Free Bet Blackjack
Quote: 1BBI'm happy to report that Free Bet is off and running at Mohegan Sun. I had some errands that took me through the Uncasville area and Exit 79A beckoned me off the highway.
There was a good noontime Saturday crowd and all four Free Bet tables were open. One had three players and the other three were filled to capacity. Players were enjoying themselves and there was quite a gallery of observers and friends cheering them on. The game has sparked a lot of interest.
The dealers were well versed in the game and were very helpful to the players. There were the inevitable 22s but you should have seen the look on the players' faces after winning bets with multiple lammers on the felt. Priceless! From the players' perspective, it looks like this game is a hit. Here's hoping that it's a hit for the casino as well. Good luck, Switch!
Thank you for your feedback 1BB, particularly at such an important location.
Did you have a go yourself? :-)
Quote: PokeraddictIs Burn 20 installed anywhere in LV? I noticed it is gone from Binions and that was the only place I knew it existed.
Unfortunately it is not installed anywhere else as yet Pokeraddict - I think it is a very under-represented game and it should do well in some locations.
Bally are focusing on Free Bet at present but I'm hoping that when they exhaust their current installations that they will turn their attention to Burn 20 Blackjack.
Edit, 03/31/14:
Found this posted on another site, dated approximately 03/2014 (edited for extraneous content):
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NYNY - 6 deck shoe
Aria - CSM
Mirage - CSM
Venetian - 6 deck shoe
Palazzo - 8 deck shoe
Golden Nugget - 6 deck shoe (3:2) and Single Deck (6:5)
The D - Double Deck
Golden Gate - 2 tables, unknown dealing
Casino Royale - 4 tables, all 6:5
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Presumably they're 3:2 unless otherwise stated?
Quote: VenthusCould somebody update as to the situation of Freebet at Mandalay, MGM, or any other places with easy-ish parking? (ie, off-strip, off-Fremont) Heading up on Tuesday!
Mandalay Bay, NYNY, Aria, Venetian and Palazzo have the game. MGM Grand are still pending.
Quote: SwitchThank you for your feedback 1BB, particularly at such an important location.
Did you have a go yourself? :-)
You are very welcome. No, I didn't have a go. I don't play for fun and this game is way too much fun! My wife ran into a friend and they were going to try it but there were smokers at the only table with open seats. Besides, we were in the casino less than 45 minutes. This casino has good ventilation and a no smoking sign can be requested for a table as long as everyone at the table agrees.
A word about the speed of the game which I thought might be a little slower. It isn't. I have seen the game before and had I paid closer attention I probably would have known this.
Ah; Mandalay's probably my best bet then. I hate navigating the strip. ><
Quote: 1BB[Mohegan Sun] has good ventilation and a no smoking sign can be requested for a table as long as everyone at the table agrees..
Except at the handicap accessible tables: they are always smoking permitted.
I haven't seen the game in person but will try to find it tomorrow night.
Quote: rhodyBobThe WoO pages say that this game has a house edge of .79%, while the regular game, same rules otherwise, has a HE of ~ .55%. Is this right?
I haven't seen the game in person but will try to find it tomorrow night.
Perhaps because it is S17 at MS?
The four tables are together in pit 5 in the Casino of the Earth at the end of the pit nearest the Lost Guest Booth.
Quote: 1BBPerhaps because it is S17 at MS?
MS is H17 on the $5 tables and S17 everywhere else. I thought I saw that Free Bet was H17 both on WoO and at MS. Apples to apples, Free Bet is a better HE than straight BlackJack, no?
Quote: arcticfunI just played this for about an hour at MS, baby tables ($10 min). It is lame and slow. Granted, part of it is because the dealers are kind of new to it, but basically, you don't get any thrills until you get a free split or double (in an hour, I got one, yay!) Of course, the lamest thing of all is having to push your hard-earned 21 with the dealer's 575....
Isn't this always dealt as push 22? (5+7+5 != 22)
How did you manage to play for an hour and only pick up a 9,10,11 or pair one time? They are not that rare.
