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Hello all. I am a low level counter and have been playing in the midwest for about 10 years, and have had some success with bj as a side income. My local casino has introduced free bet blackjack to their table games, and I was hoping to find a way to exploit the game. I know the house edge is ridiculous, but is the game beatable?
http://wizardofodds.com/games/free-bet-blackjack/
I don't know if the game is beatable or not but I thought I'd throw this link up just in case you haven't seen it. The link has facts about the house edge, rules, and a basic strategy.
Given that the house edge is around 1% I'd think that given a big enough spread and if the edge volatility per true count is high enough it could be beatable. Absent a simulation I just don't know.
The EORs for Free Bet are in a similar range to those of blackjack. The 2 isn't as valuable due to the bust 22.
EV is generally worse, but offset by significantly lower variance (you don't put up money to split and double).
The fewer decks there are the WORSE for the player, due to fewer splits and resplits.
Heat varies. It's definitely watched at some places, especially Vegas.
I would tell you to come to out seminar in a few weeks where we cover Free Bet and some other variants, but it's full. We will probably do another one late spring or summer.
I'll post my progress as I try and figure this out.
There has been an interesting developed. My local store is offering Pot of Gold Freebet blackjack. It is a side bet; and is paid as the following:
1 free bet(double or split) pays 3 to 1
2 free bets 6 to 1
3 free bets 12 to 1
5 free bets and up is 100 to 1
Side bet is minimum $5 up to $50 and rules are:
�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
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
Anyone with a simulator that can crunch the numbers on this?
I found an analysis by Michael Shackleford, and dont know if the info is 100% accurate, but says house edge on the side bet is 5.77%, which is not terrible compared to other side bets. Also says that 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%. Splitting fives, instead of doubling, will increase the house edge on the base wager by 0.15%.
Standard house edge standard rules at 1.03%.
No information out there that I could find for advantage play on this game. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could get started on this? Does Norm's CV simulator have the ability to sim this? Thank you for any feedback.
I count in the Midwest to and have seen this game. I'm sure there is a way to lower the house advantage, but your probably better off just playing regular blackjack if your counting.
Agreed. Plus the crowd-heavy aspect of FreeBet.
