, know the play instantly.
Practice Mode
Pick a hand type, practice until you are confident, then move to the next. The app tells you the correct play after every decision so you learn as you go.
It also tracks which hands you get wrong and drills them more often until you stop making mistakes.

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