Free Bet Blackjack Strategy
Free Bet Blackjack strategy chart and rules. Always take the free double on 9, 10, 11 and the free split, stand less on stiff hands. House edge about 1.0%.
Free Bet Blackjack gives you free doubles and free splits, then takes the value back with the dealer 22 push rule. The result is a game where the correct strategy is noticeably different from the classic chart on our main blackjack strategy page, and where playing the classic chart out of habit costs you money. This page covers the rules, the chart, the plays that change and what the game costs with correct play. It is one of the variants covered in our online blackjack strategy hub.
The figures and chart below are for Evolution's live Free Bet Blackjack: 8 decks, dealer hits soft 17, blackjack pays 3:2. RNG versions and other live studios can use different rules, so check the game's rules panel before you rely on any figure here.
How Free Bet Blackjack works
The base game is ordinary blackjack. You are dealt two cards, the dealer shows one, and you hit, stand, double or split as usual. Three rules are added on top.
Free double. On any hard 9, 10 or 11 you can take a "free" double. The casino puts up the extra stake for you. If the hand wins you are paid on both your original stake and the free stake. If it loses you lose only your original stake. A push returns your stake and the free stake is simply removed.
Free split. On any pair except 10-value cards (10, J, Q, K in any combination) you can take a free split. The casino puts up the stake for the second hand. Resplits are also free, up to four hands in total. Each hand then plays as normal, and a free double is available on any of the split hands that total hard 9, 10 or 11.
Push 22. If the dealer's final total is 22, every player hand still in play is a push instead of a win. The one exception is a player blackjack, which still wins at 3:2. Hands that have already bust lose as normal.
| Situation | Free or paid? | What you risk | What you are paid if it wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double on hard 9, 10 or 11 | Free | Original stake only | Original stake plus the free stake, both at 1:1 |
| Double on any other total (soft hands, hard 8, hard 12 and so on) | Paid | Original stake plus your own double stake | Both stakes at 1:1 |
| Split any pair except 10-value cards | Free | Original stake only | Each winning hand pays 1:1, including the free hand |
| Split 10-value cards | Paid | Original stake plus your own split stake | Each winning hand pays 1:1 |
| Resplit (up to four hands) | Free (non-10 pairs) | Original stake only | Each winning hand pays 1:1 |
| Player blackjack against dealer 22 | n/a | Nothing | 3:2 |
| Any other standing hand against dealer 22 | n/a | Nothing (push) | Nothing (push) |
Keep the dealer 22 rule in view when you read the odds. In a classic 6-deck S17 game the dealer busts about 42% of the time showing a 5 or 6 and about 35% showing a 2. In Free Bet, a share of those busts are 22s that push rather than pay, so the dealer's weakest up-cards are not as weak as the classic chart assumes.
Why the strategy changes
Two things shift the arithmetic.
Free doubles and free splits cost nothing to lose. In classic blackjack you double hard 9 against a dealer 7 only if the extra stake earns more than it risks, which it does not, so you hit. In Free Bet there is no extra stake to risk. If the doubled hand loses you are no worse off than if you had hit and lost. If it wins you collect twice. Any time the free double or free split is offered, taking it is at worst a free roll and usually a clear gain. The same logic applies to a free split of 4,4 against a 10 or 7,7 against an ace, hands you would never split for your own money.
Dealer 22 is a push, so dealer busts are worth less to you. The reason you stand on hard 13 against a dealer 2 in classic blackjack is that the dealer busts often enough to make waiting the better option. In Free Bet, a dealer who draws to 22 does not pay you, so the value of standing on a stiff hand drops. Hitting, with its chance of improving the hand, becomes comparatively better. That is why hard 12 stands only against 5 and 6 here, and hard 13 hits against a 2.
The third, smaller, effect is that paid doubles become worse. A paid double on soft 17 against a dealer 3 is borderline in classic blackjack. With the dealer 22 push shaving the win rate, it tips to a hit. So paid doubles are kept only where the dealer is weakest, against 5 and 6.
The Free Bet Blackjack chart
The charts below were checked against the published Wizard of Odds Free Bet Blackjack reference. Its stated rules are six decks, dealer hits soft 17, blackjack 3:2, double on two cards, double after split, free doubles on hard 9 to 11, free resplits to four hands and no surrender. Dealer 22 pushes. The reference house edge is 1.04%.
