Free Bet Blackjack: What it is, How to Play and Strategies to Win

Free bet blackjack is a variant of the popular game developed by Geoff Hall. This casino game inventor is also behind other versions like Blackjack Switch and Zombie Blackjack. Golden Nugget CasinoThere are occasions when we here at ReadyBetGo want to bring you interesting facts about the gambling industry  When something catches our eye, we will publish it for your enjoyment. 
  was the first to release this blackjack variant in 2012, and its massive success led to it being adopted by many other casinos.

While free bet blackjack remains the most sought-after by players in casinos, many players, including those on Reddit, don’t really know how it works. In this guide, our invited expert will cover everything about free bet blackjack, including how to play, the rules, and strategies to help you win. 

Free Bet Blackjack Rules 

Free bet blackjack is similar to the standard blackjack game, except for some slight differences. You play it using six standard decks of cards that don’t have wild or joker cards. The objective when you gamble on this game is to get 21 or close without going bust or over. Nonetheless, there are a few game rules that are worth noting, including: 

Free Double-down on Hard 9, 10, or 11

You can only get free double downs on hands 9, 10 and 11 that don’t have an ace. If a player chooses the free double option, the casino will match their original wager and give them a free bet button. What’s more, they’ll receive one additional card. With the free double option, players stand a chance of winning without the risk of additional cash. 

If the bet wins, they get double the initial wager amount along with the initial bet. But if they lose, they only forgo their initial bet, which is better than double the amount they would in a traditional blackjack game.

Splitting Pairs

This is another major difference when compared with regular blackjack. Players can split any pairs aside 10s without having to add additional cash. The split works the same way it does in regular blackjack. However, similar to the free double option, players who split don’t need to match their initial wager. Instead, they get an additional button beside their second hand.

Blackjack Pays 3:2

Traditional blackjack games pay around 6:5, but free bet blackjack offers a payout of 3:2 on most tables. This is one of the more favorable rules in this game.

Dealer Hits on Soft 17s

Dealers do not stand on Soft 17 and must hit instead, which gives the house a better edge. However, there are games in few casinos where dealers must stand on soft 17.

No Surrendering

The ability to surrender during tricky situations to get half your initial stage is a valuable strategy. However, the surrender rule is not available on free bet blackjack.

Push 22 Side Bet

One of the most important rules is that the dealer pushes on 22. This indicates that if the dealer busts with a total of 22 cards, and you have 21 or lower, the outcome is a push – leading to you getting back your wager.

If you feel the dealer will go bust with a total of 22, you can place this wager and expect these payouts:

• Dealer 22 total with the same suit will get you a 50:1 payout
• Dealer 22 total with the same color leaves you with a 20:1 payout 
• Other types of dealer 22 get you a 7:1 payout

While these payouts seem great, the Push 22 side bet is not your best choice. This is because the likelihood of the dealer landing a total of 22 is slim. Nonetheless, it is a good bet to use occasionally to amp up the fun.

Pot of Gold

This is an optional side bet that pays out anytime you use a free bet. The more free bets you accumulate per hand, the higher the payout. While this bet is more rewarding than the push 22, the house edge gets to a total of 5.7%, which means your odds of winning are slightly lower. 

How to Play Free Bet Blackjack

If you are thinking about playing this game, here’s a breakdown of the steps:

1. Find a free table and place your bet.
2. The dealer shares the first two cards facing cards to all players and deals one for themselves alongside an additional downward-facing card.
3. If the dealer’s upwards-facing card has a value of up to 10 points, they check for blackjack. But if their upward-facing card is an Ace, they give players the chance to take an insurance bet.
4. Depending on the card, players will have the option of doubling or splitting at no extra cost
5. Players continue to play their hands until they stand or go bust. Then, the dealer completes their hands.
6. The croupier compares the players’ cards to theirs to find the winning players and pay them. Once done, a new game round starts. 

Winning Strategies for Free Bet Blackjack

Blackjack is very scientific. There's always a right answer and a wrong answer. Do you take a card, increase your bet, bet big or bet small. There's absolutely a right and wrong answer.” – Charlie Ergen.

The quote above clearly breaks down everything you need to know about this game. Blackjack is a game of strategy, and free bet blackjack is no different. There are a few strategies to follow that can help you make better choices and improve your chances of winning.

According to experts on learn about the 21+3 blackjack side bet, the first basic strategy is to find a reputable online casino that offers free bet blackjack. If you get this wrong, no other strategy will work, even if it’s perfect. 

Next is to be more aggressive since the dealer pushes on 22, which does not benefit players. To deal with this, don’t miss out on any chance to use every free double and free split you get. Regardless of the hand a dealer has, be sure to double hand totals between 9 and 11. When using your free hand, you can also play aggressively and hit on up to 17 if the dealer has an up-card that is a 7 or higher. 

To ensure you are making the right choice, we suggest you use a  blackjack strategy chart. This will give you insights on the steps to take and maximum bets based on your hands and the face-up card of the dealer.