Betting limits are important. Some online casinos require a minimum bet as low as 10 cents, but commonly it's $1. Land based casinos commonly have a $5 minimum bet, and this can even be higher. Some VIP blackjack tables have minimum bets of $100, $1000 or even $5000. The maximum bet at most casinos is $5000 except for the high roller tables. While Free Bet Blackjack (FBBJ) has been around in Vegas for a little over three years, it still seems to be unknown to most people. This game can be found in about 13 different casinos in the Las Vegas area, with the possibility of being installed in more casinos before the end of the year.

What is Free Bet Blackjack?

Have you ever set foot in a casino playing your favorite game of blackjack and got offered that someone else pays for your bets, while you collect the winnings? You wish, right?! Well, Free Bet Blackjack does exactly what it says: a chance to play on someone else’s money!

While you will still need to put up your own cash for the initial wager, you’ll get to make double-downs and splits for free, increasing your potential wins. Of course, there are some negative rule to compensate for that, such as dealer’s becoming a Push and not bust. Nevertheless, Free Bet Blackjack, one of the newest blackjack games, is really fun and it is one of the most popular blackjack variants.

Btw, it was invented by the same guy that created Blackjack Switch and Zappit Blackjack – Geoff Hall. It first appeared in Vegas in 2012, but since then it spread across the globe. Unfortunately, it is not available for online play so in order to benefit from free bet financing you’ll have to walk into a land-based casino. We assume it will become available online in 2017.

* If you were looking for free chips and not the free bet blackjack variation – check our blackjack no deposit bonuses page.

Before we dive into details, you should know that Free Bet blackjack odds are 98.96% (house edge of 1.04%). That’s definitely below some of the lowest house edge blackjack games, but we are here to have fun. So if you like this game, you should play it. Just play it right.

Free Blackjack Games to Play

Free Bet Rules

Regardless of whether you’ve got tons of experience with this popular table game or have just started understanding the basics, you should find it relatively easy to play this variant. Many of the standard rules apply and quite a few will work in your favor.

• Playing with six decks
• Dealer hits on soft 17’s
• Blackjack pays the standard 3 to 2
• You can double after a split
• You can double on two cards only
• You can re-split to four hands, aces included!
• Surrender is not allowed

So what’s different? Regular (paid for) doubles are allowed on all two-card hands except hard 9’s, 10’s and 11’s. In case of the latter, your wager will be matched with a free double and you’ll receive 1 additional card. Should the dealer win this hand, you’ll only lose your original wager. If it ends in a push, you’ll get back what you wagered. However, if you win, on top of your wager you’ll get winnings equal to double that amount.

Free Splits are available when you’re holding a hand of any pairs except 10’s and 4’s (and you’d probably wouldn’t want to split these anyway). Your original wager is placed on one of the split hands while the other receives a free bet. Each of them is eligible for a free double or a free split. Should you win, your free bet tokens will deliver chips equaling the original bet.

There is one minor catch to this game: if dealer busts on 22 while you’re holding 21 or less, your wager is a push.

Free Bet Blackjack Strategy and Tips

Having in mind the specificity of this game, one general advice is to accept any free double and free split opportunity you get.

Other than that, and keeping in mind that dealer hits on soft 17’s, your regular blackjack strategy should apply. Always hit on hard 9 – 11 (except 9 vs dealer’s 10), stand on hard 12 vs dealer’s 4-6 and hit on hard 13-16 only if dealer holds 7 or higher. Always stand on hard 17 or more and hit on soft 17. Stand on soft 18 unless the dealer reveals 9, 10 or an ace. Whenever you’re holding soft 19 or more, stick with it.

Free doubles aside, you should also double down on hard 9 against dealer’s 3-6 and do the same on soft 13-19 vs dealer’s 6. As far as splits go, the ones we’d recommend are already included in the freebies offer.

Free Bet Blackjack comes with many rules in your favor and really only one against, with dealer pushing on 22. As we’ve mentioned before, that brings the house edge to 1.04%.

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Blackjack can be broken down to a mathematically-proven, superior way to play each hand called Basic Strategy that has been tested and refined through computer simulations based on the work of early pioneers like Dr. Edward O. Thorp. When followed correctly, basic strategy reduces the house edge to as little as half of one percent.

If you want to be successful at blackjack you need to learn basic strategy. Most players start learning by referring to a basic strategy chart. The strategy chart shows you how to play your first two cards based on the dealers up card. Referring back to beginning blackjack you know that the house gains its edge by the fact that the player must act first. Since the basic strategy chart only deals with the first two cards, you will also need to learn what decisions to make after taking a hit.

Translate the Chart

The best way to do this is to translate the basic strategy chart into plain English that explains how to play each of your two-card starting hands.

For example, if your first two cards are and a 5 and a 3 you have a total of eight. The chart tells you to hit. You draw another 3, which gives you a total of eleven. The chart tells you to double on 11 but you can only double on your first two cards. Therefore, you must hit.

When we translate the strategy chart into plain English, we use the word 'otherwise' when dealing with situations that are different because of multiple cards. If we were to write out the example above it would be: If you have 11 - double, otherwise hit.

Here's how to play basic strategy when there are more than two cards involved written out in plain English.​

How to Play Hard Hands

Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial For Beginners

A hard hand is two starting cards that do not contain an ace.

If you have eight or less, always hit.
If you have Nine: Double if the dealer has 3 thru 6 - otherwise hit.
If you have Ten : Double if the dealer has 2 thru 9 - otherwise hit.
If you have Eleven: Double if the dealer has 2 thru 10, Hit if dealer has Ace.
If you have Twelve: Hit if the dealer has 2 or 3, Stand if the dealer has 4 thru 6, otherwise hit.
If you have 13- 16: Stand if the dealer has2 thru 6, otherwise hit.
If you have 17 - 21: Always Stand.

How to Play Soft Hands

A soft hand is when one of your starting hands contains an ace.

If you have Ace 2 or Ace 3: Double if the dealer has 5 or 6 - otherwise hit.
If you have Ace 4 or Ace 5: Double if the dealer has 4 thru 6 - otherwise hit.
If you have Ace 6: Double if the dealer has 3 thru 6 - otherwise hit.
If you have Ace 7: Stand if the dealer has 2, 7 or 8. Double 3 -thru 6 - otherwise hit.
If you have Ace 8 or Ace 9: Always Stand.

Free Bet Blackjack Tutorials

How to Play Pairs

Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial Online

If you have a pair of Aces or Eights: Always split.
If you have a pair of twos or threes: Split if the dealer has 2 - 7, otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of fours: Split if the dealer has 5 or 6, otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of fives: Double if the dealer has 2 thru 9 - otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of sixes: Split if the dealer has 2 thru 6 - otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of sevens: Split 2 thru 7 - otherwise hit.
If you have a pair of nines: Split 2 thru 6, and 8 or 9. Stand if the dealer has 7, 10 or Ace.
If you have a pair of tens: Always Stand.

Free Bet Blackjack Tutorial Free

Translating the blackjack basic strategy chart into plain English makes it a lot easier to memorize. You can even make up flashcards to help you learn.