---
title: 'The Fastest Way to Memorize Blackjack Basic Strategy'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=PhqyZbiH3UY'
video_id: 'PhqyZbiH3UY'
date: 2026-07-07
duration_sec: 0
---

# The Fastest Way to Memorize Blackjack Basic Strategy

> Source: [The Fastest Way to Memorize Blackjack Basic Strategy](https://youtube.com/watch?v=PhqyZbiH3UY)

## Summary

This video teaches the fastest way to memorize basic strategy for blackjack, essential for gaining an edge in the game. The speaker shares four tips: using 21 phrases to recite the entire chart, mastering one row at a time, practicing with drills, and consistent practice.

### Key Points

- **Fastest Way to Memorize Basic Strategy** [00:02] — The speaker teaches shortcuts to memorize basic strategy, starting with 21 phrases that cover the entire chart, e.g., for splits: 'always split aces and eights, never split tens and fives...'
- **Master Reciting One Row at a Time** [01:12] — Recite the chart row by row, e.g., for splits: start with aces, then tens, nines, etc. This helps when playing a hand like soft 18, you can recall the rule instantly.
- **Practice Strategy with Drills** [02:08] — Use free resources like the basic strategy drill on blackjackapprenticeship.com or the free iOS app. Paid options include more advanced drills for two, three, and four card hands.
- **Practice Consistently** [02:45] — Mastering basic strategy is crucial; shaky basics lead to errors in running count, betting, and deviations. Practice until it's rote memory.

### Conclusion

Mastering basic strategy is the foundation for successful blackjack. Use these four tips to memorize the chart and practice until it's automatic, then you can take the casinos' money.

## Transcript

going to teach you the fastest way to memorize basic strategy when I want to see how much someone really knows about playing blackjack I ask them what do you
do with the soft 18 and if they say something like well I usually stand I can tell they don't know basic strategy and if you don't know basic strategy you're never gonna gain the edge at blackjack that's because playing perfect
beating the game of blackjack and in the 15 years that I've been playing and I've learned kind of some of the shortcuts to memorize basic strategy right now I'll put the link below but on a page of blackjack apprenticeship I
outlined 21 phrases that are the fastest way to recite the entire basic strategy chart so for example I'll recite just the splits right now so for the split you'd say always split aces and eights never split tens and fives split twos
threes and sevens against two through seven split 9s against two through nine except for seven split sixes against two through six and split fours against five and six that's the entire splits charts for a double after split game and then
I've got the same thing broken down for soft totals hard totals and surrender below that's the first step because now at least you can recite the entire chart very succinctly my second tip is to master reciting the chart one row at a
so for splits as an example again you start at the top and say always split aces tends never split 10s 9 split 2 through 9 except for 7 eighths always split eights 7 split 2 through 7 6 is split against 2 through 6 fives never
split treat them as a ten fours split against five and six twos and threes split against two through seven and you won't be able to do that for the entire chart because then when you're playing a hand and you get a soft 18 you can say
you've said it a hundred times soft 18 doubles against two through six nine ten days and it's just that kind of rote memorization it's gonna really help your running count in your head and doing all these things if you really
know how to recite every line of the chart my third tip is to practice strategy so it's one thing to be able to recite it and I've given you a couple ways that you can master reciting the chart but now you need to start actually
practice playing at casino or practice playing somewhere where it's not going there are few ways you can do this one we have a free basic strategy drill on blackjack oppression ship we have a free iOS app that you can use and it'll tell
you if you're making mistakes or if you want to take it more seriously we have want to take it more seriously we have paid both iOS app and paid train drills and you can practice two card basic strategy or three and four card basic
strategy until it's rote memory and you can play never making a single mistake my fourth tip is practice practice practice do not skimp on mastering basic
strategy I know the sexy part of being in the game is learning the running the easier it's going to keep an accurate running count learn how to place proper bets learn the playing deviations but if your basic strategy is
shaky everything is going to be shaky so master basic strategy use these tips to the next level and take the casinos money if you want more updates you can subscribe below and check out blackjack apprenticeship com