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THE LEARNING ROOM · ADVANTAGE COUNT

Understand blackjack. One idea at a time.

Make sense of the numbers behind blackjack. Clear explanations, visual examples and a few small experiments to make each idea click.

Start with a practice round. Explore the ideas behind it.Free to read · No account needed

New to the app? Begin with Start. Already comfortable with the basics? Jump to a case study.

PART 01 · 1 GUIDE

Start

Follow a complete practice round, from table setup to the next deal.

YOUR HAND10 + 8Hard 18
DEALER UPCARD6One visible card
A practice hand to follow from setup to the next round.

START HERE · GUIDED PRACTICE

Your first 10 minutes
in Advantage Count.

New to Advantage Count? Set the rules, enter a hand and follow the decision through to the next deal.

10-minute practice walkthroughStart your first round

PART 02 · 3 GUIDES

Foundations

Learn the count, expected value and the rules behind a decision, in that order.

RUNNING COUNT+6
DECKS LEFT3
TRUE COUNT+2
One count. The cards remaining give it context.

COUNTING · BEGINNER

One running count.
Two very different shoes.

Learn why the cards remaining change the meaning of your count — and try the calculation yourself.

Running count vs true count · 5 minRead guide
WIN CHANCE55%EV PER ORIGINAL WAGER+0.10
WIN CHANCE53%EV PER ORIGINAL WAGER+0.12
Hypothetical example · even-money outcomes · no pushes · second option doubles the stake

DECISIONS · BEGINNER

Winning more often.
Worth less?

See why a higher win percentage can hide a lower expected value. Make your prediction, then follow the maths.

EV vs win probability · 5 minRead guide
EXAMPLE RULE: INDEX TC ≥ +3
+2.99Keep the baseline
+3.00Use the deviation

A small difference. A different side of the rule.

STRATEGY · NEXT STEP

Same hand.
Different answers. Why?

Connect basic strategy, count-based deviations and the Analyzer. Try an index threshold and learn what to check when the answers differ.

Basic strategy and deviations · 6 minRead guide

PART 03 · 4 GUIDES

Analyzer case studies

Apply those ideas to calculated examples of Player Edge, Insurance, Cash Out and dealer checks.

BEFORE THE DEAL+2.22%Player EdgeFull-round simulation
WITH 18 AGAINST 10−0.2845uBest hand EV · StandExact for the supplied state
Calculated from one constructed shoe. The stage of the round changes what each number describes.

ANALYZER · CASE STUDY

A positive edge.
A losing hand.

Follow one calculated example from Player Edge to the final reveal. Learn why a favourable shoe can still leave you choosing between negative-EV actions.

Player Edge vs hand EV · 7 minFollow the example
RAW TC +3 · IN BOTH EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE A68 / 209ten-value / unseen cards32.54% chance

DECLINEInsurance EV −0.0120 units

EXAMPLE B72 / 209ten-value / unseen cards34.45% chance

TAKEInsurance EV +0.0167 units

Dealer shows an Ace · before the check · half-unit Insurance stake

INSURANCE · CASE STUDY

Same count.
Different Insurance.

Two shoes share exactly the same TC. Compare their remaining cards and discover why the Analyzer’s Insurance answers differ.

Insurance vs true count · 6 minCompare the examples
YOUR 10, 6 · DEALER 9 · MAIN BET 10
OFFER A · TOTAL RETURNED5.50Net result −0.4500 unitsTAKE CASH OUT
OFFER B · TOTAL RETURNED4.50Net result −0.5500 unitsKEEP PLAYING

Same hand, shoe and rules.
Best continuation: HIT · −0.5057 units

CASH OUT · CASE STUDY

A weak hand.
Two Cash Out offers.

Keep the hand fixed and change the quote. See why one return beats playing on, while another leaves Hit as the better choice.

Cash Out vs continuation EV · 6 minCompare the offers
YOUR 5 + 6 · DEALER 10
A · AFTER NO-BJ CHECKDOUBLE+0.1788 unitsDealer blackjack excluded
B · NO CHECK ON 10HIT+0.0321 unitsDealer blackjack still possible

Best action EV per original wager.
8 decks · S17 · all bets lose to dealer blackjack

DEALER CHECK · CASE STUDY

A dealer check.
A different decision.

Keep 11 against 10 and compare the dealer-check rules. See why Double leads after blackjack is excluded, while Hit wins the comparison before that information.

Peek vs no peek · 6 minFollow the check

FROM UNDERSTANDING TO PRACTICE

Take the next step.

Explore how the Count Trainer, Decision Trainer and Analyzer connect these ideas to practice.

The guides are open to everyone. The application currently requires invited beta access. Examples explain a calculation; they do not predict a hand or promise profit. Read our methodology.