Seven modules, one table

Start with the felt: the spots, the dealer's position, the chip tray, the shoe and the discard rack. By the end of the first evening you can name every part of the table and say what it's for.

No cards are dealt yet. The rest of the course leans on this vocabulary, so the group takes the time.

1 session of 3.5 hours

Building and cutting the shoe, drawing cards and laying them on the felt in the right order, first spot to last, then the dealer's own card. Every card is placed flat and where the player can read it.

Most of the first two weeks goes on repetition. Nobody expects it to look easy yet.

2 sessions of 3.5 hours

Stacking, cutting and counting chips with one hand, making change from the tray and paying out in clean stacks. Practice chips only, no real money in class.

2 sessions of 3.5 hours

Totals, soft and hard hands, hits and stands, splits, doubles and insurance, and what each winning hand is paid.

Ask the casino for its current table rules.

2 sessions of 3.5 hours

The order of actions on every hand, hand signals, and how to spot a mistake early: a wrong card, a late bet, a misread total. You also learn when to stop the game and call the floor supervisor instead of fixing it yourself.

2 sessions of 3.5 hours

Calling plays clearly, keeping a pace the table can follow, and handling a disagreement by calling the supervisor. This evening also covers responsible gaming basics: checking age, and where to send a guest who asks for help.

1 session of 3.5 hours

Dealing a full table at pace with the group playing against you, then a short audition with feedback. The last two evenings are the course in one piece.

2 sessions of 3.5 hours