Free Bet Blackjack Strategy Charts and Game Guide
Quite simply, most of the usual supplemental bets a player can make during a hand of regular blackjack (splitting hands and doubling down) are on the house, gratis, 100% free. Naturally, this generosity has to be paid for somewhere along the line. In this case, Hall introduced a rule which stated that whenever the dealer busts with a score of 22 that all bets left standing would push. In other words, hands which would usually win against a dealer bust would simply have their bets returned if the dealer’s bust hand was a 22. By the introduction of this one simple rule, the casino could afford to offer these free supplemental bets.
Doubles
Specifically, players in Free Bet Blackjack can double-down on 2 card scores of 9, 10, or 11 at no additional cost. The bet will be covered by the house and winning hands will be paid back their original wager plus winnings equal to double that wager. All other results are the same as in regular blackjack.
Splits
If a player wishes to split a paired hand into two separate hands, once again (with the exception of the 10’s) the extra bet is free and equal to the original wager.
Hot3
This bet is based on the joint total of the player’s 2 cards plus the dealers up card. The win pays if that total is 19, 20, or 21. A 19 pays 1:1, 20 pays 2:1 and 4:1 for unsuited 21, 20:1 for suited 21, and 100:1 for three 7’s.
21+3
Once again the player’s two cards are using in conjunction with the dealer’s up card for this bet. The goal on this occasion is to create the 3-card poker hand. Payouts start with a flush at 5:1 followed by a Straight (10:1), Trips (30:1), Straight Flush (40:1), and Suited Trips (100:1).
Any Pair
A pretty self-explanatory side bet, common in many casinos, a player is simply betting on the likelihood of their initial two cards making a pair. Unsuited pairs pay 8:1 while suited pairs pay at 25:1.
Bust It
This bet pays out on the number of cards the dealer is holding if they bust. 3 cards pays even money, 4 cards pays 2:1, 5 cards pays 9:1, 6 cards pays 50:1, 7 cards 100:1, 8 or more pays 250:1. This is likely to be a popular side-bet as it acts as a form of insurance against the dealer busting with 22.
The general rule of thumb is simply to follow basic blackjack strategy, some would say even at the expense of some free bets. However, another school of thought advises to follow the basic strategy with the exception of free bets, whereupon you should accept every free double and free split opportunity.
If you’re looking for the best RTP then your strategy should not involve playing any of the side bets as their respective RTP’s range between 94.12% – 95.90% while the game itself boasts an RTP of 98.45%.
