Free Bet Blackjack is a set of blackjack rules played at a casino table. It has nothing to do with sports betting or online “free bet” offers.
Some doubles and splits are free, in exchange for a dealer 22 being a push. A free part costs nothing if it loses, so taking it never hurts. But because a dealer 22 pushes, you put your own money in less often than in regular blackjack.
The rules and what is free
| Option | Money |
|---|---|
| Doubling a hard 9, 10 or 11 (first two cards) | Free (Free Double) |
| Doubling any other two-card hand | Your own |
| Splitting any pair except tens | Free (Free Split) |
| Splitting 10,10 | Your own |
- For a free part the dealer places a “Free Bet” marker beside your bet. It is paid the same amount if it wins and costs nothing if it loses
- Under the published standard rules, split hands can Free Double and Free Split too, up to 4 hands
- When the dealer makes 22, every remaining hand pushes (Push 22). Your blackjack is still paid
Example. You bet 10 on a hard 11 against a dealer 10. Free Double and take one card.
| Result | Win or loss |
|---|---|
| You make 21, the dealer has 18 | +20 (your 10 and the free 10 both win) |
| You make 16, the dealer has 20 | −10 (only your own bet loses; the free part costs nothing) |
| You make 16, the dealer has 22 | 0 (push) |
The full rules are in the rules guide, “Blackjack (Free Bet)”.
Basic strategy hands that change
The standard advice is to take every free double and free split. A free part costs nothing if it loses, so taking it never hurts.
Because a dealer 22 pushes, you put your own money in less often than in regular blackjack.
| Hand | Regular | Free Bet |
|---|---|---|
| Hard 12 against a 4 | Stand | Hit |
| Hard 13 against a 2 | Stand | Hit |
- The only soft doubles with your own money are A,5 against a 6, A,6 against a 5 or 6, and A,7 against a 5 or 6
- Always stand on A,8
Hands from a free split have their own chart
A hand made by a free split (a free hand) costs nothing if it loses and gains nothing on a push. Standing to wait for a push is worth little, so these hands have their own chart.
- Hit hard 14 against a 2, and hard 17 against a 7, 8, 9 or ace
- Double soft 18 to 20 against weak cards (the added chips are your own money)
Example. A free hand with hard 17 against a dealer 8. If you stand, a dealer 17 is a push that gains nothing, and 18 or more loses (though you lose nothing either). Drawing to 18–21 gives you more winning outcomes, so hitting is better.
Both charts (hands with your own money and free hands) match the published charts.
House edge
Under the published standard rules (6 decks, H17, DAS, resplit to 4 hands including aces, no surrender, 3:2), the house edge is 1.04%.
A regular 6-deck H17 table (dealer peeks, DAS, double on any two cards, 3:2) comes to 0.627% in this app’s calculation. The rules are not all the same, so compare the two only as a rough guide.
The biggest difference is that a dealer 22 pushes. The free parts do not make up for some dealer busts turning into pushes.
The Push 22 side bet is a separate bet
The Push 22 side bet (pays 11 to 1 when the dealer makes 22) has a large house edge: 11.76% (6 decks, H17). It is a separate bet from the Free Bet rules, and it costs far more than the blackjack game itself (under 1%).
What to check before you sit down
- Does the dealer check the hole card first (hole card, or no hole card)?
- Can you resplit aces, and up to how many hands?
- Can split hands Free Double and Free Split?
- Does blackjack pay 3:2?
Practice in the app
In Casino Edge’s blackjack, set the table rules to Free Bet to practice with that chart and drill. Switch the chart between hands with your own money and free hands with the chips at the top. Tap a cell to see the EV of each action.