Blackjack Trainer
Today's missions
Choose your practice
Path to expert
0 of 7 stamps- Stage 1: Book player, 0 of 2 marks, to do
- Stage 2: Counter, steady, 0 of 2 marks, to do
- Stage 3: Counter, fluent, 0 of 2 marks, to do
- Stage 4: True counter, 0 of 1 mark, to do
- Stage 5: Bettor, 0 of 1 mark, to do
- Stage 6: Table reader, 0 of 1 mark, to do
- Stage 7: Full loop, 0 of 1 mark, locked. Solo Table opens at Lvl 3
- First stampBook playerGo
- Stage 2Counter, steadyGo
- Stage 3Counter, fluent
- To do: Under 30 s, five clean runs in a row physical-deck mark
- To do: Pairs in 20 s, three clean runs in a row physical-deck mark
- Stage 4True counter
- To do: 20 of 20 true counts from the tray, about 2 s each opens with Hi-Lo
- Stage 5Bettor
- To do: 20 bets in a row on this table's ramp opens after the negative-counts rung
- Stage 6Table readerGo
- Stage 7Full loopLvl 3
- Every stamp earned. Any stamp opens its drill again.
30 s and 20 s are marks counters use with a real deck; 45 s is our own starting target. Tapping a screen is close, not the same. The Shoe Test is modelled on what teams ask for. Stamps are practice marks, not a promise about real play.
How to get better at Blackjack
Blackjack is the one casino game where public information gives a disciplined player an edge, and counting cards in your head is a learnable skill rather than a gift. The trainer splits that skill into separate drills — counting, decisions, bet sizing — and grades every answer instantly, free in your browser.
Running and true count
The Counting Trainer deals a full shoe and grades you at timed checkpoints, in Hi-Lo, KO, Hi-Opt I or Omega II.
Basic strategy
The Decision Trainer grades every hit, stand, double, split and surrender against your table rules, with fourteen Illustrious 18 index plays once they unlock.
Betting the count
At the Solo Table a practice bankroll rides on each hand, so you learn to raise on a true count rather than on a hunch.
Guides for Blackjack
Hi-Lo card counting chart: every value, explained
The complete counting cards chart — which cards are +1, 0 and −1 and why — plus the card counting formula and what a cheat sheet is really for.
Read →Running count vs true count: the card counting formula
The one card counting formula — running count ÷ decks remaining — with worked examples, discard-tray estimation, and why no calculator works at a table.
Read →When to split in blackjack: 2 always, 2 never, 6 maybe
Always split aces and 8s. Never split 10s or 5s. The other six pairs turn on the dealer's upcard and DAS. The expected-value math behind each one.
Read →Speed Count Blackjack: The 1-Hour Count, Honestly Rated
Speed Count is blackjack's easiest counting system — no division, no negatives, learnable in an hour. The honest math: it keeps 1/3 to 1/2 of Hi-Lo's power.
Read →Blackjack insurance: a 7.4% bad bet, with one exception
No — insurance loses 7.4% in a six-deck shoe and 5.9% in one deck, and even money is the same bet. The one exception: a Hi-Lo true count of +3 or better.
Read →Is card counting illegal?
No. Counting cards in your head is legal — you're using only information every player at the table can see, so it isn't cheating and no law prohibits it. Casinos are private businesses, though: if they suspect you're counting they can ask you to leave or bar you from blackjack. That's exactly why counters practice until the count is silent and automatic — and why a browser trainer is the risk-free place to build that skill.
How long does it take to learn card counting?
Most people memorize the Hi-Lo tags (2–6 are +1, 7–9 are 0, tens and aces are −1) in a day and can hold an accurate running count through a full deck within a couple of weeks of short daily drills. Getting casino-ready — counting at dealt speed while converting to the true count and playing perfect basic strategy — usually takes one to two months of consistent practice.
What is the difference between the running count and the true count?
The running count is the raw sum of card tags since the shuffle. The true count adjusts it for how much of the shoe is left: divide the running count by the number of decks remaining. A running count of +6 with six decks left is only +1 true — barely an edge — while the same +6 with two decks left is +3 true, a genuinely player-favorable shoe worth betting into.
Which card counting system should I learn first?
Start with Hi-Lo. It's the balanced system most of the literature is built on, and it captures most of the available edge with the simplest tags. KO (Knock-Out) is a good alternative because it's unbalanced and skips the true-count conversion. Hi-Opt I and the level-two Omega II count squeeze out more accuracy for more mental effort — the trainer unlocks them as you level up.
Can I practice counting cards online for free?
Yes. The counting trainer is a free online practice game: it deals a realistic shoe in your browser and grades your running and true count at timed checkpoints, with XP, streaks and daily challenges to keep the reps going. There's nothing to download, and you can play as a guest without an account.