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Introduction
Free Bet Blackjack is a blackjack variant by game inventor Geoff Hall. The twist to this one is the player doesn't have to risk his own money when splitting or doubling (most of the time). It is like playing with a generous boyfriend at the table who makes all the supplemental bets for you and lets you keep the winnings. What is the catch? Like in Geoff's other game, Blackjack Switch, if the dealer gets a 22, all bets left standing push.
- Free Bet Blackjack is yet another Blackjack variant where at first everything seems normal. However, it allows you to split a pair of cards or double down on certain cards for free. So, the game starts normally with the player placing an Ante bet.
- Free Bet Blackjack Free Bet Blackjack lets you double down and split. If you choose free-bet options, the dealer will place a special lammer next to your original wager. If you end up winning the.
#1 Ranked Online Casino Site Free Bet Blackjack Rules. Taking a cue from the 'American' style of the card game, the two card rule simply has the. Finally, Free Bet Blackjack incorporates Hall's 'Push 22' rule, so whenever the dealer happens to go bust. Best microgaming casino. Blackjack Variations Free Bet Blackjack. Free Bet Blackjack is a new blackjack game in Las Vegas. Free Bet Blackjack can only be found at the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas. The game is distributed by Shuffle Master which is an arm of Scientific Games and was invented by Geoff Hall. Editor's Picks for Best Online Blackjack in 2020.
The game opened for business on June 20, 2012 at the Golden Nugget. I went down for the game's debut and found the table full of people enjoying the game. The strategy is simpler and offers more doubles and splits than conventional blackjack. Gamblers who find the basic strategy of conventional blackjack too complicated to memorize may take relief in the simplicity of Free Bet Blackjack.
Rules
The rules have changed since the game launched at the Golden Nugget. It is my understand that the rules below are now the norm. The game is based on standard blackjack, with the following rules:- Six decks
- Dealer hits soft 17's
- Blackjacks pay 3 to 2
- Double after split allowed
- Double on two cards only
- Re-split pairs up to four hands, including aces
- No surrender
The game introduces two major rule changes:
- 'Free Doubles' on hard totals of two-card total of 9, 10, or 11. Regular doubles are still allowed on all other two-card hands. With a 'free double,' the player's original wager is matched with a 'free bet' button and the player receives one additional card. At the end of the hand:
- If the dealer wins, the player loses his original wager only.
- If the hand results in a push, the player gets back his original wager only.
- Otherwise, if the player wins, the player gets back his original wager plus winnings equal to double that wager.
- 'Free Splits' on all pairs except 10's. With a 'free split,' the player's two cards are divided into two one-card hands. The player's original wager is placed with the first hand and a 'free bet' button is placed with the second hand. The player plays out each hand one at a time and is entitled to a 'free double' or 'free split' on both hands. For winning hands, each 'free bet' button is replaced with real chips equaling the original wager. On hands resulting in a player loss or push, the dealer takes back the 'free bet' button.
- Dealer pushes on 22. If the player has 21 or less and the dealer busts with 22, then the player's wager is a push.
Basic Strategy
Strategy depends on whether you are playing a real money bet or a free bet. There is a difference because a push is just as bad as a loss on a Free Bet, thus causing a more aggressive strategy. The following three tables show the strategy for a real money hand, free bet hand, and pairs respectively.
If you remember just one thing about the strategy, accept every free double and free split opportunity.
House Edge
The house edge under the standard rules above is 1.04%.
Rule Variants
Following are the effects of some possible rule variants. The effects are the change in the player's expected return. The figures below with a (SH) were taken with permission from Discount Gambling. The ones with a (Wiz) were calculated by me. It is interesting that the greater the number of decks, the better the odds for the player, which is the opposite of conventional blackjack. How to download chrome browser for windows. I assume it is because there is more free-splitting with more decks, due to a lesser effect of non-replacement.
- Free doubles with three or more cards (DG): +0.66%.
- Dealer stands on soft 17 (DG): +0.31%.
- Late surrender allowed (DG): +0.21%.
- One deck: -0.14% (Wiz).
- Two decks: -0.06% (Wiz).
- Eight decks: +0.01% (Wiz,DG).
- No re-splitting aces (DG): -0.08%.
- No free re-splits on a pair of fours (DG): -0.27%.
- No re-splitting 2-9: -0.32% (DG).
- No double or free-double after a split (DG): -0.70%.
- Blackjack pays 6 to 5: -1.36% (Wiz).
Pot of Gold
I have heard reports that some casinos offer a side bet called Pot of Gold, which is based on the number of Free Bet tokens the player accumulates per initial hand. The Washington Gambling Commission lists two Pot of Gold pay tables. Following is my analysis of both of them. These tables were based on a random simulation. The lower right cells show a house edge of 5.77% on pay table 1 and 4.64% on pay table 2.
