Free Bet Blackjack
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How To Play
Object of the Game
As in Classic Blackjack, the Player and the Dealer each start with two cards. Then, by drawing additional cards, they attempt to achieve a greater point value than has their opponent without exceeding 21. Normally, if a hand exceeds 21, it is considered "busted" and becomes invalid to win the round.
In Free Bet Blackjack, if the Dealer busts with a 22, though, any Player hands that have not busted are considered a "Push". This variation is one of the features of the game that increases the "House Edge"!
Cards are assigned point values in the following manner:
- Aces: 1 point or 11 points
- 10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings: 10 points
- All other cards: face value
A calculated hand value that uses an Ace as 11 points is referred to as "soft". For example, 11 + 6 = 17. This is called a "Soft 17".
Starting the Hand
The hand starts when the Player places a wager between the minimum $5 and the maximum of $500 and presses the "Deal" button. The Player is initially dealt two cards face up while the Dealer receives one card that is face up and another card that is face down (the Dealer "Hole Card"). Special actions are taken if the Dealer's face up card is either an Ace or a card value of 10.
If the first two cards in a hand total 21 (an Ace and any card worth 10 points), the hand is known as a "Blackjack". A Blackjack is an automatic win unless both the Dealer and the Player have Blackjack. In such cases, the hands are considered a Push (Draw), except in cases where Insurance is purchased.
After the initial cards are dealt, if the Dealer's upcard is an Ace or a value of 10, the Dealer will check to see if he has a Blackjack. If the Dealer up card is a 10 and it turns out that the Dealer has a Blackjack, the hand ends. If the Player also has a Blackjack, the hand is considered a Push and the Player wager is refunded.
Insurance
In cases where the Dealer's initial exposed card is an Ace, the Player will be provided the opportunity to purchase "Blackjack Insurance". Insurance costs the amount of the initial wager and is a special wager that pays 2:1 if the Dealer does, in fact, have a Blackjack. In essence, Insurance provides the Player with the opportunity to break even because the initial wager will be forfeit, but he will be paid twice as much as the insurance payment.
If the Player's initial cards are a Blackjack, rather than purchase the insurance policy that will pay 2:1, the Player may opt to accept "Even Money" for his Blackjack (instead of the normal 3:2 payment that would be made for a winning Blackjack hand.
If after Insurance has been purchased or declined, the Dealer does not have a Blackjack, normal play continues.
Player Decisions
If there is not a Blackjack after the intial deal, the Player is the first to act and has four options from which to choose:
HIT: So long as the hand has not busted, the Player may "Hit", meaning draw additional cards in an attempt to reach 21 points.-
STAND: If the Player does not wish to take additional cards, a "Stand" is made. This ends play for the current hand and moves attention to the next Player hand or, if all Player hands have completed, to the Dealer's hand. -
SPLIT: If the first two cards of a hand have the same value, the Player is allowed to split them into two hands.When a Split is made, the Player places an additional wager equal to his initial wager. The Dealer separates the first two cards and the Player then plays out the two separate hands in turn.
A feature of Free Bet Blackjack is that if the Player is splitting cards that have a value of less than 10 (A-9), the House funds the wager for the Split. This means the resulting "split hand" is free to the Player. Free splits will be designated by a special gold wager chip/coin. If these hands win, the Player will be paid the amount of the wager. If these hands lose, the Player WILL NOT be refunded the amount of the House wager. The Player may split to up to a maximum of four hands. In the case of hands split from Aces, each new hand receives a single card and is forced to Stand.
NOTE: Blackjack hands made on split cards are considered 21 and pay even money as opposed to the 3:2 that is paid on a Blackjack made from the first two cards.
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DOUBLE DOWN: The Player is allowed to double the initial wager in exchange for committing to making a Stand after drawing a single card.This action can only be taken for the first two cards in a hand. The Player may not Hit and then Double Down. Doubling Down is allowed after a Split occurs.
In Free Bet Blackjack, if the first two cards equate to a "hard" 9, 10, or 11 (meaning there is not an Ace involved in reaching the total), the Double Down wager is funded by the House - not the Player. This means the Double Down is "free" to the Player. Free Double Down wagers are identified by a small gold wager chip/coin that is placed near the original wager. It is very possible for a Player to have a "free Split" followed by a "free Double Down".
Automatic Wins
Aboard Riverboat Gambler, any hands containing 8 cards with a total of 21 or less are automatic wins. Please refer to the Payout Table for the odds that are paid.
Ending the Hand
After the Player acts it is the Dealer's turn to act. Dealer decisions relative to drawing additional cards are guided by two simple rules:
- If there are any Player hands that did not bust and were not Blackjack, the Dealer must draw cards until his total is greater than or equal to 17 points.
The Dealer must draw on hands of 17 points or less including Soft 17s. If the Dealer draws to 22, any Player hands that have not busted are automatically considered a "Push".
If the Dealer busts, all Player hands that have not busted automatically win and are paid their wagers.
If the Dealer does not bust:
- ✧ Player hands with greater point values than has the Dealer win the round and are paid their wagers.
- ✧ Player hands with lower point values than has the Dealer lose the round and forfeit their wagers.
- ✧ Player hands with the same number of points as has the Dealer are deemed a Push and the wagers are refunded.
Pot of Gold Bonus
This bonus is optional, but is the primary reason why folks play this game. Each "free wager" that the House places on behalf of the Player results in the award of a gold chip/coin. At the end of the hand, the Player will be paid anywhere from 3x - 100x the optional bonus wager amount based on the total number of coins that were received. Refer to the Pay Table for the actual odds.
Quick Replay
After the hand has ended, if the Player presses the Deal button, the same Bets will be placed and new cards will be dealt.
If the Player does not want to repeat the last wager, play will resume after a wager has been made and the Deal button has been pressed.
Pay Table
First Two Cards | |
(Double Down on 1st two cards only) | |
| Beat the Dealer | 1 to 1 |
| Blackjack | 3 to 2 |
| Insurance | 2 to 1 |
Free Bonus Payouts | |
(Automatic Win) | |
| 8 Cards Under 22 | 100 to 1 |
Pot of Gold Bonus | |
(Coins Awarded for Free Bets) | |
| 1 Gold Coin | 3 to 1 |
| 2 Gold Coins | 12 to 1 |
| 3 Gold Coins | 30 to 1 |
| 4 Gold Coins | 50 to 1 |
| 5+ Gold Coins | 100 to 1 |