Quote: rhodyBobMS is H17 on the $5 tables and S17 everywhere else. I thought I saw that Free Bet was H17 both on WoO and at MS. Apples to apples, Free Bet is a better HE than straight BlackJack, no?
Free Bet is S17. The tables are nowhere near the $5 tables which are in the Casino of the Sky, about a five minute walk.
The house edge for regular blackjack is 0.35%, for Free Bet it is 0.58%. Add roughly 0.22% for H17.
For those not familiar with the size of this property, there are 116 blackjack tables spread over three casinos. Only six are H17. They are there to lure people who would not sit at anything higher than $5. It works. Once they sit, many of these folks do not flat bet. There is no reason for a serious player to ever play them as there are almost always $10 minimums available.
Quote: arcticfunI just played this for about an hour at MS, baby tables ($10 min). It is lame and slow. Granted, part of it is because the dealers are kind of new to it, but basically, you don't get any thrills until you get a free split or double (in an hour, I got one, yay!) Of course, the lamest thing of all is having to push your hard-earned 21 with the dealer's 575....
You should get a free bet roughly 1 in 5 hands and the dealer will push on 22 roughly 1 in 14 hands so I think that you had one of those sessions where the good part of the game just barely came up for you.
I've watched the game where the dealer only got one '22' in almost an hours play but I've also seen the dealer get three '22's' one after the other.
Like regular Blackjack, Free Bet can still be frustrating at times :-)
Quote: SwitchI've watched the game where the dealer only got one '22' in almost an hours play but I've also seen the dealer get three '22's' one after the other.
Like regular Blackjack, Free Bet can still be frustrating at times :-)
Oddly enough, that pesky 22 never seems to come up when you actually want it to, either. ...Usually because you've already busted in the process, grumble...
Quote: VenthusFor the purposes of the free bet, do you have any opinion on if something like an A9 should be able to be free or not? (I suppose, strictly speaking, I'm actually asking if the analysis was performed allowing that as a free bet or not.)
Hi Venthus, when I developed the game I wanted the play to be as close to regular Blackjack as possible. Obviously, due to the free bet, then some plays are still non-regular i.e. doubling 9 verses 10, splitting 3, 3 verses Ace etc.
I had the analysis for the soft doubles done and if you allow free soft doubling on soft 13-17 then this gives 1.58% to the player. The problem is that you should take ALL soft doubles, so you get a game where players are doubling A,3 verses a dealer 9 etc.
I can't locate the analysis for soft 19-21 but I do know that if you are allowed free soft doubling on 20 then you should only take the option verses a dealer 3-6. I'm not sure what this is worth.
I don't think that soft doubling would make a vast difference to the house edge but decided not to include it as I believed that it was a 'favorable' rule that had negative connotations when it went wrong. For example, player is dealt A,9 verses a dealer 6 and takes the free double, is dealt a 4 and the dealer goes on to make a 17.
I felt it was much easier to focus on the 'hard' doubles where the majority of them are considered standard play in the regular game.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceIsn't this always dealt as push 22? (5+7+5 != 22)
How did you manage to play for an hour and only pick up a 9,10,11 or pair one time? They are not that rare.
I need to go back to grade school -- I meant 787. (I think I had 15 + 7 in mind, hence the 5s.) But you got my point. And YES! Exactly, right?! I was really unlucky about getting doubling hands!
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyWoO already lists the HE effects for the basic game and the variants. Sure, an edge calculator would be a easy crutch to use, but I'm good with figuring out the HE using the information provided. I just need the rules! [Note: I have notified WoO site that their information about FBB differs from information posted by Switch.]
Edit: Added note.
The table which lists the various rules and their effects on the house edge is nice, but it's not 100% accurate due to rule interaction. That's where the calculator comes in handy; if it's implemented correctly it will take into account all the selected rules and deliver the edge therein.
One guy had $75 up, drew 9s, split them, drew another 9, split it, drew a 2 on the 9, doubled it, drew 10s on everything. 19-19-21. Dealer busted. $300 back on a $75 bet. Sweet.
