free bet blackjack
The game is designed for more casual players who are a bit on the risk-adverse side. Serious card counters can find better blackjack games in many places.
I am just announcing that I updated my Free Bet Blackjack page with the new standard rules. The rules changes since the Golden Nugget opening, that my old page was based on, are:
1. No more double or free doubles with three or more cards.
2. No more surrender.
3. Free splits of fours is allowed.
Under the new rules, the house edge is 1.02%. This comes from the math report by Stephen How of Discount Gambling. Speaking of that site, it still reflects the old Golden Nugget rules.
Quote: WizardSorry to wake up an old thread, but I like to avoid starting new threads wherever I can, when an old one is available.
I am just announcing that I updated my Free Bet Blackjack page with the new standard rules. The rules changes since the Golden Nugget opening, that my old page was based on, are:
1. No more double or free doubles with three or more cards.
2. No more surrender.
3. Free splits of fours is allowed.
Under the new rules, the house edge is 1.02%. This comes from the math report by Stephen How of Discount Gambling. Speaking of that site, it still reflects the old Golden Nugget rules.
What exactly does 'No more double or free doubles with three or more cards' mean? Apologies if this seems like a really dumb question, and it's something obvious i'm missing, but i cant get my head around this. Does it mean three or more cards on the same hand, and that the player could previously hit and then double? I've only ever known doubling on on the first two cards. Or is it related to splitting?
ShineyShine, the original version allowed you to have free doubles on any number of cards that totalled 9,10 or 11. This version is no longer available as it reduced the house edge too much, especially if 'Surrender' was included.
Quote: SwitchNice update Mike. This reflects the main version out there now in the US casinos.
Thanks Geoff!
Quote: SwitchNice update Mike. This reflects the main version out there now in the US casinos.
ShineyShine, the original version allowed you to have free doubles on any number of cards that totalled 9,10 or 11. This version is no longer available as it reduced the house edge too much, especially if 'Surrender' was included.
It's too bad the version with the lower house edge is not more popular with casinos. Another way to go might be to increase the minimum bet to $50 for the lower edge version.
I think people focus too much on percentages and not enough on the potential to attract higher stakes gamblers.
Essentially, most casinos are too fearful.
Quote: AhighIt's too bad the version with the lower house edge is not more popular with casinos. Another way to go might be to increase the minimum bet to $50 for the lower edge version.
I think people focus too much on percentages and not enough on the potential to attract higher stakes gamblers.
Essentially, most casinos are too fearful.
As you may know, the game was installed at Mohegan Sun with probably the best rules anywhere, including S17 and surrender. It was yanked after 90 days and I really think they dropped the ball on this one.
What will be great is in 2 years when MS re-installs FBBJ as everyone else around them has the game on the floor. The game works.....and they will figure that out soon enough.
Quote: AhighIt's too bad the version with the lower house edge is not more popular with casinos. Another way to go might be to increase the minimum bet to $50 for the lower edge version.
I think people focus too much on percentages and not enough on the potential to attract higher stakes gamblers.
Essentially, most casinos are too fearful.
It's very rare to get high stakes action at carnie games, no matter what. I'm not sure that it has anything to do with house edge, because roulette is one of the biggest sucker games out there and it gets plenty of high limit action.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceIt's very rare to get high stakes action at carnie games, no matter what. I'm not sure that it has anything to do with house edge, because roulette is one of the biggest sucker games out there and it gets plenty of high limit action.
You will see plenty of people playing black chips at games like let it ride, three card etc...
Not trying to take shots but i dont think that is valid, unless you mean multi thousand bets then... Maybe...
Quote: ParadigmWas it MS that dropped the ball or Bally for not getting in there and telling MS how they could adjust the game rules to increase a low hold, if that was the problem. From what I heard, the players liked the game. You don't pull a game your players like if you can fix the reason you want to pull it in a way that will keep them playing. I am of course completely speculating on why it got pulled......if the players aren't playing a game to begin with.....well I get pulling it.
What will be great is in 2 years when MS re-installs FBBJ as everyone else around them has the game on the floor. The game works.....and they will figure that out soon enough.
