Playtech Free Chip Blackjack best strategy

Other than the free chip mechanic, Playtech's new game Free Chip Blackjack changes the rules thusly:

If the dealer shows a 10 value and busts, all non BJ surviving hands push
If the player stands on a 2 card 17 and dealer gets 17 player wins.
If the player stands on any 17 and dealer busts, it pushes.

Given these restrictions what's the best play against a dealer 10 if there are no free chip opportunities this round?
What's the best play on soft 17 versus a dealer 7?

Soft 17 against a 7 has to be stand.

From another website, someone wrote this about the basic rules.

Quote:

Dealer advantage: Dealer hands of 22+ with a 10 value dealer upcard or player 17 push.
Player advantage: Hit on split aces, player 2 card 17 beats dealer 17, free chips

Free chips can be taken from any hard 9-11 double or any non 10 card split. They cost nothing but pay out as normal if they win.

This seems to be 90% based on Geoff Hall's FreeBet. I'm wondering if he's behind it, or if they're ripping off his IP.

Quote: beachbumbabs

From another website, someone wrote this about the basic rules.
This seems to be 90% based on Geoff Hall's FreeBet. I'm wondering if he's behind it, or if they're ripping off his IP.

Hi beachbumbabs,

I can tell you is not Geoff Hall's game and he is not behind it.

Nothing says fun like pushing when the dealer busts.

Quote: MrCasinoGames

Hi beachbumbabs,

I can tell you is not Geoff Hall's game and he is not behind it.

Stephen,

Is it yours, then? Or someone else's?

Quote: beachbumbabs

Stephen,

Is it yours, then? Or someone else's?

Hi beachbumbabs,
No, It is not My.

I know it is not Geoff Hall's game, Because if it is his, he will have told me already.

The Blackjack game I have, that is anywhere near FREE-Bet Blackjack is Top-Up® Blackjack™ (aka FREE-Match Blackjack™) that does not use any Bust-PUSH Rules, and use Real-Money and not Gold-Coins.

Top-Up® Blackjack™ RULES: http://bit.ly/2uplIDp
* Top-Up® Blackjack™ is a liberal version of Blackjack which matches 1/2 the cost of Players Split and Doubles, in Real Money. http://bit.ly/2uplIDp

BTW. I have forword this post to Geoff Hall.

Quote: MrCasinoGames

Hi beachbumbabs,
No, It is not My.

I know it is not Geoff Hall's game, Because if it is his, he will have told me already.

The Blackjack game I have, that is anywhere near FREE-Bet Blackjack is Top-Up® Blackjack™ (aka FREE-Match Blackjack™) that does not use any Bust-PUSH Rules, and use Real-Money and not Gold-Coins.

Top-Up® Blackjack™ RULES: http://bit.ly/2uplIDp
* Top-Up® Blackjack™ is a liberal version of Blackjack which matches 1/2 the cost of Players Split and Doubles, in Real Money. http://bit.ly/2uplIDp

BTW. I have forword this post to Geoff Hall.

Yeah, thanks, Stephen. I PM'd him too. Hope he'll check in the next day or two.

I think this game maybe countable, if is ply in a land-based casino without using a shuffing machine.

Hi Steve, Barbara,

Thanks for the notification on this. I'm very disappointed with Playtech as they had an opportunity to license FreeBet before I sold all of the rights to Scientific Games. It seems as though they have used my free bet concept and devised their own way of compensating the dealer. I don't believe that this compensating rule is anywhere near as good as the 'Push 22' as the player is in an awful position whenever the dealer has a 10 showing. I also believe that this version would be more countable in a land-based environment.

I'm hoping that this does not start a trend for operators, whether land-based or online, to take out a nice feature and then work on their own way to complete the game. Playtech will end up costing themselves money IMO as they will have a weaker game installed and the license fee that they would pay Shuffle Master would be covered by the added interest gained by offering a game that is now well known and popular.

Evolution Gaming will be offering FreeBet on a live dealer platform and that game will be launched in May. I wish them every success as they have acquired the game using honorable methods and have licensed the necessary ip.

In my opinion, Playech have always been difficult to deal with and they will look to grasp every penny they can using any means that are not illegal but highly questionable morally as far as I'm concerned. This Free Chip concoction that they have devised underlines their willingness to avoid paying any royalty fees in return for having an inferior game on their website.

I will be writing to Playtech about this but it normally takes them around 3 months to respond to my emails unless it's something that they want.

Quote: Switch

Evolution Gaming will be offering FreeBet on a live dealer platform and that game will be launched in May. I wish them every success as they have acquired the game using honorable methods and have licensed the necessary ip.

Evolution Gaming's Live-Dealer FREE-Bet Blackjack. will be launched in May.

Switch, I'm gathering from this conversation you're the owner of Power Blackjack. That was my favouritist game ever! Can I ask why it's no longer available, as far as I can tell, in any UK facing online casino: I loved that game and really miss it. Also, based on this conversation I may stop playing "Free Chip Blackjack" as it seems the workaround was dodgy.