So, a new basic strategy to learn. The "always double, always split" part is easy enough, but it seems like there ought to be SOME instances where the free split or double is not ALWAYS the best choice. Are there no instances where the probability is great enough that you replace one hand with two worse ones? Even the "never split fours and tens" rule has its exceptions?
About the environment.
The two dealers (one Russian, one Asian) didn't speak English, so explanations about the game were non-existent. The Russian guy even had a big plastic lammer with "DEALER 22 PUSH" written on it which he pulled out when someone questioned why it wasn't a bust. "DWENNYDOO... <point> DWENNYDOO!! <point>". People came up to the table, asked, and Mr. DwennyDoo handed them a table card. That's it. They could do a better job 'splaynin the rules.
The Earth Casino must be the oldest part of Mohegan. Has a darker, more crowded feel than the other parts, and seems dingy almost. The games could be better placed, like in Sky or Wind.
Then there's the Wolf Den. Guess placing the tables next to an airport runway would pose some kind of regulatory issue, so instead they put it next to the most god-awful band I have ever heard. I know I am becoming my grandparents, but if you're gonna play that loud, why bother with lyrics. Nobody can understand a word. Good thing they have those big lammers saying PUSH. On Friday nights, even the dealers that speak the language wiil need them.
So could it possibly mean that, with respect to bankroll, you can be more aggressive? (granted, edge is -0.7% for a random shoe). Any thoughts from the mathier people here?
Quote: rhodyBobSo, a new basic strategy to learn. The "always double, always split" part is easy enough, but it seems like there ought to be SOME instances where the free split or double is not ALWAYS the best choice. Are there no instances where the probability is great enough that you replace one hand with two worse ones? Even the "never split fours and tens" rule has its exceptions?
You often replace one hand with two worse ones. But the 2-1 payout that you are being offered (possibly more if you can free-resplit or free-double) more than compensates for it, in every case.
Quote: rhodyBobJust spent a profitable 90 minutes playing FBBJ at Mohegan. I like it. Since I won, more due to the cards than the extras of the game itself, I will go back. I thought I would just try it for a while and/or watch, but the tables were relatively empty so I sat down right away. Had three or four free splits and two free doubles, won them all. Two 22 pushes. I had already busted on one.
One guy had $75 up, drew 9s, split them, drew another 9, split it, drew a 2 on the 9, doubled it, drew 10s on everything. 19-19-21. Dealer busted. $300 back on a $75 bet. Sweet.
So, a new basic strategy to learn. The "always double, always split" part is easy enough, but it seems like there ought to be SOME instances where the free split or double is not ALWAYS the best choice. Are there no instances where the probability is great enough that you replace one hand with two worse ones? Even the "never split fours and tens" rule has its exceptions?
About the environment.
The two dealers (one Russian, one Asian) didn't speak English, so explanations about the game were non-existent. The Russian guy even had a big plastic lammer with "DEALER 22 PUSH" written on it which he pulled out when someone questioned why it wasn't a bust. "DWENNYDOO... <point> DWENNYDOO!! <point>". People came up to the table, asked, and Mr. DwennyDoo handed them a table card. That's it. They could do a better job 'splaynin the rules.
The Earth Casino must be the oldest part of Mohegan. Has a darker, more crowded feel than the other parts, and seems dingy almost. The games could be better placed, like in Sky or Wind.
Then there's the Wolf Den. Guess placing the tables next to an airport runway would pose some kind of regulatory issue, so instead they put it next to the most god-awful band I have ever heard. I know I am becoming my grandparents, but if you're gonna play that loud, why bother with lyrics. Nobody can understand a word. Good thing they have those big lammers saying PUSH. On Friday nights, even the dealers that speak the language wiil need them.
Great feedback rodyBob and I'm pleased that you had a good experience on the game.
I'm a bit concerned about your comments regarding the 2 dealers as I feel that this is a very interactive game between dealer and players. I'm wondering if any players missed free doubles and splits because it wasn't explained to them very well?
I don't know about the various pits at Mohegan - hopefully if the game does well in this pit then it might get 'promoted' to another pit eventually.
