- Free Bet Blackjack Vs Blackjack Odds 2016
- Free Bet Blackjack Vs Blackjack Odds 2017
- Free Bet Blackjack Odds Vs Regular Blackjack
May 17, 2018 Are you asking which has better odds between a free play and regular chips? There's the same chance. 1 point 1 year ago. While correct, the question is asking about Free Bet blackjack vs traditional blackjack. Regular blackjack has a lower house edge.
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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.
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. 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 Bet Blackjack Vs Blackjack Odds 2016
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.
Table Of Contents
- American Blackjack is a variant of the classic game of Blackjack
- It has better odds than European Blackjack
Blackjack, respectably being the most popular card game at Casinos, has plenty of variants for you to choose from.
Whether you play online or visit the brick-and-mortar Casinos, you’ll come across American Blackjack tables.
How does American Blackjack differ from other variants? Is it worth your time and money? Find out once and for all in this article.
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Before we start…
Let’s get one thing straight. Many online Casinos don't call American Blackjack tables 'American Blackjack'.
But you can find American Blackjack tables by other names, for example, Atlantic City Blackjack or Vegas Strip / Vegas Downtown / Vegas Single Hand Blackjack.
The biggest difference between American Blackjack rules and other variants is how the cards are dealt for the dealer. And all of the mentioned games are dealt the same way as American Blackjack is.
American Blackjack vs European Blackjack
Free Bet Blackjack Vs Blackjack Odds 2017
In European Blackjack, the dealer gets only one card and the second one comes only after the players make their moves.
In American Blackjack, the dealer gets both cards right away: one card face up and one (hole card) face down.
Let’s be honest now.
It seems like a minor thing to consider in the game of Blackjack. You may not even notice the dealing unless you really pay attention to it.
But it makes a difference in the house edge and the rules.
American Blackjack House Edge
Many things affect the Blackjack odds. It starts with the number of decks used, blackjack (a combination of + , or aka a natural) payouts, specific rules of when the dealer stands, and more.
The card dealing also makes a difference.
When the dealer gets an Ace or 10-value card as a face-up card, they can peek at their second card to see if it makes a natural (a two-card hand of 21 points in value).
If it does, unless you have a natural blackjack, too, you lose your wager before you decide whether to hit or stand on your dealt cards.
If it doesn’t, the game goes on as usual.
However, when it comes to the European Blackjack table, the dealer wouldn’t have a card to peek at.
So, you would make your move, perhaps double down and increase your wager, just to end up losing anyway against the dealer’s natural.
This small difference - option to avoid increasing wager in case of the dealer having a natural - counts for the 0.05 percent lower house edge in American Blackjack games.
While the house edge still depends on other factors, American Blackjack tables therefore usually have only 0.31-0.35 percent edge.
How to Play American Blackjack
One thing that doesn’t change much among Blackjack games is the basic rules.
No matter which variant of Blackjack you play, your goal is to beat the dealer. You can do so by having a higher-in-value hand while not going over 21.
You start American Blackjack game by making your bets. Like with most table games, they usually start at $1.
Both you and the dealer get two cards each.
You see your hand and its value. Also, one of the dealer’s cards. Based on this information you need to make your move:
| Possible Move | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hit | To ask for one more card. The total bet stays the same |
| Stand | To play with the current hand without asking for more cards. The total bet stays the same |
| Double Down | To ask for one more but last card. The total bet is doubled |
| Split | To split cards of the same value into two hands. The total bet is doubled |
| Take Insurance | In case the dealer has an Ace, to place a side bet which is won if the dealer has a natural. The total bet is increased by 0.5 of the original wager |
| Surrender | To give up before seeing how the game plays out. The total bet is reduced by 0.5 of the original wager |
Unless you surrender, after you make your last move, you see the dealer’s hole card. Then the dealer plays out their hand.
There are three outcomes of the game:
| Possible Outcome | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Your hand beats the dealer’s | You win and get the payout |
| The dealer’s hand beats yours | You lose your wager |
| Both you and the dealer has the same value hand | It's a push. In this case, you may get your wager back or lose it nevertheless (specific tables may have different rules regarding the push) |
American Blackjack Payouts
There are three types of Blackjack payouts: a natural win payout, other wins payouts, and insurance payout.
The same ones are available at American Blackjack tables, too:
- a natural (blackjack) pays 3 to 2
- insurance pays 2 to 1
- beating the dealer other way pays 1 to 1
How to Win at American Blackjack
I've written it many times before and I’ll write it many times again: following the basic strategy is the best way to play Blackjack.
American Blackjack is no exception.
Whether you play American or European Blackjack, you see your cards and you see the dealer’s face-up card.
It’s enough to base your moves according to the basic strategy. Read more about the basic strategy here or download a pdf of printable basic strategy chart here.
Another thing that increases your chances of winning at Blackjack is card counting.
It’s a lot easier to learn than it sounds and you can use this card counting guide to do it like a pro.
However, card counters may find different Blackjack variants more convenient.
In American Blackjack online, the dealer uses up to eight decks of cards at the same time. In European Blackjack often only two while you can find Classic Blackjack games where only one deck of cards is used.
With fewer decks, it's easier to count cards. Especially when you’re a beginner.
American Blackjack Games Online
Now that you know how to play American Blackjack and how to beat the dealer at the game, are you ready to play?
If so, online Casinos are heaven for American Blackjack players.
As mentioned before, don’t look for games called exactly American Blackjack.
The developers tend to give Blackjack games various names but you’ll be able to recognize Blackjack that follows American Blackjack rules from the very beginning.
Read the info section of the game or place your first bet to see how the cards are dealt.
At many online Casinos (e.g. here) you can do it completely for free.
Of course, when you play for free you can’t win real money. But it’s a great way to practice online Blackjack basic strategy or the art of card counting.
Once you’re ready to play for real money (and win real money, obviously), top up your Casino account and place real money wagers.
After all, Blackjack is the best game you can play for real money. And once you’ll start playing American Blackjack, it won’t be long until you see why.
Free Bet Blackjack Odds Vs Regular Blackjack
Spoiler alert: It has everything to do with Blackjack odds.
Good luck!
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