I suppose there's plenty of blame to go around. I watched those four tables week in and week out for the duration and I can tell you that the players really enjoyed it. I can also say that these tables had action comparable to the blackjack and Spanish 21 games most of the time. Even with the good rules, Freebet had a higher house edge that the 0.35% blackjack offered at Mohegan Sun. How in the world can they lose money, if that's indeed what happened?
No one get's an A for effort here with dealers and even floors talking disparagingly about the game, the lack of rack cards, apparent lack of support and an overall lack of employee enthusiasm.
Switch still has a couple of Blackjack Switch tables at Foxwoods. Unfortunately they are in the Rainmaker Casino which is now closed during the week.
Quote: mrsuit31You will see plenty of people playing black chips at games like let it ride, three card etc...
Not trying to take shots but i dont think that is valid, unless you mean multi thousand bets then... Maybe...
I very rarely see that, even at large casinos that get lots of black chip action. I'm not saying never, but it is certainly rare. Most of the black-chip action I see is at blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and pai gow (poker & tiles).
There is a reason that they don't put any carnie games in the high limit rooms
Quote: IbeatyouracesAgreed. We stand out playing black at games like TCP, MStud, or any other carnival game.
If I was hole-carding MS Stud I probably would not have the balls to bet black. I'd just hope that green was under the radar enough.
Quote: RambamCasinos make most of their BJ money from player mistakes and/or deviations from basic strategy (i.e., not hitting stiff cards, playing "hunches," etc). A 0.40% BJ game, after player mistakes, probably is closer to a 1% edge game for the casino. Free Bet has many fewer strategic calls, and thus fewer opportunities for player mistakes. So it's possible that, even with a higher base house edge, the casino's effective house edge is lower.
Players don't make that many mistakes at BJ, especially if playing for serious money - more than nickels, - and especially in mature gaming markets....furthermore, all BJ games (except for one round per shuffle games like online games) are vulnerable to AP.
BJ games, especially variants, need a 1% HE, all-in-all (and no matter how we feel about it and gripe here at the board, UNLESS we actually want to bank these games to see for ourselves. I, too, wish it were a perfect world....).
Casinos and Gambling halls need to pay their light bills and dealers' salaries [see the "Tipping Casino Dealers" thread....]
Also, Geoff rightfully deserves compensation for giving the world his stuff.
Quote: SwitchNice update Mike. This reflects the main version out there now in the US casinos.
ShineyShine, the original version allowed you to have free doubles on any number of cards that totalled 9,10 or 11. This version is no longer available as it reduced the house edge too much, especially if 'Surrender' was included.
Ok, that clears it up. Cheers Switch.
Quote: PaigowdanPlayers don't make that many mistakes at BJ, especially if playing for serious money - more than nickels, - and especially in mature gaming markets....furthermore, all BJ games (except for one round per shuffle games like online games) are vulnerable to AP.
BJ games, especially variants, need a 1% HE, all-in-all (and no matter how we feel about it and gripe here at the board, UNLESS we actually want to bank these games to see for ourselves. I, too, wish it were a perfect world....).
Casinos and Gambling halls need to pay their light bills and dealers' salaries [see the "Tipping Casino Dealers" thread....]
Also, Geoff rightfully deserves compensation for giving the world his stuff.
As though my year has not been bad enough, now I have to agree 100% with Dan.
Quote: BuzzardQuote: PaigowdanPlayers don't make that many mistakes at BJ, especially if playing for serious money - more than nickels, - and especially in mature gaming markets....furthermore, all BJ games (except for one round per shuffle games like online games) are vulnerable to AP.
BJ games, especially variants, need a 1% HE, all-in-all (and no matter how we feel about it and gripe here at the board, UNLESS we actually want to bank these games to see for ourselves. I, too, wish it were a perfect world....).
Casinos and Gambling halls need to pay their light bills and dealers' salaries [see the "Tipping Casino Dealers" thread....]
Also, Geoff rightfully deserves compensation for giving the world his stuff.
As though my year has not been bad enough, now I have to agree 100% with Dan.
+1 :-)