Once again, thank you for the comprehensive information.
Quote: arcticfunHah! I was just there myself, trying to give it another go. It seems to me that the variance of the game is much lower. You're not risking a big loss after multiple splits + doubles. I had a $125 bet up that ended up being worth over $700 when the dealer busted. If he hadn't, I'd have only lost the original $125, which seems acceptable to me.
So could it possibly mean that, with respect to bankroll, you can be more aggressive? (granted, edge is -0.7% for a random shoe). Any thoughts from the mathier people here?
Glad to see that you experienced the other side of the variance curve arcticfun - I think that you were overdue some splits and doubles :-)
Feedback from casinos is that if the table is running well for the players then they do seem to 'up' their bets more than usual, likely due to only having one bet out there. Of course, the bigger bets are still facing the same house edge it's just that players don't feel as concerned about having a big bet out and then facing a split or double - rather the opposite.
I get the slightly worse edge of Freebet but, in return, I'm only risking exactly what I put out as my initial bet. ...I guess I'm outing myself as a half-ploppie here, huh? =P
The big blue “DEALER PUSH 22” lammer rhodyBob mentioned is supposed to be placed center table whenever the dealer draws to that dreaded result. The dealer wasn’t sure what the purpose of that lammer is. Perhaps its function is to inform players of the event, even though “push 22” is written on the felt. I think the purpose might be a visual queue for surveillance.
How players signal for a free split or double-down bet is a work in progress. I suggested that if I give a hand signal for split or double-down without sliding the additional bet out, then that should clearly indicate I expect a free bet lammer for the hand. I guess this nuance of the game wasn’t discussed in training. More confusion was introduced when I would occasionally pony up my own money for splits and doubles that do not qualify for free bets.
The game was fun to play and I’ll definitely sit down again. I flat bet every hand, was up 15+ units at one point and gave it all back except for the dealer’s tip. I used the basic strategy provided by WoO, except I adjusted the surrenders on account the S17 rule at Mohegan Sun.
My beginning run of luck was fueled by free bets paying off. The erosion of my profits was helped along by several dealer 22 hands. I think players will like “push 22” as the method of providing the house with an offsetting edge for the free bets. It doesn't seem to sting as badly when you aren't paid a win as opposed to having bets snatched away and added to the tray. The “not winning” seems to camouflage the losing. Until you total up your chips.
Edit: Stuck out "splits and" since there cannot be a case of allowed splitting that does not qualify for a free bet.
@ Switch: yeah. I agree, finally some free doubles and splits. It hasn't happened again, though... and the game is brilliant in that it makes me want to stick around longer just for that reason...
Quote: arcticfunBased on conversations with the Mohegan dealers and floormen today, the house has been actually losing a bunch of money on this game. I asked why, and the floor said it's because the max:min bet ratio allowed on the table is too high (?????) and some dude apparently had a yellow chip up that ended up splitting and doubling for free. It's probably too early in the running to determine whether the game is actually as bad (for the house) as the dealers make it out to be -- after all, HE is 0.7% which is more than twice regular BJ
The game works just fine for the house! Any current losses are the result of favorable variance for the players or likely a few missed Push 22's by a staff that is learning the game. It will straighten out and move toward normalcy.
Quote: UCivanI have heard many casino removed the game because dealers' errors were unbearable. Overall, the net number of placement is increasing, right, Switch?
The only removals of the game have been down to poor hold %, which I believe the failure to push on 22 is a main culprit. It has happened to 4 casinos to my knowledge but the game is definitely increasing in numbers.
This is one of the major hurdles that a games inventor has, especially if they keep the house edge to a reasonable level. Sometimes variance can play a part, just as in regular Blackjack, but as the game is new then some casinos get nervous of the results in the early stages.
You really need at least 6 months, and ideally a year, before you can gauge the hold % to a reasonable degree. Unfortunately the game can be long gone before it ever reaches that stage.
