As with all skills, you have to learn basic strategy to get good at it. This takes some effort, but just about every blackjack player you'll ever meet will tell you it's worth it. Not knowing basic strategy is like eating at a fine restaurant when you have a cold. You can get whiffs of all the wonderful aromas before you, but your stopped-up nose will keep you from fully enjoying the dining experience.

Getting good at basic strategy involves memorizing the tables. Yes, you can take them to the casino with you, but you'll never gain true proficiency as a player if you rely on pieces of paper forever. Once you're able to commit the basics of basic strategy to memory, you can practice it and become proficient at it. You'll find suggestions for how to do this, and drills you can do, in Chapter 13. Mastering basic strategy is also a key element in being a good bettor, which you'll read more about in Chapters 11 and 12.