Pot of Gold — Pay Table 1
| Tokens | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1000 | 0.000002 | 0.002026 |
| 6 | 300 | 0.000027 | 0.008140 |
| 5 | 100 | 0.000194 | 0.019445 |
| 4 | 60 | 0.000847 | 0.050799 |
| 3 | 30 | 0.003866 | 0.115973 |
| 2 | 10 | 0.013488 | 0.134884 |
| 1 | 3 | 0.148155 | 0.444466 |
| 0 | -1 | 0.833420 | -0.833420 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.057686 |
Pot of Gold — Pay Table 2
| Tokens | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 100 | 0.000002 | 0.000203 |
| 6 | 100 | 0.000027 | 0.002713 |
| 5 | 100 | 0.000194 | 0.019445 |
| 4 | 50 | 0.000847 | 0.042333 |
| 3 | 30 | 0.003866 | 0.115973 |
| 2 | 12 | 0.013488 | 0.161861 |
| 1 | 3 | 0.148155 | 0.444466 |
| 0 | -1 | 0.833420 | -0.833420 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.046426 |
The player can lower the house edge on the Pot of Gold by splitting fives instead of doubling, at the detriment of the primary wager. If the player splits fives the house edge on the Pot of Gold will be 2.75% under Pay Table 1 and 1.48% under Pay Table 2. Splitting fives, instead of doubling, will increase the house edge on the base wager by 0.15%. Free casino slot games buffalo.
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank Geoff Hall, the inventor, for his cooperation with the rules and sharing the math report. This report is based on a combination of work between Stephen How and me. We are in close agreement on the house edge. The basic strategy and some of the effects of rule variations are the work of Stephen How.
Internal Links
- Original rule card. Please note that doubling on three or more cards is no longer allowed but free splits of fours is. Overall, the old rules were better, of course. Table game rules seldom get better for the player.
Outside Links
- Free Bet Blackjack page at Discount Gambling.
- Free Bet Blackjack Facebook page.
Written by:Michael Shackleford
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Free Blackjack Online
Free Online Blackjack
Free online blackjack isn't hard to find. In fact, this popular game seems to be available all over the Internet, which is particularly handy for those looking to increase their skills without decreasing their bankroll. To enjoy a game of free online blackjack, just look up the term in the search engine of your choice or take a look at some of the sites we've listed below.
Free Blackjack Online
For those looking for free blackjack online, the following casinos offer flash versions of the game also known as Twenty-One. These games require no download to your computer, and you'll be enjoying free blackjack online within moments.
1. Bodoglife - This leading casino offers free blackjack online, as well as games such as baccarat, craps, American roulette, pai gow poker, European roulette, tri-card poker and three card rummy. You can practice each of these games for free, and the casino also offers real-money versions of all of these games.
2. 777.com - Another leading online casino, this site offers free online blackjack plus practice play versions of roulette, slots and poker. Their flash version of blackjack loads within seconds, making is very convenient for the busy blackjack fan. Getting a natural blackjack pays 3:2, while the dealer must draw to 16 and is required to stand on all 17s.
3. Blackjack Ballroom - If you're looking for blackjack online game free, then Blackjack Ballroom is the place for you. Their version of Classic Blackjack is played with a single deck, but it's shuffled after each hand. When it comes to free blackjack online, Blackjack Ballroom also offers Vegas Strip Blackjack, European Blackjack and Multihand Blackjack.
4. Blackjack Club - At their flash casino, you can get your free online blackjack fix. You can enjoy regular blackjack or even progressive blackjack. Besides blackjack, this casino also offers such games as 3D horse racing, slots and video poker.
5. Miss Dila's Blackjack - Not an actual online casino, but it's a lot of fun anyway. Play free online blackjack against a pink-haired animated dealer. If you end up winning, you can even get a virtual check. Sure, the check isn't worth anything, but it's a fun way to pass the time and hone your skills.
Free Online Blackjack Tips
While you're enjoying your blackjack online game free, you might also want to keep in mind some of these free online blackjack tips. Not only will they improve your chances of winning, but they'll also make you feel like a real high roller.
1. Don't forget to 'double down.' This move involves doubling your bet and only receiving one additional card. If you have a total of 10, you might want to consider this option, especially if the dealer has a nine or lower.
2. When enjoying free online blackjack, don't forget to look for rules which work to your advantage (especially if you're considering playing for real money later). Such rules might include the dealer standing on a soft 17 or the ability to double down on any two cards.
Play Free Bet Blackjack Online
3. Know the rules. All the free online blackjack tips in the world won't help if you don't know the rules. For example, the dealer must hit on any hand of 16 or lower, so you'll never win with less than 17 unless the dealer busts. Keep this free online blackjack tip in mind, and hit on any hand where you have less than 17 and the dealer shows a King through eight. Free online slotsvegas world.
4. If you get two cards of the same value, you may split them into two hands and double your bet. Each new hand then gets another card, and you can play them as normal. Conventional wisdom says to always split aces and never split 10s, 5s or face cards. This is a very important tip to remember when playing blackjack online game free.
Free Bet Blackjack House Edge
5. When playing for real money, remember to tip the dealer.This is also known as a 'toke.' This won't matter when playing free blackjack online, but real-life dealers sure appreciate any extra money. You can also place their tip as a side bet. While it won't help your chances, you can at least rest easy knowing the dealer is pulling for you.
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