Easiest way to memorize BS
- Thread starter Tyler19
- Start date
It depends. Different people have different ways of learning things. I’m a very visual learner so I spent a few hours memorizing the chart. My wife can’t stand the chart. She had to write the rules on paper like an instruction sheet: “Always hit until hard 17 unless the dealer has a small card. Always hit soft 17, and hit a soft 18 against 9,10, A.” Some people learn better by playing the hands on a computer until the decisions make sense to them. I would suggest trying it different ways and see what works best for you.
-Sonny-
-Sonny-
Your hand:
Stiff=12-16
Pat=17-21
Dealers Hand:
Bust Card=2-6
Strong Card=7-A
Once you learn the General Basics, you can then Add the Refinements and Exceptions.
1. Anytime Your hand is a Stiff, Hit until you get 17 or better against a Strong card.
2.Anytime Your hand is a Stiff, Stand against any bust card. Except 12 vs 2,3(hit)
3. Soft Double and split against a Bust Card. Hit A7 vs 9,X,A
4. Hard Double:
9 vs (3-6)
10 vs (2-9)
11 vs Any dealer Up-card.
5. Always split 8s and As against any dealer up-card.
This should help get you started.
Stiff=12-16
Pat=17-21
Dealers Hand:
Bust Card=2-6
Strong Card=7-A
Once you learn the General Basics, you can then Add the Refinements and Exceptions.
1. Anytime Your hand is a Stiff, Hit until you get 17 or better against a Strong card.
2.Anytime Your hand is a Stiff, Stand against any bust card. Except 12 vs 2,3(hit)
3. Soft Double and split against a Bust Card. Hit A7 vs 9,X,A
4. Hard Double:
9 vs (3-6)
10 vs (2-9)
11 vs Any dealer Up-card.
5. Always split 8s and As against any dealer up-card.
This should help get you started.
They're both right
Zg's method of flashcards is the ticket for many students, however, as Sonny mentioned, his brain is wired to visual stimulus so that's the way for him, as well as myself. I can take one quick gaze at a colored BS chart and immediately lock on to an entire series of plays, i.e. DD 11 v. anything across(pitch games).
Indeces, however were a different animal for me. I found that the flashcard method with the index # below did the trick. So do a little experimenting and see what works best for you.
Zg's method of flashcards is the ticket for many students, however, as Sonny mentioned, his brain is wired to visual stimulus so that's the way for him, as well as myself. I can take one quick gaze at a colored BS chart and immediately lock on to an entire series of plays, i.e. DD 11 v. anything across(pitch games).
Indeces, however were a different animal for me. I found that the flashcard method with the index # below did the trick. So do a little experimenting and see what works best for you.
I just looked at it and see the paterns of how it works. Same thing for indicies they all go by kinda patterns to so you really only need to remember like 1 or 2 then the pattern it goes by for say like 10 of them which takes an extra second to remember and may be a little fuzzy but then you know more then just the main 18.
like say soft double downs its just a stair pattern so you only need to remember soft double downs for 13 vs dealer 5, 6 and you know the rest. Stuff like that.
I also have them printed out and on my table and after a while the picture is stuck in your head and eventually that picture strats containing the indicies to.
But patterns is the way to go for me at least. BS does contain some logic
like say soft double downs its just a stair pattern so you only need to remember soft double downs for 13 vs dealer 5, 6 and you know the rest. Stuff like that.
I also have them printed out and on my table and after a while the picture is stuck in your head and eventually that picture strats containing the indicies to.
But patterns is the way to go for me at least. BS does contain some logic
Sonny's right..
everyone learns differently. I made flash cards, but didn't
use them. I ended up writing the chart over and over during
slack time at work, no less. Now I just have to refresh my
memory every few days.
When people ask me, I tell them it's like memorizing your
times tables in school. That discourages most. LOL
No effort, no gain.
BJinNJ
BTW, Getting ready for my first casino trip soon.
everyone learns differently. I made flash cards, but didn't
use them. I ended up writing the chart over and over during
slack time at work, no less. Now I just have to refresh my
memory every few days.
When people ask me, I tell them it's like memorizing your
times tables in school. That discourages most. LOL
No effort, no gain.
BJinNJ
BTW, Getting ready for my first casino trip soon.
Cut your hand and end up in the emergency room. I had a guy playing freeplay chips everyday for me and even after a few months he still never learned BS. One day at his real job he cut his hand bad enough to need stitches. During his 3 hour wait at the ER he learned BS down pat. Since then he has gone on to become a fulltime AP and quit his day job.
I recommend this technique to all my friends who want to learn BS
I recommend this technique to all my friends who want to learn BS
Guess I'm like your wife lol - I just learned by learning a rule and applying it at the table.
These were the rules, more or less, that I used since it was for a multi-deck DAS S17 game.
