Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial

Rhinoman7 is a TA forum regular, I (Movestro) met him there years ago. He is a natural storyteller and knows Free Bet Blackjack better than anyone I know, so I asked him to guest-write this article. Now, I turn things over to Rhinoman7…

• Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial Online
• Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial For Beginners
• Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial Free
• Free Bet Blackjack Tutorials

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One of the keys to winning more money at blackjack is to get more money on the table. A couple of ways this can be achieved is through double downs and splits. There is nothing like the rush of splitting your hand multiple times, and maybe even doubling down on one or more of those hands. The dealer busts and you are in the money! However, when the dealer doesn’t bust, and you lose every one of your bets, it can be downright painful! What if the risk of losing more than your original bet was eliminated, yet you were still paid when you win? This is the basic concept behind Free Bet Blackjack.

FBBJ standard logo, background color varies per casino property.

While Free Bet Blackjack (FBBJ) has been around in Vegas for a little over three years, it still seems to be unknown to most people. This game can be found in about 13 different casinos in the Las Vegas area, with the possibility of being installed in more casinos before the end of the year.

Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial Online

FBBJ is played the same as a standard game of blackjack, the main difference being that the house covers most of your splits and some of your double downs. The Basic Strategy is very similar as well, with the main exception being that you take ALL free splits and double downs. This can be a bit strange for an avid blackjack player when it comes to splitting 9s against a dealer 10!

Here is how the Free Bet part of the game works: The House will place a “Free Bet Coin” on all splits (with the exception of splitting 10s), and also on double downs of hard 9, 10, or 11. Hands can be split up to four hands, with DAS (Double After Split) allowed. One thing to keep in mind is that you can still double down on soft hands (as per Basic Strategy). However, these are not free bets; you will need to use your own money for these hands.

Let me walk you through a hand to show how simple it is. Let’s say you are betting $10 and are dealt a pair of 8s. You indicate that you want to take the free split (the hand signal varies by casino, so be sure to ask how to indicate you want to take a free bet). The dealer splits your 8s, leaving your original $10 bet on the first card and placing a Free Bet Coin on the second card (the value of the Free Bet Coin is the same as your original bet, in this case, $10). Now you are dealt another 8 on your first hand, which, of course, you want to split again. The dealer will take that card and place another Free Bet Coin with it, leaving you with three hands now on the table. The next card is a 2 on your first hand. Since it is a hard 10, you want to take the free double. The dealer then places another Free Bet Coin next to your original wager and deals you one more card, which is a face card.

It is now time to play the second hand. You are dealt a 10 on that hand, so you stand. On your third hand, you are dealt a 2, giving you a hard 10. Again, you take the free double, and the dealer places yet another Free Bet Coin next to the one on that hand and deals you one more card, which is another face card. Now comes the fun part. Assuming the dealer has a 17 or busts, you will win all three hands. You are paid $20 on the first hand, $10 on the second hand, and $20 on the third hand, for a total win of $50. While this is great, the real “magic” of the game is when the dealer draws to a 21, and you lose all three hands. Instead of losing $50, you only lose your original wager of $10.

Sound too good to be true? Well, not really. And here is why: a dealer 22 is a push. That is the trade-off for the free bets. Overall, that is a pretty good trade-off. Of course, just as in regular blackjack, variance can work for you (getting a lot of free bet opportunities) or against you (the dealer pushing with 22 quite often)

FBBJ is dealt many different ways: CSM (Continuous Shuffle Machine), Multi-deck shoe, and DD (Double Deck). To the best of my knowledge, here is a list of casinos that currently have at least one FBBJ table:

Mandalay Bay (CSM)

NYNY (6 deck shoe, hand shuffle)

MGM Grand (6 deck shoe, CSM)

Cosmo (CSM, two tables)

Bellagio (CSM, two tables)

Hard Rock (6 deck shoe)

Mirage (CSM)

Venetian (6 or 8 deck shoe, three tables)

Palazzo (6 or 8 deck shoe, three tables)

The D (DD)

Golden Gate (DD, two tables)

The Plaza (??)*

Casino Royale (??, three tables?)*

*(I have not played at these casinos, so I am not sure of how the game is dealt there)

With the exception of Casino Royale, all FBBJ tables pay 3:2 on blackjacks. With the recent epidemic of 6:5 blackjack on lower limit tables spreading across the strip, FBBJ may be a viable alternative for those who prefer the lower limit tables.

(Images and photos: Courtesy of FBBJ Facebook page)

Free Bet Blackjack is one of the most popular blackjack variants in Las Vegas.

In most ways, it is identical to the traditional game. However, there are several significant differences.

The main difference is that the house pays the bet for a player to split and double down. This can result in up to seven free bets in a hand if a player splits three times and has double-down opportunities on all of them.

These free bets mean players have the chance to land massive wins with little risk.

Like all great blackjack rules, there is a trade-off for that. We go over that in this review of Free Bet Blackjack.

How Free Bet Blackjack Differs from Traditional Blackjack

The major difference between Free Bet Blackjack and the traditional version of the game is that a player gets free splits and double downs. There are some limitations to these advantages.

Free double downs are only available on 9, 10, and 11 hands that do not include an ace. The rule applies to before and after splitting. It must be on the first two cards dealt.

Players may double down on hands other than 9, 10, and 11. It just requires a normal match of the original bet.

Pairs may be split, except if the card has a value of 10. Multiple free splits and draws can occur on the same hand.

