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Lesson 3.2 Game types
How to Play Free Bet Blackjack: Rules and Three Strategy Changes
In this lesson, you learn the three Free Bet blackjack rules: free doubles on hard 9, 10 and 11, free splits on pairs except tens, and a push when the dealer busts with twenty-two. You also learn the three strategy changes and practice them in the trainer below.
The three Free Bet rules
Free Bet blackjack plays like classic blackjack with three rule changes. In place of your extra money, the game puts down a free bet chip – it is paid if your hand wins and costs you nothing if your hand loses.
- Free double on hard 9, 10 and 11. A hard hand has no ace counted as 11. With two cards that total hard 9, 10 or 11, you double without adding money.
- Free split on every pair except tens. A pair of 10-value cards does not get a free split.
- A dealer twenty-two pushes. If the dealer busts with exactly twenty-two, every hand still in play is a push – a tie, and you get your bet back.
This hard 10 gets a free double. You take one more card, and the free chip is paid only if your hand wins.
This dealer hand totals twenty-two. In classic blackjack your hand would win, but in Free Bet your hand pushes.
Changes 1 and 2: Take every free double and free split
The free chip can be paid but never lost. So you always take a free double or a free split, even where the classic chart says hit.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H |
In classic blackjack, you hit hard 10 against a dealer 10 or ace. In Free Bet, you take the free double against every dealer up card.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
The classic chart says hit a pair of 2s against a dealer 8 to ace. In Free Bet, the split is free, so you split.
- A pair of 10s gets no free split. Stand on it, the same as in classic blackjack.
- A pair of 5s totals hard 10, so it can get a free double or a free split. The Free Bet chart shows which one to take.
Before you act, check your two cards: hard 9, 10 or 11 means a free double, and a pair below tens means a free split.
Change 3: Hit some stiff hands
A stiff hand is a hard 12 to 16 – a hand that can bust with one more card. In classic blackjack, you often stand on a stiff hand and wait for the dealer to bust.
Dealer up card along the bottom; how often the dealer goes over 21 above each bar (6 decks, dealer hits soft 17, before any check for blackjack).
In Free Bet, a dealer bust with twenty-two is only a push. Standing on a stiff hand wins less often, so you hit more of them.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | H | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
This is the classic row for hard 12: hit against 2 and 3, stand against 4 to 6, hit against 7 to ace.
In Free Bet, some stand cells for stiff hands against a dealer 2 to 6 turn into hit. The Free Bet strategy chart marks each one.
Play the hands in the trainer below. Then try longer sessions in the simulator.
The lesson on one card
- Free Bet gives a free double on two-card hard 9, 10 and 11.
- Every pair except tens gets a free split.
- If the dealer busts with twenty-two, your hands still in play push.
- Always take the free double and the free split, even where the classic chart says hit.
- Stand on a pair of 10s, the same as in classic blackjack.
- Hit some stiff hands you would stand on in classic blackjack; check the Free Bet chart.
Check yourself
1. Free Bet: You stand on 19. The dealer draws to a total of twenty-two. What happens to your bet?
You win.
Not quite. That is the classic blackjack result. In Free Bet, a dealer twenty-two does not pay your hand.
It is a push, and you get your bet back.
Right. A dealer bust with exactly twenty-two pushes every hand still in play. You keep your bet but are not paid.
You lose.
Not quite. Your hand did not bust, and twenty-two is not a dealer win. The rule makes it a push.
2. Free Bet: You have a 6 and a 4, and the dealer shows a 10. What do you do?
Hit.
Not quite. Hit is the classic move for hard 10 against a 10. In Free Bet, the double is free, so you take it.
Take the free double.
Right. Hard 10 gets a free double. The free chip can be paid but never lost, so you always take it.
Stand.
Not quite. A hard 10 cannot bust with one more card. Standing on 10 gives away the free double.
3. Free Bet: You have a pair of 3s, and the dealer shows a 9. What do you do?
Hit.
Not quite. The classic chart says hit a pair of 3s against a dealer 8 to ace. In Free Bet, the split costs nothing, so you split.
Take the free split.
Right. Every pair except tens gets a free split. You always take a free split.
Stand on 6.
Not quite. A total of 6 cannot bust with one more card. Standing on it is never the right move.