Blackjack Basic Strategy Drill
Perfect basic strategy cuts blackjack's house edge to about 0.5%, but only if you play it without thinking. Drill random hands here until the right move is automatic. Every answer is graded against the same strategy the trainer's coach uses.
How to use the drill
A random hand and dealer upcard appear. Pick the move you would make: hit, stand, double, split, or surrender. The drill tells you instantly whether it matches perfect basic strategy, and shows the correct play if you miss. Keep going; your accuracy and streak are tracked so you can see yourself improve.
What basic strategy is
Basic strategy is the single best decision for every combination of your two cards and the dealer's upcard, derived from the exact probabilities of the game. It does not require counting cards. Played perfectly it brings the house edge down to roughly 0.5%, lower than any other casino game, which is why learning it is the highest-value hour you can spend before sitting at a blackjack table.
Where to focus first
- Always split Aces and 8s, and never split 10s or 5s.
- Hard 12-16 is the hard part: stand against a dealer 2-6 (let them bust), hit against 7 or higher.
- Double 11 against almost anything, and double 10 unless the dealer shows a 10 or Ace.
- Soft hands (a hand with an Ace counted as 11) play differently - drill these until they stop tripping you up.
No signup, no download. The coach explains every decision as you play.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is blackjack basic strategy?
The mathematically optimal decision for every combination of your hand and the dealer's upcard. Played perfectly it cuts the house edge to about 0.5%: the lowest of any casino game.
How do I memorize basic strategy?
Repetition. Drill random hands until the right play is automatic, focusing on the spots you miss. Start with the high-frequency decisions before the rare ones.
Is this the same strategy a casino uses?
The drill grades against the basic-strategy logic in the Felt Trainer blackjack engine: the same advice the trainer's coach gives, assuming common rules (dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed).
Embed this drill (free)
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