For example, if a player is dealt a pair of 8s, the first split is free. If another 8 is dealt, the player gets a free split again. If the player gets a 3 to make 11 in any or all the splits, the double down is also on the house.

Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial For Beginners

A big downside to this variant is that the dealer pushes any player left in the hand if the house makes a 22. This rule originated in Blackjack Switch and has spread to other games like Free Bet Blackjack to offset favorable rule variants.

Players dealt a blackjack get paid as normal if the dealer makes a 22. Any hand that busted before the dealer draws loses.

A hand of Free Bet Blackjack starts with making a wager. Place the bet in the circle in front of you on the table.

Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial Free

The minimum bet is usually $5 or $10. Once all bets are made, all players and the dealer receive two cards. One of the dealer’s cards is placed face up.

Any player that receives an ace and a 10-value card has a blackjack. This is paid immediately, unless the dealer also has a blackjack. In that case, it is a push.

Most casinos pay 6 to 5 for a natural in Free Bet Blackjack. This means that for every $5 wagered, the player wins $6. Some casinos pay the standard 3:2 on a blackjack. This pays $3 for every $2 wagered.

The action starts with the first player clockwise from the dealer. This bettor decides which action to take.

• The primary options are hit, stand, or double down
• If the two cards are a pair, split is available
• Surrender is not available in Free Bet Blackjack

If a player hits, a card is added to the existing hand. The player can hit until the hand busts, meaning it goes over 21. A hand that busts automatically loses. Stand is when the player is satisfied with the point total and does not want any more cards.

Double down is permitted on any first two cards. The house will cover the bet if the count is a 9, 10, or 11. A double down is where the bet is doubled, and the player receives only one card. The player must keep this card and cannot draw any more.

A player with a qualifying pair may split. This is where the hand is turned into two, and each stack receives a new card to complete it.

From here, the options start all over again with hit, stand, double down, and split all offered. The exception is when the player splits aces. This hand cannot be hit but may be split again.

Once all players have acted, the dealer exposes the house’s down card.

• If the dealer has 18 or higher, the house stands
• If it has 16 or lower, the dealer hits
• The dealer also hits soft 17. This is an ace and any number of cards that equal six
• If the dealer has hard 17, meaning it can bust, the house stands

The dealer busts on any hand of 23 or higher. If the dealer makes 22, all players still in the hand push.

Once the dealer acts, all players with cards have their hands compared with the dealer’s hand.

If the player has more points than the dealer, the player wins even money. If the dealer and the player have the same number, the hand pushes. This means that the player receives the bet back as if the hand never happened.

If the dealer has a higher total than the player, the house wins.

Free Bet Blackjack Tutorials

The unique feature in Free Bet Blackjack is that the house pays for most splits and double downs. Many casinos have a special chip that is placed next to the hand receiving the free bet.

If the hand wins, the house matches all the free bets it laid out plus the original bet of the player. If the hand pushes, nothing happens. If the hand loses, the player only loses the original bet.

Free Bet Blackjack Strategy

The best Free Bet Blackjack strategy has some similarities to traditional blackjack.

The exceptions are when the player is dealt a pair or a 9, 10, or 11.

• Take the free split on all pairs except 5s because that should be doubled, and 10-value cards because they are not free
• Take the free double down any time you are dealt a 9, 10, or 11
• These rules apply regardless of what the dealer’s door card is

If a hand does not have a free split or double in it, follow this Free Bet Blackjack strategy.

The first section involves hard hands, meaning they do not have an ace or can bust. The second section involves soft hands, meaning an ace is contained in them that may be used as a 1 or 11 at the time.

• Hit any hand eight or lower
• Hit 12 against all dealer door cards, except a 5 or 6, when you should stand
• Hit 13, except against a dealer’s 3, 4, 5, or 6
• Stand on 14, 15, and 16 against a dealer’s 2 through 6. Otherwise, stand with those hands
• Stand on all hard hands of 17 and above, regardless of what card the dealer shows

• Always hit a soft hand of 13 through 15
• Hit soft 16, except against a dealer’s 6, where the hand should be doubled
• Hit soft 17, except against a 5 or 6, where it should be doubled
• Stand on soft 18 against a 2, 3, 4, 7, or 8
• Double down against a 5 or 6
• Hit soft 18 versus a 9, 10, or ace
• Stand on soft 19 or higher

The strategy chart below is a useful tool for following these Free Bet Blackjack strategy rules.

Where to Play Free Bet Blackjack

Most Free Bet Blackjack tables are in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, many casinos decided to pay 6:5 on a blackjack. There are some exceptions, though. The following venues all spread the game with a 3:2 payout.

Free Bet Blackjack is not available at online casinos.

Our favorite casino for Free Bet Blackjack is at Plaza. It is on Main Street in Downtown Las Vegas, across from the Fremont Street Experience.

One reason this is our top pick is that Plaza is generous with comps. It does not take much action for players to receive free hotel rooms and meals at Oscar’s, the steakhouse founded by former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman.

The Free Bet Blackjack table at Plaza typically has a $5 minimum bet. This is the lowest for Free Bet Blackjack games with a 3:2 payout.

Free Bet Blackjack is a fun game when looking for something new to play. The free splits and double downs can create significant hot streaks when receiving hands that qualify. The game returns 98.96% when playing a table with a 3:2 payout. That goes down to 97.6% when blackjack pays 6:5. We recommend sticking with the 3:2 tables. If the casino pays 6:5, there are much better blackjack tables in the casino in terms of payback. Even a traditional 6:5 blackjack table has a better return.