Free Bet Blackjack

Free Bet Blackjack - How To Play  

In the classic casino game Free Bet Blackjack , your goal is to get a better hand than the dealer

To accomplish this, your hand must contain more cards than that of the dealer, but their sum total must not exceed 21. 

The best possible hand is known as 'Blackjack' - this is when the first two cards you are dealt add up to equal exactly 21.

Game Rules

In Free Bet Blackjack, you will play against the dealer only, not other players.

There is no limit on the number of players who can play the game at the same time. 

This game uses eight standard decks of cards, each containing 52 cards.

Once bets are placed, the dealer will deal each player a card place faced up, ending with himself. 

Players will then receive a second card, also face-up, followed by the dealer, who will receive their second card facing down.

You will then be able to see the value of your cards on-screen.

Card Values 

Cards have the following values:

• Cards two to 10 - worth face value
• Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) - worth 10 each 
• Ace - can be one or 11, depending on which is better for the hand you have

Blackjack

Blackjack can only be achieved using your first two cards.

If your initial two cards total exactly 21, then Blackjack is awarded.

If a hand of 21 is made up of a split pair, however, this is not considered to be Blackjack.

Insurance

If the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, you may purchase an insurance bet.

Insurance lessens the odds of the dealer having Blackjack, even if you have Blackjack yourself.

Insurance costs half your main bet, and Insurance bets will be settled separately from your main bet. 

Once purchased, the dealer will look at their cards to see if they have Blackjack, resulting in one of the following three outcomes:

• Dealer does not have Blackjack: the round will continue
• Dealer has Blackjack and you don't: the dealer wins
• Both you and the Dealer have Blackjack: the game ends in a 'push' (tie) and your bet will be returned

Game Options

If, on their first two cards, the dealer does not reveal Blackjack, you can choose one of the following options to try and improve your hand:

• Hit - this deals you another card. There is not limit on how many times you can Hit, providing as you do not exceed 21
• Double Down - doubles your bet. If you choose this option, you can only receive one more card thereafter. You cannot Double Down after splitting (below)
• Free Double -if the total of your two cards is nine, 10 or 11,  you'll receive a Free Double. It adds a Free Bet to your original bet, and if the round is won, the value of the Free Bet will match your original bet and you will be paid accordingly. If the round ends in a push, your original bet will be returned. If the round is lost, you lose your original bet. 
• Split - if your first two cards are of equal value, you can Split them into separate hands. Each hand will be classed as a separate bet, both of which have the same value as your original bet. You can only Split once per hand.
• Free Split - if you have a hand of pairs EXCEPT a pair of 10s, this will be offered. Your cards will be split into two hands. Your original bet will be placed on the first hand (right-hand side) and the Free Bet on the second hand (left side). If you win the round, the value of the Free Bet will match your original bet and you will be paid accordingly. If the hand with the Free Bet loses, you will not lose your bet, and if you tie with the dealer, neither bet will be returned.

The above moves can only be made if you do not have Blackjack.

Stand 

Use 'Stand' to let the dealer know you are happy with your hand and do not wish to take any action.

Outcomes

You 'bust' if your hand exceeds 21, and you automatically lose your bet.

Otherwise, when all players have had their turn, the dealer will reveal their face-down card. 

If the dealer reveals a hand of 16 or less, they are required to Hit.

If the dealer's hand comprises of a Soft 17 or higher, however, they must Stand.

The value of your final hand must be closer to 21 than that of the dealer to win. 

If the dealer busts on 22, however, it is possible for the dealer to win, as outlined below.

If your hand and the hand of the dealer are equal in value, a tie will be declared and your bet returned.

Dealer busts with 22

If the total sum of dealer’s hand is 22, the round will end in a push and your bet will be returned.

If you bust and the dealer's hand is 22, the dealer wins.

If you have Blackjack, it is not possible for the dealer to bust on 22.

Six Card Charlie Rule

With this rule, if you have a hand of six cards where the total value is 21 or less, you win.

The Six Card Charlie rule applies even if the dealer has Blackjack, but not if they have Blackjack and you have purchased Insurance.

Each Split hand will be evaluated individually.

Side Bets

There are four Side Bets available in this game: 

• Any Pair
• 21+3
• Hot 3
• Bust It.

Side Bets will be paid out in addition to your main bet.

You can still win a Side Bet if your main bet is lost.

Any Pair

Any Pair allows you to bet that your first two cards will form a pair.

There are two types of wins available with Any Pair, each one paying out as follows:

• Pair, e.g. nine of Clubs and nine of Diamonds
• Suited Pair, e.g. two Jack of Hearts

 

Any Pair Payouts

• Pair - 25:1
• Suited Pair - 8:1

21+3

This Side Bet sees you win if your initial hand as well as the dealer’s face-up card includes any of the winning combinations below:

• Suited Trips – suited three of a kind, e.g. three Jack of Clubs
• Straight Flush – in numerical sequence and same suit, e.g. nine, 10 and Jack of Hearts
• Three of a Kind – same value but different suits, e.g. three sevens of different suits
• Straight – in numerical sequence but different suits, e.g. four of Diamonds, five of Spades and six of Clubs
• Flush – non-sequential cards in the same suit, e.g. a three, a nine and a Jack of Diamonds

 21+3 Payouts

• Suited Trips - 100:1
• Straight Flush - 40:1
• Three of a Kind - 30:1
• Straight - 10:1
• Flush - 5:1

Hot 3

The Hot 3 side bet allows you to bet on the combination of your two first cards, plus the dealer’s face-up card. 

There are several possible combinations, each with its own payout as laid out below.

• Total 19, for example: 6 of Clubs, 4 of Hearts and 9 of Diamonds
• Total 20, for example: 7 of Spades, 4 of Clubs and 9 of Diamonds
• Total 21, suited, for example: 6, 7 and 8 of Clubs
• Total 21, unsuited, for example: 6 of Spades, 7 of Hearts and 8 of Diamonds
• 7-7-7, for example: 7 of Hearts, 7 of Clubs and 7 of Diamonds

 

Hot 3 Payouts

• Total 19 - 1:1
• Total 20 - 2:1
• Total 21 suited - 4:1
• Total 21 unsuited - 20:1
• 7-7-7 - 100:1

Bust It

Bust It sees you win if the total value of the dealer’s cards will exceed 21, meaning they bust.

There are several combinations for this side bet:

• Bust with three cards
• Bust with four cards
• Bust with five cards
• Bust with six cards
• Bust with seven cards
• Bust with eight cards or more

If you use this bet and end up with Blackjack, the game will end in a Push. 

Bust It Payouts

• Bust with three cards - 1:1
• Bust with four cards - 2:1
• Bust with five cards - 9:1
• Bust with six cards - 50:1
• Bust with seven cards - 100:1
• Bust with eight or more cards -: 250:1

Any malfunction voids the game round and all payouts.

Payouts

• Blackjack - 3:2
• Winning hand - 1:1
• If the dealer gets Blackjack, Insurance will pay out 2:1

Free Bet Blackjack RTP

 The optimal theoretical payout percentage is:

• Blackjack – 98.45% (based on the first hand in the shoe)
• Any Pair Side Bet – 95.90%
• 21+3 Side Bet – 96.30%
• Hot 3 Side Bet – 94.60%
• Bust It Side Bet – 94.12%

The expected return to player is the amount we pay out to players relative to the amount of wagering on the game.

For example, if we take £100 of wagers we will, on average, pay out £98.45 of Blackjack wins.