Strategy Adjustments?

I receive a $50 free bet from a local casino. I use this on blackjack. They allow you to double down/split and put up $50 to do so. Since this is essentially a $25 bet, how should my strategy change?

It seems obvious not to split 8s as often. What else?

Quote: 3for3

I receive a $50 free bet from a local casino. I use this on blackjack. They allow you to double down/split and put up $50 to do so. Since this is essentially a $25 bet, how should my strategy change?

It seems obvious not to split 8s as often. What else?
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Here are the deviations I use while playing a free bet coupon at H17 blackjack:

Stand hard 16 vs 10
Double soft 20 vs 4-6, 19 vs 3-5
Double 9 vs 2, 8 vs 6
Split 10s vs 4-6, 9s vs 7
No split 8s vs 9-Ace; 6s vs 2; 3s vs 2

When using the splitting deviations on re-splits, I revert to basic strategy on the cash hand but continue to use the deviation play on the free bet.

I don’t understand why we would change our strategy on hard 16.

Quote: 3for3

I don’t understand why we would change our strategy on hard 16.
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Hitting/standing on hard 16 vs 10 is a close decision in regular blackjack, so I'm not surprised of this strategy deviation.

I'm using infinite decks for the direct bet calculation. Here are the EVs I get for 16 vs 10:
Hit hard 16 vs 10: EV = -0.265055
Stand hard 16 vs 10: EV = -0.265051

Of course, the EVs would be different for six decks, but the EVs for standing and hitting 16 vs 10 are almost equal. The choice of standing or hitting 16 vs 10 doesn't matter in regular blackjack or playing free bets.

(By the way, I corrected my strategy for splitting 8s with a free bet. We should'nt split 8s vs 9, 10, or Ace.)

Double down when your chances of winning the hand are significantly high—typically when you have a total of 10 or 11, depending on the dealer's upcard. For instance, double down on 11 against a dealer's 2 through 10, and on 10 against a dealer's 2 through 9.

I get that Hit/Stand is close, but what is it about the free bet that changes the strategy?

There are certainly deviations for double down and split (we want to do that more often, since we are essentially tripling down). We don't want to make some of the 'less bad' 8 splits, also as you noted.

Quote: 3for3

I get that Hit/Stand is close, but what is it about the free bet that changes the strategy?

There are certainly deviations for double down and split (we want to do that more often, since we are essentially tripling down). We don't want to make some of the 'less bad' 8 splits, also as you noted.
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I think I figured it out...

If we stand, we never push; if we hit, we can make a hand that does push...