Blackjack Rules No Betting

1. Blackjack Rules No Betting Odds
2. Blackjack Rules No Betting Poker
3. Blackjack Rules No Betting Against
4. Blackjack Rules No Betting Rules

Blackjack is one of the most popular card games on the planet thanks to its deceptively simple rules, and the fact that it is statistically one of the most beatable casino games out there. The rules of blackjack give players ability to use statistics, mathematics, and certain advanced blackjack strategies to beat the dealer and walk away with cash. 6 – Only Play in Games With the Best Rules. One of the secrets of Don Johnson's blackjack success was his insistence on only playing blackjack games with the best rules for the player. The basics of blackjack are the same from table to table, but there are subtleties in the game conditions that affect the house edge. How to Play Blackjack (with Betting): Blackjack is a card game that is very popular in casinos; it is a game that is both easy to learn yet hard to master. Blackjack has been popularized in such films as 21 and other casino films such as Ocean's 13. Free Bet Blackjack is a standard house-banked blackjack game but with optional wagers called Pot of Gold, Push 22 and Blazing 7's Progressive. All rules pertaining to standard blackjack as posted on the WSGC's website remain the same except as noted in the Rules of Play.

Introduction

Free Bet Blackjack is a blackjack variant by game inventor Geoff Hall. The twist to this one is the player doesn't have to risk his own money when splitting or doubling (most of the time). It is like playing with a generous boyfriend at the table who makes all the supplemental bets for you and lets you keep the winnings. What is the catch? Like in Geoff's other game, Blackjack Switch, if the dealer gets a 22, all bets left standing push.

The game opened for business on June 20, 2012 at the Golden Nugget. I went down for the game's debut and found the table full of people enjoying the game. The strategy is simpler and offers more doubles and splits than conventional blackjack. Gamblers who find the basic strategy of conventional blackjack too complicated to memorize may take relief in the simplicity of Free Bet Blackjack.

Rules

The rules have changed since the game launched at the Golden Nugget. It is my understand that the rules below are now the norm. The game is based on standard blackjack, with the following rules:

• Six decks
• Dealer hits soft 17's
• Blackjacks pay 3 to 2
• Double after split allowed
• Double on two cards only
• Re-split pairs up to four hands, including aces
• No surrender

The game introduces two major rule changes:

1. 'Free Doubles' on hard totals of two-card total of 9, 10, or 11. Regular doubles are still allowed on all other two-card hands. With a 'free double,' the player's original wager is matched with a 'free bet' button and the player receives one additional card. At the end of the hand:
   • If the dealer wins, the player loses his original wager only.
   • If the hand results in a push, the player gets back his original wager only.
   • Otherwise, if the player wins, the player gets back his original wager plus winnings equal to double that wager.
2. 'Free Splits' on all pairs except 10's. With a 'free split,' the player's two cards are divided into two one-card hands. The player's original wager is placed with the first hand and a 'free bet' button is placed with the second hand. The player plays out each hand one at a time and is entitled to a 'free double' or 'free split' on both hands. For winning hands, each 'free bet' button is replaced with real chips equaling the original wager. On hands resulting in a player loss or push, the dealer takes back the 'free bet' button.
3. Dealer pushes on 22. If the player has 21 or less and the dealer busts with 22, then the player's wager is a push.

Basic Strategy

Strategy depends on whether you are playing a real money bet or a free bet. There is a difference because a push is just as bad as a loss on a Free Bet, thus causing a more aggressive strategy. The following three tables show the strategy for a real money hand, free bet hand, and pairs respectively.

If you remember just one thing about the strategy, accept every free double and free split opportunity.

House Edge

The house edge under the standard rules above is 1.04%.

Rule Variants

Following are the effects of some possible rule variants. The effects are the change in the player's expected return. The figures below with a (SH) were taken with permission from Discount Gambling. The ones with a (Wiz) were calculated by me. It is interesting that the greater the number of decks, the better the odds for the player, which is the opposite of conventional blackjack. I assume it is because there is more free-splitting with more decks, due to a lesser effect of non-replacement.

• Free doubles with three or more cards (DG): +0.66%.
• Dealer stands on soft 17 (DG): +0.31%.
• Late surrender allowed (DG): +0.21%.
• One deck: -0.14% (Wiz).
• Two decks: -0.06% (Wiz).
• Eight decks: +0.01% (Wiz,DG).
• No re-splitting aces (DG): -0.08%.
• No free re-splits on a pair of fours (DG): -0.27%.
• No re-splitting 2-9: -0.32% (DG).
• No double or free-double after a split (DG): -0.70%.
• Blackjack pays 6 to 5: -1.36% (Wiz).

Pot of Gold

I have heard reports that some casinos offer a side bet called Pot of Gold, which is based on the number of Free Bet tokens the player accumulates per initial hand. The Washington Gambling Commission lists two Pot of Gold pay tables. Following is my analysis of both of them. These tables were based on a random simulation. The lower right cells show a house edge of 5.77% on pay table 1 and 4.64% on pay table 2.

Pot of Gold — Pay Table 1

Tokens	Pays	Probability	Return
7	1000	0.000002	0.002026
6	300	0.000027	0.008140
5	100	0.000194	0.019445
4	60	0.000847	0.050799
3	30	0.003866	0.115973
2	10	0.013488	0.134884
1	3	0.148155	0.444466
0	-1	0.833420	-0.833420
Total	1.000000	-0.057686

Blackjack Rules No Betting Odds

Pot of Gold — Pay Table 2

Tokens	Pays	Probability	Return
7	100	0.000002	0.000203
6	100	0.000027	0.002713
5	100	0.000194	0.019445
4	50	0.000847	0.042333
3	30	0.003866	0.115973
2	12	0.013488	0.161861
1	3	0.148155	0.444466
0	-1	0.833420	-0.833420
Total	1.000000	-0.046426

The player can lower the house edge on the Pot of Gold by splitting fives instead of doubling, at the detriment of the primary wager. If the player splits fives the house edge on the Pot of Gold will be 2.75% under Pay Table 1 and 1.48% under Pay Table 2. Splitting fives, instead of doubling, will increase the house edge on the base wager by 0.15%.

