Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games in Las Vegas and across the world. It is a game where basic strategy and some luck play a big role in the success of your hand. One of the coolest variations of this game is Free Bet Blackjack, which offers a few rule deviations that make it very player-friendly. This unique version of blackjack was invented by Geoff Hall, a well-known casino games inventor. His other blackjack-inspired inventions include Blackjack Switch, Zombie Blackjack and Zappit, but Free Bet Blackjack has been his most successful to date.
The goal of the game is still the same – to end up with a higher-valued hand than the dealer, preferably a blackjack (21). However, the rules that are different from standard blackjack create a few player-friendly circumstances, including the ability to double down for free on hands of nine, ten and l1 against any dealer up-card. Players can also split pairs for free, except on fours and tens. In addition, if you win the first hand you will get a “free bet” chip placed on the second, which will pay out if your winning hand beats the dealer.
One of the most interesting things about this game is that it does not allow dealers to stand on 22 if they have any other hand than a soft 17 (anything other than an Ace). This means if you have a blackjack and the dealer has a 22, the hand pushes, but if the dealer has a soft 17, the hand wins. This is a nice feature that allows you to take more risks and potentially earn more money.
Despite these player-friendly rules, the house edge is still quite high at 0.522%. This is slightly worse than many traditional six-deck games with the best playing rules and a little bit more than most single-deck games. However, it is still possible to reduce the house edge with proper card counting.
If you’re interested in learning more about the game, the Wizard of Odds has some great free bet blackjack rules and tips on its website. It’s also worth checking out Mr Blackjack, a professional blackjack player with over 20 years of experience. He has an extensive YouTube channel where he covers everything from basic strategy to bankroll management. He even has a few videos on Free Bet Blackjack, which is a fun and unique variation of the classic casino game.