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyI played Free Bet Blackjack at Mohegan Sun for about ninety minutes Tuesday morning. The game has some rough edges that I’m sure will be worked out shortly. The dealer said her twenty-minute training session was done long before the game was introduced last week. Perhaps the need to have the felts reprinted caused the disconnection between training an implementation.
The big blue “DEALER PUSH 22” lammer rhodyBob mentioned is supposed to be placed center table whenever the dealer draws to that dreaded result. The dealer wasn’t sure what the purpose of that lammer is. Perhaps its function is to inform players of the event, even though “push 22” is written on the felt. I think the purpose might be a visual queue for surveillance.
How players signal for a free split or double-down bet is a work in progress. I suggested that if I give a hand signal for split or double-down without sliding the additional bet out, then that should clearly indicate I expect a free bet lammer for the hand. I guess this nuance of the game wasn’t discussed in training. More confusion was introduced when I would occasionally pony up my own money for splits and doubles that do not qualify for free bets.
The game was fun to play and I’ll definitely sit down again. I flat bet every hand, was up 15+ units at one point and gave it all back except for the dealer’s tip. I used the basic strategy provided by WoO, except I adjusted the surrenders on account the S17 rule at Mohegan Sun.
My beginning run of luck was fueled by free bets paying off. The erosion of my profits was helped along by several dealer 22 hands. I think players will like “push 22” as the method of providing the house with an offsetting edge for the free bets. It doesn't seem to sting as badly when you aren't paid a win as opposed to having bets snatched away and added to the tray. The “not winning” seems to camouflage the losing. Until you total up your chips.
Edit: Stuck out "splits and" since there cannot be a case of allowed splitting that does not qualify for a free bet.
More great feedback - thank you BCS!!!
This is exactly how the game works. If you get a higher than usual run of splits and doubles then you should do well at the game. On the other hand, if the dealer keeps reeling off 22's then you will find that it results in bleeding chips slowly :-)
Quote: VenthusThe game gets even nicer when you manage to find a dealer who forgets that 22s push. =)
It only takes 1 or 2 dealers to forget this rule in order to reduce the house edge to a level whereby the casinos are concerned about the edge on the game.
While I understand the merits for the player (and I don't blame any player for not pointing out the rule to the dealer), the downside is that it can lead to the removal of the game, so the merits are very short-lived.
Fortunately, Mohegan Sun have 4 tables, so they should be able to gauge their expected hold % after as little as 3 months into the installation. Obviously, if there are errors which are (hopefully) being ironed out, then they should see a month-on-month increase to the hold % and this will settle as both players and dealers become accustomed with the game.
Quote: arcticfunBased on conversations with the Mohegan dealers and floormen today, the house has been actually losing a bunch of money on this game. I asked why, and the floor said it's because the max:min bet ratio allowed on the table is too high (?????) and some dude apparently had a yellow chip up that ended up splitting and doubling for free. It's probably too early in the running to determine whether the game is actually as bad (for the house) as the dealers make it out to be -- after all, HE is 0.7% which is more than twice regular BJ -- but it's certainly true that players are taking full advantage of the reduced variance.
@ Switch: yeah. I agree, finally some free doubles and splits. It hasn't happened again, though... and the game is brilliant in that it makes me want to stick around longer just for that reason...
The $1000 chips I have seen at blackjack tables are orange, as in pumpkins. There may be yellow chips but I have never seen one. Regardless of the color, $1000 chips are not kept in this pit. When one arrives, via a player from another pit, it is removed. A call is made and security arrives with a fill carrier to take it away. The max bet on a $10 minimum table is $1000.
This is Free Bet's ninth day on the floor at Mohegan Sun, way too early for figures to be compiled and analyzed let alone released. If something were to be released this early, I think it's safe to say that floors and dealers would not be privy to the information.
An earlier post had a question about the best location for these tables. I think they are right where they should be. This area has the highest traffic. These table are open around the clock and not all of the casinos are. The Sky doesn't open until around noon save for the $5 tables and you don't want Free Bet on those tables. The Casino of the Wind does not get a lot of early morning traffic.
