Table Games Free Bet Blackjack anyone?

I lost $$$$ at DD BJ at MGM, went to Aria (where I typically play) and killed it at the FB BJ Table.. I believe I'll be playing at this game much much more often. Has anyone else played this and what were your results?



Free Bet Blackjack plays much like traditional blackjack, with the following standard rules:

6 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
Split aces receive one card only
Late surrender allowed

However, the game introduces two major rule changes:

"Free Doubles" on hard totals of 9, 10, or 11 with any number of cards. 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.
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.

"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.

 

Have not had the chance to play it yet - seems like it could be a good deal, assuming the dealer doesn't pull out a lot of 22s.

What happens if I get a blackjack, do I get paid right away, or can it still push if the dealer ends up with 22?

 

You get paid right away.

 

VDMTom - what kind of strategy did you use? Did you double & split EVERYTHING possible, even the crazy stuff like splitting 6's against a 10 or something, or did you play more of a normal basic strategy?

 

You'll get paid right away if the dealer doesn't an Ace or face showing.. if he/she does and they get Blackjack also .. push. Even money is an option I believe.

I had 4-5 pushes with $300-500 bets.. but it's still very worth it.

 

I've played at Mirage and NYNY before. But the push on 22 bums me out. I always seem to break even on the game. I can never make money and I never really seem to lose too much either though.

Maybe I'll give it another shot in a month at NYNY. It (sadly) is one of their best remaining blackjack games, rules-wise.

 

What are the limits for this game at Aria? Anywhere else have it?

 

It's spread to a LOT of casinos now. Aria is usually $15 minimum, but Mirage and NYNY are always $10 minimums.

Casino Royale has it too but it is 6/5 for a blackjack there.

 

If against 10, I split 6/7/8. Double on 9 if dealer has 9 or less showing. DD on 10/11 for pretty much anything.

I was down a few grand, I hit a FEW really good runs.. got it all back and more..

Give it a try again

Minimum - $15-25, Maximum - $5000. Not sure where else had it, sorry I couldn't answer your question.

 

Also, I never realized you can double for free on ANY NUMBER of cards. How the heck have I never realized this?

I've played quite a bit before at the Mirage, and I never got to double on more than 2 cards.

 

Maybe I worded it incorrectly. You can only double on if your split is 9/10/11.. but only double on two cards..

I had 4 way split one time, (crazy 8s) it paid off with a large win.

 

I did really well at this game a couple of months back, and was playing at Aria. I actually prefer it to blackjack switch. I like that blackjacks are still 3/2 (except for casino royale). However when I played I saw so many people that shouldn't have been playing this game, b/c they didn't understand the simple free bet option.

 

Edit: I asked on another forum, and apparently when the game was first introduced you were allowed to double on any number of cards, but they got rid of the rule because it made the house edge too low.

 

Whats a hard 9,10, or 11?

 

Any hand that totals 9,10, or 11 that does NOT contain an ace.

 

You should be able to double on ANY two cards if you pay for the double yourself. For example if you got dealt soft 17 vs 6, you should pay for that double. Free doubles are only for hard 9-11 though. Free splits any pair but 10s. And you should be taking every free double or split. Even 4s vs an Ace, because it's simply a chance to win 2 bets with only one bet at risk.

The strategy is more aggressive than regular blackjack because of the push 22. And you become even more aggressive with a free hand because a push is useless.

http://wizardofodds.com/games/free-bet-blackjack/

 

dealer pushes on 22 but then you say the dealers busts with 22?


Does the dealer only bust on 22 on the free double? what about free split hands?

 

All bets push when the dealer has a 22, every time. (Obvious exception for natural blackjacks).

What he was saying is that by "busting" to 22, the dealer exercises a special rule where all remaining bets push.

 

This. It's the big house edge driver for the game. Without it, the player would have over a 5% edge with these rules.

 

I'm really looking forward to trying this blackjack variation when I'm in town in a couple of weeks. I realize that all of these BJ variations increase the house edge, but this one seems like it significantly increases the volatility where you could win a lot of money on the free doubles and splits without risking your own money (if you get on a good run).