Abstract: A blackjack strategy calculator 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention provides an enclosure 20 sized to fit in the palm of the user. A preferred circuit having a power supply 70, output vibrator 80 and microcontroller 90 implements the functionality of two modes. A plus button 30, a minus button 40, an output button 50 and a mode button 60 allows the user to control the operation of the circuit. The microcontroller executes software defining two modes of operation, each mode having a card-counting algorithm providing information to the player to enable the player to make better decisions related to selecting an appropriate wage amount for a hand of blackjack or for playing progressive blackjack jackpot, respectively.