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Free Bet Blackjack
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Introduction
Free Bet Blackjack, a variant designed by game creator Geoff Hall, allows players to make splits and doubles without risking personal funds in most cases. It feels like having a very generous partner at the table who covers your extra bets while letting you keep any winnings. What’s the catch? Just like in Geoff's other game, Blackjack Switch, if the dealer lands a 22, all active bets result in a push.
The game was launched on June 20, 2012, at the Golden Nugget. I attended its debut and observed a full table of enthusiastic players. Its strategy is more straightforward and provides additional opportunities for doubling and splitting compared to traditional blackjack. Those who find the basic strategy of regular blackjack overwhelming may find the easier approach of Free Bet Blackjack appealing.
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Rules
Since its introduction at the Golden Nugget, some game rules have been revised. Below is my understanding of the standard rules that are currently in place:- Six decks
- Dealer hits soft 17\"s
- Blackjacks pay 3 to 2
- Double after split allowed
- Double on two cards only
- Players can re-split pairs up to a maximum of four hands, including aces.
- No surrender
The game has implemented two significant changes:
- "Free Doubles\" apply to hard totals of a two-card total of 9, 10, or 11. Standard doubling is still permitted on all other two-card totals. With a \"free double,\" the player’s initial bet is matched by a \"free bet\" button, and they are dealt one additional card. At the conclusion of the hand:
- If the dealer wins, the player forfeits only their original wager.
- If the hand is a tie, the player retrieves their initial wager only.
- Otherwise, if the player wins, they receive their original wager back, plus winnings that are twice their wager.
- "Free Splits\" are allowed on all pairs except for tens. When a \"free split\" occurs, the two initial cards are separated into two single-card hands. The original wager is placed on the first hand, with a \"free bet\" button applied to the second hand. Players play each hand one at a time and can choose to \"free double\" or \"free split\" both hands. Successful hands convert the \"free bet\" button into actual chips matching the original wager. In the case of a loss or a tie, the dealer collects the \"free bet\" button.
- The dealer pushes when showing a 22. If the player has a total of 21 or lower and the dealer busts with a 22, then the player's stake is a push.
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Basic Strategy
Your strategy will differ based on whether you’re playing with a real money regular bet or a free bet. Understanding this distinction is crucial since a push is as detrimental as a loss when using a Free Bet, leading to a more aggressive gameplay approach. The subsequent three tables illustrate strategies for real money hands, free bet hands, and pairs, respectively.
If there's only one takeaway from the strategy, always embrace every opportunity for a free double and free split.
House Edge
The house edge under the standard rules mentioned above is 1.04%.
Rule Variants
Here are the implications of various rule variants on the expected returns of players. The statistics below with (SH) were provided with permission from sources while those marked (Wiz) were calculated independently by me. One interesting observation is that as the number of decks increases, the odds tend to favor the player, which counters the traditional blackjack wisdom. This phenomenon may stem from an increased capacity for free-splitting with more decks because of less impact from non-replacement. Discount Gambling Free doubles with three or more cards (DG) yield an increase of +0.66%.
- No option to double or take a free double after splitting (DG) incurs a -0.70% decrease.
- 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).
- Reports indicate that some casinos feature a side bet dubbed Pot of Gold, based on the accumulation of Free Bet tokens by the player in their opening hand. The Washington Gambling Commission notes that. Below is my assessment of both types of wagers. These observations come from a random simulation, with the lower right cells demonstrating a house edge of 5.77% on pay table 1 and 4.64% on pay table 2.
- Blackjack pays 6 to 5: -1.36% (Wiz).
Pot of Gold
Players can reduce the house edge associated with the Pot of Gold by opting to split fives instead of doubling, though this can increase risk for their main wager. If fives are split, the house edge on the Pot of Gold will adjust to 2.75% under Pay Table 1 and 1.48% under Pay Table 2. However, choosing to split fives may increase the house edge for the primary wager by 0.15%. two Pot of Gold pay tables Blackjack Switch frequently includes a side bet that pays 11 to 1 when the dealer draws up to 22 points. For games utilizing six decks and requiring the dealer to hit on soft 17, the probability of the dealer reaching 22 is calculated at 0.073536, resulting in an expected value of -0.117565. For further details, please refer to my page on the.
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 |
I extend my gratitude to Geoff Hall, the game's creator, for his assistance with the rules and for sharing the mathematical report. This analysis stems from collaborative efforts with Stephen How, and we closely align regarding the house edge. The fundamental strategy and insights on the impacts of various rule changes are the contributions of Stephen How.
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A compilation of blackjack games found online from leading software suppliers within Internet casinos, including details on the house edge for each variant. Push 22 side bet .
Acknowledgement
Concept Gaming presents 7 Handed European Blackjack. Please be advised that doubling down on three or more cards is no longer permitted, although free splits of fours are allowed. Ultimately, the previous rules were more favorable for players. Generally, rules for table games do not trend in favor of players.
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