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Evolution Free Bet Blackjack

Evolution free bet blackjack

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What is Free Bet Blackjack?

Free Bet Blackjack is an alternative version of Blackjack, where players get Free Bets on specific Doubles and Splits during the game round.

The other significant difference with the Free Bet blackjack rules is when the dealer busts with a 22.

In this scenario, a dealer 22 will push all winning players’ hands rather than pay them for beating the dealer.

This rule change is how the casino can afford to pay for the Free bets. Nothing is ever Free!

Live Dealer, Free Bet Blackjack is a cracking game as games go.

The fact you get free bets feels like you’re getting something for nothing (that, of course, is not true!).

I’ve found the game to be entertaining and engaging. I can see why it’s so popular in Las Vegas land-based casinos.

Evolution has produced two versions, Seven-Seat Free Bet and Infinite Free Bet, so you have two choices to play.

Free Split and Double

Video Review of Free Bet Blackjack

If you’re bored of reading, try watching my Free Bet Blackjack video review. I explain how the game is played, demonstrate the Free Bets, and how the side bets work.

freebet blackjack video

evolution free bet blackjack

How is Free Bet Blackjack different from regular Blackjack?

It’s important to understand that blackjack free bet rules differ from regular Live dealer Blackjack.

First, it’s important to point out that you should still use the basic blackjack strategy to maintain an optimum chance of winning.

So let’s look at what’s the same and different between Free Bet and regular Blackjack.

Similarities between Free Bet and regular Blackjack

  • Both games use a shoe with eight decks of cards.
  • The game plays Vegas Rules (where the dealer gets two cards).
  • The dealer peeks for Blackjack.
  • The dealer stands on all 17’s (Hard and Soft).
  • You can Double Down on your initial two cards.
  • You can Split any pair.
  • Split Aces only get one card.
  • No Doubles on Splits.
  • Blackjack pays 3:2; insurance pays 2:1.

Differences

  • Free double-down bet if the first two cards equal 9, 10 or 11.
  • Free Split Bet on Split pairs.
  • When the dealer busts on 22, all winning player hands are “Pushed”, i.e. Bet returned to the player.
  • The side bets for Infinite Free Bet are 21+3, Hot3, BustIT and Any Pairs.
  • Seven Seat Side Bets are 21+3, Bet Behind and Perfect Pairs.

What’s Special about Evolution Free Bet Blackjack

Evolution Gaming has created two versions of Freebet Blackjack.

The first uses their Infinite Blackjack table to create a one-to-many version of this game.

Rather than being limited to 7 Seats, Live Dealer Free Bet Blackjack can be played by an unlimited number of players. The cool thing is each player can play the hand their way, with other players’ decisions not affecting the outcome of their hand.

Also present is the option to play up to 4 Side Bets alongside the main hand.

One of them, “Bust It”, almost acts as insurance for the new “Dealer pushes on 22” rule.

The second version is Seven-Seat Free Bet Blackjack, where you play alongside six other players. The game is not as fast as Infinite FreeBet, but it gives you control over your hand. All the rules are the same in both versions.

How to Play Evolution Free Bet Blackjack

The game begins with the player placing a bet on the table. You can play four optional side bets can be played alongside the main hand.

If you’re planning on playing them, now is the time to place the bets.

Once the betting window has counted down, the dealer will signal No More Bets and deal the first two cards to the Player and Dealer positions.

When the Dealers Up Card is an Ace

If the dealer shows an Ace, he will offer the table the Insurance bet.

The dealer then peeks at his hand. The game is over if he has a Blackjack, and all bets are lost. Players who took the Insurance Bets get paid 2:1.

No Dealer BJ

If there is no Blackjack or the first card isn’t an Ace, Players can make a playing decision from one of the following:

  • Hit – The player can take an additional card to reach 21. You make your decision based on instinct, experience or knowledge of Basic Strategy.
  • Stand – The player decides to take no more cards, believing he can’t improve his hand.
  • Double – the player can double his Bet and take one additional card. The Double is provided as a Free Bet if the initial hand value is 9, 10 or 11.
  • Split – You can split a hand if it contains a pair. If you split a hand that’s not 10s, the Bet is a Free Bet.

When all players have completed their choices, the dealer reveals his hand and compares the two hands.

