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.
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 split
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:
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...
More specifically (omitting hands covered by "always" rules):
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
Of course these can be abbreviated further:
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
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.
Code:
A7 Hit 9-A, double 3-6, otherwise stand.
55 Hit but double if 2-9
99 Split but stand if 7, X, A
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