Learn Basic Strategy
Nine short lessons · then practise each one
Start here
Basic strategy is the best play for every combination of your hand and the dealer’s face-up card. It doesn’t guarantee you win a hand, but over time it loses the least money of any way to play. The trainer grades every decision you make against it.
The one big idea: is the dealer’s card weak or strong?
The dealer must keep drawing until 17, and from these cards busts often. Play it safe and let the dealer take the risk; double and split more.
The dealer usually ends on 17 or more. A weak hand of yours will usually lose if you stand, so keep drawing to improve it.
Hard and soft hands
A soft hand has an Ace counted as 11, like A,6 (“soft 17”). It can’t bust with one more card, because the Ace drops to 1 if needed. Every other hand is hard. The chart has separate sections for hard totals, soft totals, and pairs.
How to read the chart
Find your hand down the left side and the dealer’s up card along the top. The square where they meet is your play:
Decide in this order: insurance? → split? → double? → hit or stand? The lessons below follow the same order.
Your progress
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The full chart
Everything from the lessons on one page. Tap any square to see why.