Basic strategy is the mathematically best decision for every player hand against every dealer upcard, assuming you do not track cards. The trainer deals real hands from a shoe and its coach compares each of your decisions with the EV-optimal one, showing exactly how much a mistake costs.
Play with the keyboard: H hit, S stand, D double, P split, Space deals. The strategy chart on the right highlights the current situation. The table below lists the costliest common mistakes, computed from the same EV model.
Open this experiment in the lab ↑All numbers below were computed by the same simulator and models that run in the lab above, when this page was built.
Expected loss per 100 coins bet when you choose the wrong move, from the EV model behind the trainer (dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, 3:2 blackjack, no surrender):
| Your hand | Dealer shows | Correct move | Mistake | Cost per 100 coins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 6 | Double | Hit | 33.37 |
| A,A | 7 | Split | Hit | 29.74 |
| 10,10 | 6 | Stand | Split | 12.84 |
| 15 | 7 | Hit | Stand | 10.56 |
| soft 18 (A,7) | 9 | Hit | Stand | 8.24 |
| 9 | 4 | Double | Hit | 5.30 |
| 8,8 | 10 | Split | Hit | 5.03 |
| 12 | 3 | Hit | Stand | 1.86 |
| 13 | 2 | Stand | Hit | 1.50 |
| 16 | 10 | Hit | Stand | 0.06 |
| Cards | Tag |
|---|---|
| 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | +1 |
| 7, 8, 9 | 0 |
| 10, J, Q, K, A | −1 |
Dealer stands on soft 17 and peeks for blackjack, double on any two cards, double after split, one split, split aces get one card, blackjack pays 3:2, no surrender.
Under these rules the house edge is roughly half a percent of the initial bet. Every deviation from the chart adds to it, which is what the coach measures.
Both options lose more than half a bet on average, but hitting a two-card 16 against a 10 loses slightly less in expectation than standing. With three or more cards in the 16, standing is often better; the trainer, like basic strategy, uses the two-card decision.
No. Virtual coins only, no prizes, 18+.
Free-to-play entertainment and math education with virtual coins only. No real money, no deposits, no withdrawals, no prizes. 18+. Simulated results do not predict real outcomes.