Get dealt a hand, pick your play, and see straight away whether it matches the basic strategy chart. Drill hard totals, soft totals and pairs until every decision is automatic.
Dealer
You
Press Deal to get your first hand.
0Hands
–Accuracy
0Streak
0Best streak
Hands you missed (0)
Rules: 4–8 decks · dealer stands on soft 17 · double any two cards · double after split · no surrender.
The trainer runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere, so scores reset when you reload.
How the trainer works
Each hand is drawn from one cell of the basic strategy chart: a hard total from 8 to 19, a soft total from A,2 to A,9, or a pair, against a random dealer upcard. The right play is that cell, so every hand on the chart comes up equally often, including the close calls that are rare at a real table.
Hit, Stand, Split match the chart's H, S and P.
Double is correct for both D (double, otherwise hit) and Ds (double, otherwise stand), because every hand here is your first two cards, when doubling is allowed.
A wrong answer shows the right play and waits for you. A right answer deals the next hand automatically.
With Repeat hands I miss on, missed hands come back more often until you get them right.
Learning basic strategy fast
Hard totals first. They come up most. Remember the pattern: stand on 12 to 16 against a dealer 2 to 6 (except 12 against 2 and 3), hit them against 7 or higher.
Then soft totals. Soft 13 to 17 (A,2 to A,6) double against a dealer 5 or 6, A,4 to A,6 against a 4 as well, and A,6 against a 3 too. Hit everything else. Soft 18 (A,7) is the tricky one: double against 3 to 6, stand against 2, 7 and 8, hit against 9, 10 and ace.
Then pairs. Always split aces and 8s; never split 5s or 10s.
Mix them. Switch to All hands and aim for a long streak. Speed comes after accuracy.
Counting cards too?
Basic strategy comes first; counting only pays once your plays are perfect. When you are ready, drill the count in the card counting practice trainer and learn the Hi-Lo index plays.
4 to 8 decks, the dealer stands on soft 17, you may double any two cards and double after splitting, and there is no surrender. These are the same rules as the basic strategy chart on this site.
Why is Double the answer when the chart says Ds?
Ds means double if you are allowed to, otherwise stand. Every hand in the trainer is a first two-card hand, so doubling is allowed and Double is the right play.
What is the fastest way to learn basic strategy?
Learn one table at a time: hard totals, then soft totals, then pairs. Drill each with the trainer until you answer without thinking, and leave Repeat hands I miss switched on so your weak spots come back more often.
Does the trainer include card counting deviations?
No. It drills basic strategy only. The Hi-Lo index plays, such as standing on 16 against a 10 at a true count of 0 or more, are listed on the basic strategy chart page.
Practice on Android
Strategy That Follows the Count
Counting Edge shows this chart for your table rules and highlights count-based deviations at the current true count, while it tracks the count for you. Free and open source.