A very quick look (i.e. I haven't double checked anything, using infinite decks, UK rules and s17) means
Hit 3+card 17s vs A 8 or 9
Stand on 2-card soft 17s vs 2-7, hit soft 17 vs A 8 9 T.
Stand on 12 vs 3
Stand on A7 vs A (probably because the value of 3-card 17 is less than normal)
Dont split 2's or 3's vs 2
Split 9's vs 7 (presumably to try for 98 - I'm assuming the bonus of 2-card 17s apply after a split).
Split 7's vs 8 (presumably because 2-card 17's are worth more)
Soft doubles A8 vs 6 yes, A2 vs 6 no.
House edge seemed terrible, but then that's not the aim of my spreadsheet.

Quote: charliepatrick

A very quick look (i.e. I haven't double checked anything, using infinite decks, UK rules and s17) means
Hit 3+card 17s vs A 8 or 9
Stand on 2-card soft 17s vs 2-7, hit soft 17 vs A 8 9 T.
Stand on 12 vs 3
Stand on A7 vs A (probably because the value of 3-card 17 is less than normal)
Dont split 2's or 3's vs 2
Split 9's vs 7 (presumably to try for 98 - I'm assuming the bonus of 2-card 17s apply after a split).
Split 7's vs 8 (presumably because 2-card 17's are worth more)
Soft doubles A8 vs 6 yes, A2 vs 6 no.
House edge seemed terrible, but then that's not the aim of my spreadsheet.

Dealer hits Soft 17 if that makes a difference, I should have mentioned that.
Also, your analysis is neglecting the free chip mechanic. I think all possible splits, (except 55 and TT), should be taken as they are free and I'd be surprised if that's not the case.

Otherwise, nice info cheers.

I remember Playtech from my online days, 2001 thru 2006. At the time, I used to listen to Casinomeister religiously. I trusted Casinomeister very much, felt he had utmost integrity. I do remember, vaguely, that he had a working relationship with Playtech and something broke down. He typically gives casinos, operators, software companies a thumbs up or down, and has his own "Accredited List". I don't remember the details, so long ago, but my memory seems to tell me that Playtech had some credibility issues.

One thing I do remember is that some Playtech casinos were great to play at, and others not so much. I see it as a reflection on the software provider when their client casinos are not "policed". Kinda like RTG, some of theirs were great, some were outright crooks. No policing at all. Regarding Playtech, I stopped playing at their casinos when there was any hint of trouble. It's too bad, they seemed to have so much potential. Anyway, I'm in the United States so I would not be playing them now anyway.

Quote: questionmaster

Switch, I'm gathering from this conversation you're the owner of Power Blackjack. That was my favouritist game ever! Can I ask why it's no longer available, as far as I can tell, in any UK facing online casino: I loved that game and really miss it. Also, based on this conversation I may stop playing "Free Chip Blackjack" as it seems the workaround was dodgy.

Hi QM, yes I invented 'Power Blackjack' although that game was only ever licensed to Wagerworks unless Playtech had their own version? 'Power Blackjack' uses the 'push 22' rule and allowed power splits and doubles.

The problem nowadays is that there are so many games around it is difficult to break through and become a must-have game. This will make it even more difficult if companies take bits of a game, or concept, and add their own twist to it. The outcome is that you end up with a selection of close-copy games with none of them really making a breakthrough.

This. in turn, will make it so difficult for new inventors to spend time and money trying to create a new concept as they either burn money if it's not a success of suffer having a close copy made of their game if it is a success. Therefore, their just rewards are severely diluted due to the myriad of copies that are floating around.

Big companies, like Playtech, who have gained greatly due to placing inventors' games on their sites, should be among the first to honor the no-copy system rather than finding ways to skirt round paying a license fee.

OK, I've gone back and played a few games. (I suspect some people here won't approve, but it's a good game, better than Evolution's version and brick and mortar play is not an option for me.)

One sitch that comes up relatively regularly and I'm unsure how to play is hard 9 versus dealer 10 (both as the main hand or on a free split).

Double down on main hand: hand costs 1 unit, dealer win=0 units back, dealer push/bust= 1 unit back, player win=3 units back
Double down on split hand: hand costs 0 units, dealer win/push/bust=0 units back, player win=2 units back.
Hit on split hand: hand costs 0 units, dealer win/push/bust=0 units back, player win=1 unit back.

Since the dealer pushes on a bust and on a free split a push is as bad as a loss, I'm assuming a hit is better than a free double on a free split, but it's still better to go for a free double on 9 v 10 on the main hand. I don't have the analytical skill to crunch the numbers myself though, so is anybody able to see what the best solution is here please?

Slightly off topic, but nevertheless:

Switch, you mention above that you sold Freebet to Scientific Games. Does that mean that we might see that game in more (live) places going forward?

I loved FreeBet when it was at Mohegan Sun. I still have my FreeBet token. It was at Mohegan for such a short time that I don't think the casino gave it enough of a trial, plus Mohegan is famous for throwing dealers into new games with absolutely no training. I remember players telling dealers how to deal the game, and I think that dealer unhappiness added to its demise. When I go to Las Vegas I play it often in the D.

Anyhow, any chance of Scientific Games bringing into places where their Stadium Blackjack is already there?