STAND 12-16 VS 6 OR LESS, BUT HIT 12 VS 2,3
ALWAYS HIT 12-16 VS 7 OR MORE
DOUBLE 11 VS 10 OR LESS
DOUBLE 10 VS 9 OR LESS
DOUBLE 9 VS 3 THRU 6
ALWAYS STAND ON A,8 OR A,9
ALWAYS HIT A,6 OR LESS
HIT A,7 VS 9,10,A
STAND A,7 VS 8 OR LESS
DOUBLE A,2 & A,3 VS 5,6
DOUBLE A,4 & A,5 VS 4,5,6
DOUBLE A,6 & A,7 VS 3,4,5,6
ALWAYS SPLIT A'S & 8'S
NEVER SPLIT 5'S & 10'S
SPLIT 9'S VS 9 OR LESS, EXCEPT 7
SPLIT 2'S, 3'S & 7'S VS 7 OR LESS
SPLIT 6'S VS 6 OR LESS
SPLIT 4'S VS 5,6
My wife learned BS by learning these rules too lol. Whatever works!
These were the rules, more or less, that I used since it was for a multi-deck DAS S17 game.
STAND 12-16 VS 6 OR LESS, BUT HIT 12 VS 2,3
ALWAYS HIT 12-16 VS 7 OR MORE
DOUBLE 11 VS 10 OR LESS
DOUBLE 10 VS 9 OR LESS
DOUBLE 9 VS 3 THRU 6
ALWAYS STAND ON A,8 OR A,9
ALWAYS HIT A,6 OR LESS
HIT A,7 VS 9,10,A
STAND A,7 VS 8 OR LESS
DOUBLE A,2 & A,3 VS 5,6
DOUBLE A,4 & A,5 VS 4,5,6
DOUBLE A,6 & A,7 VS 3,4,5,6
ALWAYS SPLIT A'S & 8'S
NEVER SPLIT 5'S & 10'S
SPLIT 9'S VS 9 OR LESS, EXCEPT 7
SPLIT 2'S, 3'S & 7'S VS 7 OR LESS
SPLIT 6'S VS 6 OR LESS
SPLIT 4'S VS 5,6
My wife learned BS by learning these rules too lol. Whatever works!
The way I memorized is long to explain but easy to remember.
In short, I divide all hands into one of three categories:
(1) Always.
(2) Hit but X if...
(3) Weird.
First, group all the easy/absolutes. These things only have one answer, regardless of the dealer's up-card.
With this easy rule we've already covered about 1/3rd of all possible hands with barely any thought at all. You can probably remember these in less time than it takes for your morning dump.
Now I cluster almost all of the remaining hands into four discrete groups of "Hit but X if..." For example, in general, we can say:
More specifically (omitting hands covered by "always" rules):
Of course these can be abbreviated further:
There are three remaining hands that I simply call "weird" since the options either do not fall into two discrete, contiguous groups or are oddballs in their overall group.
And for these I use mnemonic devices. For example, for 99, I imagine these cards in these positions in this order; a 7 standing up, a 9 lying flat, a 10 standing up, a 9 lying flat, an ace standing up. In this way I envision the 9's split (with the 10 between them) but the 7,X,A are standing up. So I split 9's unless the dealer's card is one I envision standing upright.
I have a really strange one for A7. I truncate the options into D3-6, H9-A, S. Then I switch the numbers to letters to get DEGHNAS. Finally, I turn it into a sentence. Be creative. "Did Emma Get Her Nylons All Sloppy?" Whatever. =)
Granted, I left out the two hands that have surrender possibilities (15, 16) but I think it's better to wait until the rest of the list is memorized. Then adding two caveats is moot.
Now to put it all together into a coherent, useful method...
When I see my two up-cards, I first ask myself if they're in the "always" category. If so, problem solved. I don't even look up.
If not, I ask myself what group they're in.
If pairs, I think "hit but split if..."
If one is an ace I think "hit but double if..."
If the total is below 12 I think "hit but double if..."
If none of the above, I think "hit but stand if..."
Then I just have to remember the two numbers associated with my cards and execute the "if" when the dealer's card is between them.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. =)
vQ
In short, I divide all hands into one of three categories:
(1) Always.
(2) Hit but X if...
(3) Weird.
First, group all the easy/absolutes. These things only have one answer, regardless of the dealer's up-card.
Code:
TOTAL ACTION
-----------------------
5 always hit
6 always hit
7 always hit
8 always hit
A,8 always stand
A,9 always stand
A,10 always stand
8,8 always split
A,A always splitNow I cluster almost all of the remaining hands into four discrete groups of "Hit but X if..." For example, in general, we can say:
Code:
7-11 Hit but double if...
12-16 Hit but stand if...
A2-A6 Hit but double if...
22-AA Hit but split if...
Code:
9 Hit but double if 3-6
10 Hit but double if 2-9
11 Hit but double if 2-X
12 Hit but stand if 4-6
13 Hit but stand if 2-6
14 Hit but stand if 2-6
15 Hit but stand if 2-6 *
16 Hit but stand if 2-6 **
A2 Hit but double if 5-6
A3 Hit but double if 5-6
A4 Hit but double if 4-6
A5 Hit but double if 4-6
A6 Hit but double if 3-6
22 Hit but split if 2-7
33 Hit but split if 2-7
44 Hit but split if 5-6
66 Hit but split if 2-6
77 Hit but split if 2-7
Code:
9 HD 3-6
10 HD 2-9
11 HD 2-X
12 HS 4-6
13 HS 2-6
14 HS 2-6
15 HS 2-6 *
16 HS 2-6 **
A2 HD 5-6
A3 HD 5-6
A4 HD 4-6
A5 HD 4-6
A6 HD 3-6
22 HS 2-7
33 HS 2-7
44 HS 5-6
66 HS 2-6
77 HS 2-7
Code:
A7 Hit 9-A, double 3-6, otherwise stand.
