Does anybody have an easy way to remember basic blackjack strategy?

Question

I have been trying to memorize basic blackjack strategy for 2 months and when I deal out the cards at home I get around 75% right. I have copied the information in a notebook and studied and made short fragments of words like:

I have :

11 - double down on 2-10

hit on A

and am still having trouble recalling the information at the table and when at home practicing.

Any ideas please?

Answer 1

Suggesion:

Don't try to memorize the entire chart - especially the parts about doubling down or splitting.  Just get a feel for the stragegies involved with the primary card combination groupings.  If you play soundly, you can do well at blackjack.

Answer 2

Basic black jack stratagy is based on the fact that 10 value cards make up 16 of the 52 cards in a deck, so 1/3 have a value of 10. You play as if any unkown card has a high probability of being one of a 10 value.  While it is only a 33.3% chance of being that, that is the highest probablity, by far, you are going to have in the game.

So when the house is showing prob of stand, you split 8s (your 16 is a dog). You always split a/a.  You double down on 10 when the house is 8 or lower, always double down on 11.  You stand when house is showing 3 to 6 if you have 12 or higher.  you hit on 12 facing a 2.  You can vary that if you have been counting cards and know it is a - 7 or lower count.

Answer 3

The easiest way is to simply take the chart with you to the table. I have never seen a casino that did not permit you to have a basic strategy chart at the table. Keep using it as you play and you will find that you need it less and less often. Before long you will not need it at all.

An alternative way is to get a computer program that deals hands, checks your play and informs you when you make an error. Once again, as you play you will make fewer errors until you have the basic strategy down pat.

BTW, "the parts about doubling down or splitting" are critical and should never be ignored IMHO.

Answer 4

Most people don't realize that Casinos acctualy offer a chart for you. They want you to gamble money. Its the same reason they offer free craps lessons and strategies.

Ask a cashier, customer service, pit boss type of person. They can help you.

They may not be legal in all casinos so you should ask someone.

I've seen them in gift shops at casinos too.

Answer 5

Put them on flash cards.

It'll be hard to remember the entire chart, a lot of things that come up commonly will easily stick in your head. Repetition will also work. You will probably have to artificially test The Ax side and when to split, since they really don't come up often enough to be accurately learned.

Answer 6

You can practice at hitorstand.net

Make rules that govern sets of plays such as:

ten doubles  all except "ten" and up

11 doubles all except "11" (ace is 11) and up

the doubling for soft hands like a2-a7 make a step pattern on the chart, memorise the step pattern for these.  soft 18 has no real patern going for it

everything splits up to 7 except 6s split up to 6

5s never split, tens never split, 4s split only 5 and 6

9 split everything except 7,10 or ace

those are some that i tried, and had moderate success with, now i just have a virtual image of the chart imbedded in my mind and can refference it at any time.