How to Memorize Blackjack Basic Strategy Like the Pros

Today we’ll tell you how to memorize blackjack basic strategy fast.

Do you know what to do with a soft 18?

If you’re hesitating, you’re about to learn why that split second delay is costing you money at the blackjack table.

Learning basic strategy is the key to winning blackjack. But most players struggle to memorize it.

After reading this, you’ll know exactly how to break down that intimidating strategy chart using proven memory techniques that actually work.

First things first, grab our free Basic Strategy cards that we’re giving you right below for you to practice.

Single Deck S17 Strategy Card

Single Deck H17 Strategy Card

Double Deck S17 Strategy Card

Double Deck H17 Strategy Card

Using The 21 phrase method to memorize blackjack strategy

Listen up, before you even think about card counting or fancy deviations, you got to have basic strategy down pat. We’re talking muscle memory here. Like riding a bike or knowing your own phone number.

Basic strategy can cut the house edge down to just 0.5%. That’s like getting the daily special at half price. But here’s the kicker.

You got to know it. Cold. No hesitation, no ums or aws.

Here’s the secret the pros use. You can memorize the entire basic strategy chart using just simple phrases.

Let’s start with splits. This is actually the easiest section. The phrases belwo ring true no matter whether it’s single or double deck or H17 or S17.

• Always split aces and eights
• Never split tens and fives.
• Split twos, threes and sevens against two through seven.
• Split fours against five and six.
• Split sixes against two through six.
• Split nines against two through nine except seven.

Practice saying that outloud ten times right now. That’s the entire split section memorized in under a minute.

Now here’s the game changer. Learn to recite each row of the strategy chart like you’re reading a sentence.

This way, when you get dealt any hands, you can instantly recall the entire row.

Take soft 18, for example.

Instead of thinking, what do I do? You’ll automatically think soft 18 doubles against two through six, stands against seven, and eight, hits against nine, ten and ace for hard totals.

Try this rhythm with hard 17 and above.

• Always stand hard 13 through 16.
• Stand against two through six.
• Hit against seven through ace.

Or test it with a Hard 12.

• Stands against four through six.
• Hits against everything else.

The key is repetition until it becomes muscle memory. Here’s where flashcards become your secret weapon. But you got to do them right.

Make sure you use the strategy cards we linked above. You’ll need them as your reference guide to remember blackjack strategy.

Now, don’t make flashcards for every single hand on the chart. That’s overkill. Focus on the tricky hands. The ones that are easy to confuse or right on the border between different decisions.

Looking at your basic strategy card, make flashcards for hands like pair of sixes versus dealer seven.

The hands you’ll include in your flashcards are the hands that trip up most players because they’re right next to different decisions on the chart.

Look at “border” hands

Pro tip: use your strategy cards to find these border hands. Look for spot where one dealer card means one decision, but the next dealer card means something completely different.

Make sure you write out the different card combinations that make up the total on your flashcard. Don’t just write 16 versus 10. Make flashcards showing your hard 16 with a 10 and a six.

This is so you recognize the total quickly with any combination you might see at the table. And here’s the crucial part – as you’re going through your flashcard deck, time yourself.

Start with 10 seconds per card, using your strategy card to check, then work down to three seconds without looking. That’s casino speed.

Test Your Skills with a Pop Quiz

Don’t have flashcards to test your memory? Let’s try a little quiz.

Question 1

You have a Soft 17 with an Ace and a 6. Dealer shows 5. What’s your play?

Why? Soft 17 always doubles against 3 through 6, no matter the decks or if it’s S17 or H17.

Question 2

You have a Hard 12 with a 9 and a 3, Dealer shows 2. What’s your play?

Why? Hard 12 only stands against 4 through 6.

That two looks weak, but it’s not weak enough. You gotta improve this hand.

Question 3

You have a Pair of 6s, Dealer shows 7. What’s your play?

Why? Don’t split sixes. Only split against two through six. Treat this like a hard 12 and take a card.

Question 4

You have a Soft 18 with an Ace and a 7. Dealer shows 10. What’s your play?

Why? If the Dealer has a 10, you’ll almost always hit with your Soft 18. It might seem a bit paradoxical to beginners, but this is the hand that trips up most players. Remember, these strategy cards have been created with statistics backing them up, the tell you which play is most likely to give you the best result.

More Tips and Tricks on how to memorize Blackjack Strategy

Don’t try to learn the whole chart at once. That’s like trying to eat a five course meal in one bite.

Start with splits, then soft hands, then hard totals.

Master one section before moving to the next. And here’s a big one. Don’t just memorize. Understand the logic.

Know that you split eights because 16 is a terrible hand. But two hands starting with eight gives you a fighting chance.

Most importantly, practice makes perfect. Better to get it right slowly than wrong quickly.

So, there you have it. The fastest ways to memorize basic strategy, using proven techniques that actually work.

Remember, basic strategy is your foundation.

You can’t build a winning game without it. Ready to take your game to the next level?

Download our free Basic Strategy cards shown above. It’s the same chart the pros use and it’s yours free.