The Mohegan Sun dealers seem challenged to manage the game right now, perhaps providing help to players will come about as they get up to speed. I sense great potential for the dealers to provide fanfare as they plunk down those big, shinny brass lammers for free bets. They do have cards for the game. I obtained one the day before I played. It is a generic Bally/SHFL card not tailored to a particular casino. A player asked about the game when I was playing and the dealer promptly provided him with one of the cards. That said, the cards provide enough information to understand and play the game, but of course they do not suggest a strategy.Quote: rhodyBobThey could do a better job 'splaynin the rules.
Yes, the Earth Casino was the only venue when Mohegan Sun first opened. I prefer the darker atmosphere of the Earth casino, to each his own. The nickle tables in the Sky casino get sunshine if you like bright.Quote: rhodyBobThe Earth Casino [where the Free Bet Blackjack tables are located] must be the oldest part of Mohegan. Has a darker, more crowded feel than the other parts, and seems dingy almost. The games could be better placed, like in Sky or Wind.
The band was an R&B group based in New Haven. They play the Wolf Den frequently and have positive reviews on social media sites. Once again, to each his own. I was at the show and enjoyed it. Yeah, when the singer belts out an old Ella Fitzgerald number she gives it some volume. There are bands in the Wolf Den almost every night and there is never a cover charge. Most are very good. Once in a while they have an act I would say is "god awful." The shows start as early as 7 and are always over by 11 so you can plan your playing around that.Quote: rhodyBobThen there's the Wolf Den. Guess placing the tables next to an airport runway would pose some kind of regulatory issue, so instead they put it next to the most god-awful band I have ever heard. I know I am becoming my grandparents, but if you're gonna play that loud, why bother with lyrics.
Quote: UCivanI have heard many casino removed the game because dealers' errors were unbearable. Overall, the net number of placement is increasing, right, Switch?
Well evidently "many" is 4 according to Switch's comment above.....you can't rely on what you "hear" to be accurate in this business very often.
An actual reliable source (the decision maker) told me that their installation did poorly from a hold perspective over the first 2 months, likely because of the failure to enforce Push 22 in the early going. Now Free Bet BJ represents that house's best performing BJ game and the operator loves it!!
The smart operators will give a new game the chance to perform before pulling it, particularly if the game is getting increasing play. The numbers will work out for themselves if enough $$ are going through the HE mechanism properly.
Dealer's & operators are responsible for enforcing the rules. There are only two things to remember in Free Bet vs. regular BJ: Push on 22 and Free Bet opportunities. All an operator has to do is make sure the Push 22 is being enforced by the dealer. Trust me, the players will make sure they are getting all their Free Bet opportunities. It just shouldn't be that hard when you deal for a living!
Quote: wudgedDo you think it's possible the actual/realized HE for Free Bet is lower than the sometimes estimated 2-5% actual/realized HE for regular black jack? Sure there are still going to be the people who refuse to hit 13 vs a 10, but there will be a lot more people willing to split and double down for free whereas they wouldn't in a normal game.
The HE is in general more than it is for regular blackjack. The HE calculator takes into account optimal basic strategy and runs billions of simulations to see what you get. That being said you do still need to learn the few changes to strategy that come with the game if you want to play it.
I can't offer an expert opinion, but I don't see how the .58% HE for Free Bet Blackjack at Mohegan Sun will result in a lower than estimated hold for the game. Average players don't even exercise basic strategy for standard BJ: I don't imagine the average player will do any better at FBBJ. I got some raised eyebrows when hitting a 13 v. 2 on the money hand, even though that is recommended strategy. Sure, your average player will jump at the free bets, but I doubt they will take the time to learn the recommended strategy for playing the free bet hands which differs greatly from the standard game.Quote: wudgedDo you think it's possible the actual/realized HE for Free Bet is lower than the sometimes estimated 2-5% actual/realized HE for regular black jack? Sure there are still going to be the people who refuse to hit 13 vs a 10, but there will be a lot more people willing to split and double down for free whereas they wouldn't in a normal game.