  • When both hands have the same value, this is called a Push, and the player gets his initial Bet returned.
  • If the player has a better hand than the dealer, the player is paid 1:1 on his Bet.
  • If the dealer has busted, all winning players are paid even money on their bets.
  • However, if the dealer busts with 22, all winning player hands are pushed, no winnings are paid, and bets get returned to the players.

Win at Free Bet Blackjack
winning at freebet blackjack
playing free bet blackjack

Free Bet Blackjack Side Bets

Depending on which version of free bet blackjack you’re playing, you can play up to four optional side bets alongside the main hand.

They’re not free, but certainly worth playing if you like to add a bit of spice to the game.

Seven Seat Blackjack has these Side Bets.

Any Pair – This pays out if the player’s initial two cards are a pair. Suited Pairs pay 25:1, while a mixed pair pays 8:1.

21+3 – This uses the dealer’s up card and the player’s initial two to form a 3-card poker hand. The best hand is Suited Trips at 100:1, while a Straight Flush Pays 40:1. Trips pay 30:1, while the more common hands of Straight 10:1 and Flush 5:1 complete the payouts.

Hot3 – This pays if the players up cards and the dealers up card total 19, 20 or 21 or is 3 7’s! The payouts vary from even money for a 19, 2:1 for a 20, 4:1 for an unsuited 21, 20:1 for a suited 21 and 100:1 for 3 x 7’s.

BustIt – This is probably my favourite and pays out on the dealer’s number of cards when they Bust out. 3 cards pay 1:1, four cards 2:1, five cards 9:1, six cards 50:1, seven cards 100:1, and 8+ cards 250:1. Remember, in this game, when the dealer busts with a 22, the player’s hands all push, so this bet acts as insurance.

Infinite Free Bet Blackjack has these side bets:

  • 21+3
  • Perfect Pairs
  • Bet Behind – this allows you to bet on other players’ hands. You have to accept the decisions of another player and can choose whether to follow their Splits and Doubles.

free bet blackjack side bets

Free Bet Blackjack Strategy

Is there a strategy for playing Live Dealer Free bet Blackjack?

The simple answer is YES. It’s Blackjack Basic Strategy. Follow it, and you’ll do much better than playing without it.

However, there’s no guarantee that you’re going to win!

A word of caution

Just because you’re being offered a Free Bet for Doubles and Splits doesn’t mean you should always take them.

It may be a free stab at winning, but a basic Strategy should be followed regardless of whether the bet is free or not.

Return to Player (RTP)

Free Bet Blackjack has a return to player (RTP) based on the first hand out of the shoe of 98.45%.

The RTP is lower than the 99.28% offered on the normal Evolution Live Blackjack tables.

The Side Bets RTP return is:

  • BustIt – 94.12%.
  • Hot3 – 94.60%.
  • 21+3 – 96.30%.
  • Any Pair – 95.90%.

As RTPs go, 98.45% isn’t too bad. It’s better than Roulette (97.30%) but worse than regular Blackjack.

Playable Devices

Desktop View

Desktop user Interface for free bet blackjack

Mixed Mode

mixed user interface for free bet blackjack

You can play Free Bet Blackjack on all device types.

Desktop, Tablet and mobile users will find the playing interfaces intuitive to the device you’re playing.

No Free bet Blackjack App is required; you play in your browser. The software does the rest.

For Mobile users, you can lock the orientation if you prefer Landscape or Portrait play.

The mixed mode screen for poor connection speeds auto loads when it detects a problem, so you can continue to play wherever you are. (That’s the marketing blurb. The reality is you’ll experience screen freezes and dropouts if connection speeds are slow).

Summary

It’s refreshing when a new variation of Live Dealer Blackjack is released. Free Bet Blackjack is different, and Evolution has been clever in producing two versions.

It’s a popular game in the larger land-based casinos, especially in Las Vegas. While it offers a lower RTP than the traditional game, which may not suit the high rollers, it’s a game aimed squarely at the regular gambler looking for a bit of fun.

The Evolution version provides just that.

Using the Infinite Blackjack technology with the newer side bets ensures a quick-paced game for an unlimited number of players.

Players that enjoy a slower game can use the Seven-Seat Freebet tables.

The Free Bets add something extra. While using them is easy, it’s not always wise.

The more discerning player will still refer to basic strategy if they want to extend their playtime.

The side bets, well, I play them all! They’re great fun :-)