Mastering Free Bet Blackjack: Tips and Tricks for Players
Free Bet Blackjack: What You’ll Learn
- Free Bet Blackjack is a variation of traditional blackjack that offers dynamic rule differences, such as free splits and doubles, while introducing a Push 22 rule.
- Although it’s beginner-friendly due to fewer basic strategy deviations, it’s recommended for new players to first familiarize themselves with traditional blackjack rules.
- Online casinos are a convenient platform to learn and play Free Bet Blackjack, often providing live dealer options for a real-time gaming experience.
- Not all land-based casinos offer Free Bet Blackjack, so it’s important to verify availability beforehand if planning to play in a physical casino.
- Free Bet Blackjack is worth exploring for players interested in trying new casino game variations due to its engaging and accessible gameplay.
Imagine having an 11 in Blackjack and being able to Double Down with no extra wager, yet winning as if you doubled your bet. That’s just one perk to Free Bet Blackjack. This new Blackjack variant was created in 2012 and has been growing in popularity ever since.
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How does Free Bet Blackjack work?
- Free Double Down: If your first two cards equal a hard 9, 10 or 11, you can Double Down for free. The dealer places a Free Bet chip alongside your wager and you don’t have to pay anything additional.
- Free Splits: Any pairs that are not a pair of tens can be Split for free. The dealer places a Free Bet chip instead of you doubling your original wager.
- Push 22: If the dealer busts on 22, any hand that hasn’t busted are a push, not a win.
Key Differences from Traditional Blackjack
While Free Bet Blackjack and Traditional Blackjack have many similarities, there are key differences that players must be aware of to make the most out of their hands and ensure they are making the best decisions.
Absence of Free Bet on Soft 9, 10, 11
If the player is dealt a soft 9, 10 or 11 (Ace + 8, Ace + 9 or Ace +10-value card), they do not have the option of getting a free bet to Double Down. This doesn’t mean they can’t Double Down if they choose to, it just means they need to match their wager with their own chips.
3:2 Payout for Blackjacks
Free Bet Blackjack will pay 3:2, which is standard for Traditional Blackjack. That means for a $10 wager, a Blackjack pays $15.
Traditional Blackjack tables might sometimes have a Blackjack payout of 6:5 so your $10 bet would only pay $12. This is standard for single deck Blackjack games.
Dealer Hits on Soft 17s
Another common rule is that dealers must hit on soft 17s (Ace + 6). This is also standard for many Traditional Blackjack tables. With this rule in place, the casino gains a slight edge over the player.
Free Double Down Bets After Splits
Because a Split qualifies as a new hand, if you have a hard 9, 10 or 11, you can also get a free bet.
Lack of Surrender Option
Although Surrenders are rare for Traditional Blackjack, in Free Bet Blackjack, surrendering your hand is not allowed.
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Impact on House Edge and Player Strategy
Even with the variations to Traditional Blackjack, there is still a fairly low house edge for Free Bet Blackjack at 1.04% (vs. 0.5% for Traditional Blackjack).
Player strategy is a bit different too especially with the ability to have free bets for Doubling Down and Splits as well as the Push 22 rule. Here are ways for adjusting player strategy for Free Bet Blackjack.
Strategic Tips for Playing Free Bet Blackjack
Here are some of the basic strategies for Free Bet Blackjack:
- If you have a hard 9, 10 or 11, use the Free Bet
- Because of the Push 22 rule, if a dealer has a 2, 3 or 4 upcard and you have 12, 13 or 14, it’s recommended to Hit.
- If you have any pairs other than 10s or 5s, use the Free Split. 10s you are not allowed to Free Split and a pair of 5s is better to Free Double Down than Split.
Overview of Side Bets in Free Bet Blackjack
There usually aren’t as many side bets available in Free Bet Blackjack as there are in other variations but you’ll likely come across these two side bets:
Pot of Gold Side Bet: This side bet is contingent on how many Free Bets a player uses in their hand. If you have the opportunity to use a Free Bet just once then the general payout is 3:1. The more you use, the greater the return. For example, Splitting your hand then being able to Double Down would count as two opportunities.
Push 22 Side Bet: If you wanted to bet with the house, then this is the side bet for you. A side bet on Push 22 will pay if the dealer Hits and their hand has a value of 22. Whereas the original wager will push, the side bet can pay around 8:1, or more if there are variations like same color or same suit.
Is Free Bet Blackjack Suitable for Beginners?
Yes. The deviations for basic Blackjack strategy aren’t too different from Traditional Blackjack and it even gives the player some confidence to Split or Double Down without the fear of having to put more chips in.
It’s important for beginners to remember that the Push 22 rule only applies in Free Bet Blackjack.
Is Free Bet Blackjack Better for New Players?
Is it better? Not necessarily. I would recommend becoming familiar with the basics of Traditional Blackjack before trying a variation of the classic casino game.
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Where to Play Free Bet Blackjack
You’ll find that most online casinos offer Free Bet Blackjack including live dealer options where you play in real time with other players.
An online casino is an ideal place to learn this Blackjack variant because you’ll be able to absorb the rules without the pressure of being inside a casino with other players waiting for you to make your move.
When gambling online, make sure you’re choosing a reliable, licensed online casino.
Land-Based Casinos
If you want to play Free Bet Blackjack inside a casino, you’ll want to do some research before heading out. Casinos will indicate they have Free Bet Blackjack, however, not every casino will offer this variation.
If your intention is to play this game in a land-based casino, make sure they offer it regularly – even call to make sure that table is open. Just because they offer the game, it doesn’t mean that it will be open for play when you want to go.
Is it Worth Playing Free Bet Blackjack?
If you’re looking to explore new casino games or variations to Blackjack then Free Bet Blackjack is definitely worth playing. It can be a fun new gambling experience that’s easy to understand.
Just check out this article again if you need a reminder on the basics of Free Bet Blackjack.
Title Image Credit: Netfalls Remy Musser/Shutterstock