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Geoff Hall, the inventor, for his cooperation with the rules and sharing the math report. This report is based on a combination of work between Stephen How and me. We are in close agreement on the house edge. The basic strategy and some of the effects of rule variations are the work of Stephen How.

Internal Links

• Original rule card. Please note that doubling on three or more cards is no longer allowed but free splits of fours is. Overall, the old rules were better, of course. Table game rules seldom get better for the player.

Outside Links

• Free Bet Blackjack page at Discount Gambling.
• Free Bet Blackjack Facebook page.

Written by:Michael Shackleford

Table Of Contents

With simple rules and easy to learn strategies, the game of blackjack is one of the most popular card games in both Las Vegas Casinos and online around the world.

Blackjack side bets add a layer of complexity to the game, though at much greater risk.

In this article we'll take a look at the different side bet options, how they are structured and what side bets pay.

• What are Blackjack side bets?
• Why play Blackjack side bets?
• Common side bets at most Casinos
• Other side bets to look out for
• Are Blackjack side bets worth playing?

What are Blackjack side bets?

Blackjack side bets are additional bets placed during a standard game of Blackjack. They involve predicting which cards the player, and sometimes the dealer, will receive.

Wagers are made before any cards are dealt and each side bet is based on chance rather than skill, although you can count cards to help you choose the most likely combinations for your best side bets.

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Why play side bets?

One of the most attractive features of the game of Blackjack is the low house edge compared to other games on the casino floor.

Good players will face a house edge of around 0.5%, and even if you play quite badly, that edge only rises to around 2%.

However, while the odds of losing big are low, the odds of winning are also poor.

Blackjack is mostly an even money game, rising to 2:1 at best if you are dealt a Blackjack.

Side bets offer you the chance to play much longer odds for higher player wins – as much as 5,000:1 in one case.

However, it must be noted that the house edge rises significantly for Blackjack side bets, with most bets carrying a house edge of 10% or more.

In other words, side bets make it a lot easier to lose money on blackjack.

Common side bets at most Casinos

There are a number of common side bets that you will find at most Blackjack tables.

These are clearly marked with the odds either printed on the Blackjack tables or available as a hand out or a side menu in the online version.

You should check the pay outs carefully before placing your bets as they can vary considerably between different Casinos or online sites.

The three main Blackjack side bets are:

• Insurance
• Perfect Pairs
• 21+3

Insurance – this is the most common Blackjack side bet and allows you to cover yourself against Blackjack if the dealer has an ace face up.

This bet involves half of your original stake and pays out at 2:1 if the dealer has Blackjack. The insurance bet reduces the overall house edge.

Perfect Pairs – this side bet uses the player's cards only, and pays out if you are dealt two of a kind as follows:

• Mixed pair (two of the same value but different suit and colour) – pays 5:1
• Coloured pair (two of the same value and the same colour) – pays 12:1
• Perfect pair (two of the same card) – pays 25:1

Blackjack Rules No Betting Poker

The returns can vary between different Casinos and different pay tables and the house edge will depend on both the pay out and the number of decks used and can range from just 2 or 3% up to 11% or more.

Blackjack Rules No Betting Against

21+3 – this side bet involves the player's two cards and the upturned card of the dealer. It will pay out for a number of different combinations:

• Flush – (all cards are suited) – pays 5:1
• Straight – (all cards consecutive) – pays 10:1
• Three of a kind – (not the same suit) – pays 30:1
• Straight flush – (consecutive cards same suit) – pays 40:1
• Suited triple – (three of the same card) – pays 100:1

The house edge for the 21+3 side bet will vary depending on the number of decks used, standing at 8.78% for four decks, 7.81% for five decks, 7.14% for six decks and 6.29% for seven decks.

Other side bets to look out for

The Casino industry is highly competitive, and so new side bets are being invented all the time to try and attract new Blackjack players.

Some of these will flourish and become widely available, while others remain niche and can only be found in selected Casinos. Here are a few examples:

• Royal match – pays 5:2 for any suited player's cards and 25:1 for suited king and queen
• Over/under 13 – pays even money for correctly predicting the sum of the player's cards as less than or greater than 13. In most cases, exactly 13 will lose, but some Casinos will allow bets on exactly 13.
• Super sevens – this bet pays out if one or more sevens are dealt in the player's cards. One seven pays 3:1, two unsuited sevens pays 50:1, two suited sevens pays 100:1. If the third card dealt is also a seven, then the bet will pay 500:1 unsuited and 5000:1 suited. However it is important to make sure that the Casino will still deal a third card if the dealer has a Blackjack, as some Casinos will not do this.
• Lucky ladies – this bet pays out if the player's cards add up to 20, with an unsuited 20 paying 4:1, a suited 20 paying 10:1, a matched 20, same rank and suit pays 25:1, two queens of hearts 200:1 and two queens of hearts when dealer has Blackjack 1000:1.

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Are Blackjack side bets worth playing?

Blackjack side bets do not involve any skill and you are simply betting on the luck of the draw.

What's more, the returns do not reflect the odds of each bet coming in, which gives the house a significantly larger edge.

Conclusion

Blackjack side bets are best viewed as a bit of extra complexity that adds up to a session at the Blackjack table.

However, you should not make them the main focus of your gameplay or your wagering, and you should be aware of the significantly increased house edge.

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