Question 1

What is the best way to learn Blackjack basic strategy?

Accepted Answer

Practice every hand against a strategy chart until the correct move is automatic. HitOrStand deals real Blackjack hands and gives instant feedback so you build muscle memory for hit, stand, double, split, and surrender decisions in minutes a day. Most users reach 95% accuracy in two to four weeks of short daily sessions.

Question 2

Is HitOrStand free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Blackjack trainer, strategy calculator, strategy chart, and Hi-Lo card counting trainer are all completely free and require no signup. HitOrStand works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile, and is available in English and Hebrew.

Question 3

Does basic strategy really work at the Blackjack table?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Basic strategy is mathematically derived to minimize the house edge. Playing perfectly reduces the casino's advantage to about 0.5 percent in a standard 6-deck shoe game where the dealer stands on soft 17, which is the lowest house edge of any common casino game. Deviating from basic strategy costs expected value on every hand.

Question 4

How does card counting work?

Accepted Answer

The Hi-Lo card counting system assigns +1 to low cards (2 through 6), 0 to neutral cards (7 through 9), and -1 to high cards (10, J, Q, K, A). The count starts at zero at the top of the shoe and is updated after every visible card. A higher running count means more high cards remain in the shoe, which favors the player. Skilled counters convert the running count to a true count by dividing by the number of decks still in the shoe and adjust bet size accordingly.

Question 5

When should I hit or stand in Blackjack?

Accepted Answer

A common rule of thumb for hard hands: stand on hard 17 or higher, hit hard 8 or lower, and on totals 12 through 16 stand against dealer 2 through 6 (bust cards) and hit against 7 through Ace. Soft hands (with an Ace counted as 11) play differently — for full accuracy, use the HitOrStand strategy calculator with your exact hand and the dealer's up card.

Question 6

When should I split a pair in Blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Always split Aces and 8s, regardless of the dealer's up card. Never split 10s or 5s. Split 2s, 3s, and 7s against dealer 2 through 7; split 6s against 2 through 6; split 9s against 2 through 9 except 7 (stand on 7). 4s split only if double-after-split is allowed and the dealer shows 5 or 6.

Question 7

When should I double down in Blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Double down on hard 11 against any dealer card except an Ace. Double hard 10 against dealer 2 through 9. Double hard 9 against dealer 3 through 6. For soft totals, double soft 13 through soft 17 against weak dealer up cards (typically 4, 5, and 6, expanding wider for A,6 and A,7). Use the strategy calculator to verify your exact situation.

Question 8

Is card counting illegal?

Accepted Answer

Card counting is not illegal. It is a mental skill — you keep a running count in your head while playing. However, casinos are private property and can refuse service to suspected counters. The Hi-Lo system that HitOrStand teaches is the most common counting system used by professional players.

Question 9

What is a soft 17 in Blackjack?

Accepted Answer

A soft 17 is any hand totaling 17 that contains an Ace counted as 11 — for example A,6 or A,2,4. The dealer rule for soft 17 (stand or hit) is one of the most important house-edge variables. Tables where the dealer stands on soft 17 (S17) are better for the player than tables where the dealer hits on soft 17 (H17) by about 0.2 percent.

Question 10

What is the difference between a strategy chart and a strategy calculator?

Accepted Answer

A strategy chart is a static table showing the correct move for every hand against every dealer up card — useful as a reference. A strategy calculator like HitOrStand's is interactive: you pick your two cards and the dealer's up card, and the app outputs the optimal move directly. The calculator is faster for table-side lookups; the chart is better for memorization.

Blackjack Trainer

How the trainer works

Why drilling beats reading the chart