Free Bet Blackjack

Quote: ruascott

Yes and at casino royale I believe.

Are either games offered anywhere in Indiana?

I'm not sure about Free Bet but 'Switch' is in Harrah's Hammond. I'll see if I can find out if it's placed anywhere else in Indiana.

Quote: Switch

I'm not sure about Free Bet but 'Switch' is in Harrah's Hammond. I'll see if I can find out if it's placed anywhere else in Indiana.

Thanks. I play at the Ohio river casinos, any down south would be great.

It used to be at Hollywood Casino but I'm not sure if it's still there. Also, Rising Sun did have the game but again I'm not sure what the current situation is.

Can someone comment on the doubling of more than two cards? Someone brought this game up on another forum and it made me go back to the Wizard's page to investigate. I've NEVER been given the option of free doubling on a 9, 10 or 11 consisting if more than two cards when I played. I didn't even know that was a possibility.

Looking at the Wizard's site:


Rule Variants

Following are the effects of some possible rule variants. The effects are the change in the player's expected return.
•Player may do free split on pair of tens: +0.24%.
•Dealer stands on soft 17: +0.22%.
•Eight decks: +0.02%.
•No re-splitting aces: -0.08%.
•No surrender allowed: -0.21%.
•No doubling on three or more cards: -0.60%.

Free Doubling on any number of cards was used in the first version installed at The Golden Nugget. It was removed as the edge was too low on the game when 'Surrender' was also included.

Mike's analysis shows the effect on the player's return so not allowing the doubling on more than 2 cards will subtract 0.6% from the player's expected return.

Unfortunately looking through this thread and the woo page, I'm confused on what the house edge at the mgm properties actually are. It looks like what Jim Rockford wrote earlier, 1.15%. Is that correct? Higher than I first realized. :(

Quote: tringlomane

Unfortunately looking through this thread and the woo page, I'm confused on what the house edge at the mgm properties actually are. It looks like what Jim Rockford wrote earlier, 1.15%. Is that correct? Higher than I first realized. :(

Not far off. Basically, the main versions out there all only allow 2-card Free Doubles. The differences, with house edge in brackets are:-

Allow Surrender and re-split Aces (0.81%)
Allow re-split Aces but no Surrender i.e. MGM Properties (1.02%)
No Surrender or re-split of Aces (1.10%)

Hope this helps.

Quote: Switch

Not far off. Basically, the main versions out there all only allow 2-card Free Doubles. The differences, with house edge in brackets are:-

Allow Surrender and re-split Aces (0.81%)
Allow re-split Aces but no Surrender i.e. MGM Properties (1.02%)
No Surrender or re-split of Aces (1.10%)

Hope this helps.

So no rooms offer the free double on any cards anymore? Also, I did a blackjack survey this week and noticed many more installs than this time last year. Four alone at Casino Royale, although it was 6-5. I believe that was only place I saw 6-5 Free Bet but I would have to go back in my notes.

Does anyone know which casinos (if any) allow surrender on Free Bet in Vegas?

No, just the 2-card Free doubles available now and Casino Royale along with the Single Deck game at The Golden Nugget are the only places with 6/5. More installations to follow early next year but currently, in Nevada, the game is at:-

Golden Nugget (2 tables)
The D
Venetian (2 tables)
Palazzo (2 tables)
Casino Royale (4 tables)
Mirage
New York New York
Arizona Charlie’s Boulder
Eureka (Mesquite)
Aria