Quote: wudgedDo you think it's possible the actual/realized HE for Free Bet is lower than the sometimes estimated 2-5% actual/realized HE for regular black jack? Sure there are still going to be the people who refuse to hit 13 vs a 10, but there will be a lot more people willing to split and double down for free whereas they wouldn't in a normal game.
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyI can't offer an expert opinion, but I don't see how the .58% HE for Free Bet Blackjack at Mohegan Sun will result in a lower than estimated hold for the game. Average players don't even exercise basic strategy for standard BJ: I don't imagine the average player will do any better at FBBJ. ... ... ...
These are good points raised and it's something that an inventor has to consider when coming up with a final house edge for the game. 'Blackjack Switch', coincidentally, also has a house edge of 0.58% for the 6-deck game. However, players will increase the hold % more in that game rather than Free Bet due to the addition of 'Switch' errors on top of normal play.
If players learn to always split and double in Free Bet then it takes away the doubling and splitting errors associated with regular Blackjack. On the other hand, if you do not hit 15's and 16's in a 'Push 22' game then this hurts the player far more than in a regular game. Furthermore, players that do not take a free split or double are severely hurting their e.v - worse than standing on 15 even.
Hypothetically, a 'horrible' game, for both, casino and players, would be one where you had a rule that if the dealer showed a 7 up then you had to hit until you got to 17. The novice players would hate that rule as they would feel that they are being restricted in their choice and the casinos would hate the rule as their hold % would decrease.
Part of the analysis I did for Free Bet was looking at various standards of playing ability and measuring the effect on the e.v. The results showed that the bad plays compensated for the reduced doubling and splitting errors in the game. Furthermore, players seem to stay longer at the table, as they are enjoying the free bets, and this will help to increase the hold % overall.
Quote: SwitchPart of the analysis I did for Free Bet was looking at various standards of playing ability and measuring the effect on the e.v. The results showed that the bad plays compensated for the reduced doubling and splitting errors in the game.
That is exactly what I was trying to ask, but didn't word it properly. Interesting to know that you already had this analysis done ahead of time. Thank for the reply!
This is what a pro designer does, differentiating themselves from the amateurs.Quote: wudgedInteresting to know that you already had this analysis done ahead of time. Thank for the reply!
Good plays may be an issue, too. I expect my sobriety will be questioned when I put up my own money to double-down on a Free Bet A9 v. 6 hand :-)Quote: Switch... bad [Free Bet] plays compensated for the reduced doubling and splitting errors in the game.
You're gonna love it!Quote: kitties666Gonna go play this @ mohegan today.
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyGood plays may be an issue, too. I expect my sobriety will be questioned when I put up my own money to double-down on a Free Bet A9 v. 6 hand :-)Quote: Switch... bad [Free Bet] plays compensated for the reduced doubling and splitting errors in the game.
Is that a double down on a free bet hand? To do it on a regular you'd need a count of 4 which seems weird to me.
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyGood plays may be an issue, too. I expect my sobriety will be questioned when I put up my own money to double-down on a Free Bet A9 v. 6 hand :-)Quote: Switch... bad [Free Bet] plays compensated for the reduced doubling and splitting errors in the game.
Probably less so than when I don't double my 11v7 at normal BJ. Seriously, 4 double-on-11s in a row gave me A.
And forget about my Freebet run... Took me over 2 shoes to get a double that put me at over 17. (18v20. Sigh.)
Edit: No, soft hands you pay out of pocket for, not free, unless you're somewhere with nonstandard rules or a confused dealer.
That is recommended strategy per WoO Free Bet Blackjack. I am prepared for accusations of "ruining the shoe." A push and loss are the same result on the free bet hand, so more aggressive strategy is called for.Quote: geoffQuote: BleedingChipsSlowlyGood plays may be an issue, too. I expect my sobriety will be questioned when I put up my own money to double-down on a Free Bet A9 v. 6 hand :-)Quote: Switch... bad [Free Bet] plays compensated for the reduced doubling and splitting errors in the game.
Is that a double down on a free bet hand? To do it on a regular you'd need a count of 4 which seems weird to me.