55 Hit but double if 2-9
99 Split but stand if 7, X, AI have a really strange one for A7. I truncate the options into D3-6, H9-A, S. Then I switch the numbers to letters to get DEGHNAS. Finally, I turn it into a sentence. Be creative. "Did Emma Get Her Nylons All Sloppy?" Whatever. =)
Granted, I left out the two hands that have surrender possibilities (15, 16) but I think it's better to wait until the rest of the list is memorized. Then adding two caveats is moot.
Now to put it all together into a coherent, useful method...
When I see my two up-cards, I first ask myself if they're in the "always" category. If so, problem solved. I don't even look up.
If not, I ask myself what group they're in.
If pairs, I think "hit but split if..."
If one is an ace I think "hit but double if..."
If the total is below 12 I think "hit but double if..."
If none of the above, I think "hit but stand if..."
Then I just have to remember the two numbers associated with my cards and execute the "if" when the dealer's card is between them.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. =)
vQ
man Vq you have a very detailed way of remembering bs. reminds me of all the ways you are taught to study at school at. All this flash cards stuff to which i never did for anything.
which ever way you learn you just have to know when it's put into practice just like that right away with no real thought. I don't think there is short cuts its just plain memorization. Color coded charts are helpful if you learn through images.
which ever way you learn you just have to know when it's put into practice just like that right away with no real thought. I don't think there is short cuts its just plain memorization. Color coded charts are helpful if you learn through images.
I agree. Once you've "got it," you've "got it." My mind doesn't go through this procedure anymore, it was more of a first-couple-dozen-hours-practicing sort of thing (as well as a fallback in case I have myself a blonde moment). =)
Strange story...
My father used to work for the Post Office. This was back in the mid-to-late 80's when they utilized automation to sort mail but it wasn't fully automated like it is now. His job was to sit at this keypad and as mail came by, it would pause, he'd key in some numbers and the letter would continue. Lather, rinse, repeat. But here's the kicker...
For every street within a "zone" there would be a code. For example, Washington Street might be 00001. Elm Street might be 00002. If a street was large enough it might be split into more than one code. For example, addresses 1 through 999 Juniper St. might be 00003, 1000 through 1999 Juniper might be 00004, etc. And so every single letter that came by, my father would have precisely one second to see the street address, think of the matching code and key it in.
Sixty per minute. One mistake per minute allowed.
In order for a person to be given this job, they'd have to remember pages upon pages of street-to-code conversions. Not only did my father learn these but he was kind of notorious for learning as many zones as they'd give him so I'd have the task of quizzing him on literally stacks of sheets with nothing but addresses and the respective codes. The guy was a friggin' machine.
If I didn't know any better I'd say I was the milkman's kid because I inherited precisely NONE of his ability in this regard.
*sigh
vQ
Strange story...
My father used to work for the Post Office. This was back in the mid-to-late 80's when they utilized automation to sort mail but it wasn't fully automated like it is now. His job was to sit at this keypad and as mail came by, it would pause, he'd key in some numbers and the letter would continue. Lather, rinse, repeat. But here's the kicker...
For every street within a "zone" there would be a code. For example, Washington Street might be 00001. Elm Street might be 00002. If a street was large enough it might be split into more than one code. For example, addresses 1 through 999 Juniper St. might be 00003, 1000 through 1999 Juniper might be 00004, etc. And so every single letter that came by, my father would have precisely one second to see the street address, think of the matching code and key it in.
Sixty per minute. One mistake per minute allowed.
In order for a person to be given this job, they'd have to remember pages upon pages of street-to-code conversions. Not only did my father learn these but he was kind of notorious for learning as many zones as they'd give him so I'd have the task of quizzing him on literally stacks of sheets with nothing but addresses and the respective codes. The guy was a friggin' machine.
If I didn't know any better I'd say I was the milkman's kid because I inherited precisely NONE of his ability in this regard.
*sigh
vQ
Keep a copy of the basic strategy chart on the blackjack table right in front of you until you no longer need it. Study it for an hour before your first game to save wasting to much time looking for the correct play! After the first session most plays will be obvious and you will rarely need to consult the chart.
VonQ,
When I was first memorizing BS years ago, I did what you did and memorize those written "rules". But I am more of a visual person, and visualizing the chart helped me turn the corner at that point. I think it was the combination of visual and text that really ingrained it in my mind to this day.
good luck
When I was first memorizing BS years ago, I did what you did and memorize those written "rules". But I am more of a visual person, and visualizing the chart helped me turn the corner at that point. I think it was the combination of visual and text that really ingrained it in my mind to this day.
good luck