The Evolution game discussed above typically uses eight decks. These are the published six-deck reference charts, not a separately verified chart for every eight-deck provider variant. Check the table's actual rules before applying them.
Use the real-stake chart for a hand carrying your own wager. Use the free-stake chart for a hand carrying only the free split token. A push on a free stake earns nothing, so the strategies differ.
Key: H hit; S stand; FD free double; D paid double, otherwise hit; Ds paid double, otherwise stand; FP free split.
Real-stake hand: hard totals
| Hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to 8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
| 9 to 11 | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD |
| 12 | H | H | H | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 13 | H | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 14 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 15 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 16 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 17+ | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Real-stake hand: soft totals
| Hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A,2 to A,4 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
| A,5 | H | H | H | H | D | H | H | H | H | H |
| A,6 | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
| A,7 | S | S | Ds | Ds | Ds | S | H | H | H | H |
| A,8 to A,10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Free-stake hand: hard totals
| Hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 to 8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
| 9 to 11 | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD |
| 12 | H | H | H | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 13 | H | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 14 | H | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 15 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 16 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 17 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | S | H |
| 18+ | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Free-stake hand: soft totals
| Hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A,2 to A,4 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
| A,5 | H | H | H | H | D | H | H | H | H | H |
| A,6 | H | H | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
| A,7 | H | D | D | D | D | S | H | H | H | H |
| A,8 | S | S | S | Ds | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| A,9 | S | S | S | S | Ds | S | S | S | S | S |
| A,10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Pairs, both stake types
| Hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A,A | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP |
| 2,2 | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP |
| 3,3 | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP |
| 4,4 | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP |
| 5,5 | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD | FD |
| 6,6 | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP |
| 7,7 | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP |
| 8,8 | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP |
| 9,9 | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP | FP |
| 10,10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Do not split 5,5. Treat it as hard 10 and take the free double. Do not split 10,10. After splitting, identify which hand carries the original stake and which carries a free token before using the appropriate chart.
The plays that differ from classic blackjack
| Situation | Free Bet reference play | Why the stake type matters |
|---|---|---|
| Hard 9, 10 or 11, any dealer | Free double | No extra real stake is risked |
| Hard 12 v 4 | Hit | A dealer 22 pushes rather than paying a win |
| Hard 13 v 2 | Hit | Waiting for a dealer bust is worth less |
| Hard 14 v 2 | Stand on real stake; hit on free stake | A push earns nothing on a free token |
| Hard 17 v 7, 8, 9 or A | Stand on real stake; hit on free stake | Free-token hands need to win, not push |
| A,5 v 6 | Paid double, otherwise hit | This paid double remains in the published H17 chart |
| A,7 v 4 | Paid double, otherwise stand on real stake | Paid soft-hand doubles are not limited to dealer 5 or 6 |
| A,8 v 5 or A,9 v 6 | Paid double, otherwise stand on free stake | The real-stake chart stands instead |
House edge and side bets
With the chart above and Evolution's rules (8 decks, dealer hits soft 17, 3:2 blackjack), Free Bet Blackjack has a house edge of about 1.0%, which is an RTP of about 98.5%. That is roughly double the edge of a typical UK six-deck game played with basic strategy, where the figure is about 0.5% under no hole card rules. In money terms, at £10 a hand and 60 hands an hour, the expected loss is about £6 an hour in Free Bet against about £3 in the classic UK game. The actual result in any given hour will usually be a long way from either number, because house edge is a long-run average and no strategy guarantees a win.
Where the extra cost comes from is worth understanding. The free doubles and free splits are genuinely worth something to you. The dealer 22 push takes back more than they give. If you play the classic chart in Free Bet, refusing free doubles on 9 against a 7 or free splits of 7,7 against a 10, the edge climbs higher still, because you are paying the push 22 tax without collecting the compensation.
The side bets are a separate matter. Evolution's table usually offers Any Pair, 21+3, Hot 3 and Bust It, and other studios offer similar bets under different names. These carry house edges of several per cent each, several times the edge on the main hand, and no strategy decision affects them. If your aim is to lose as little as possible per hour, leave them alone. For the arithmetic behind the main game figures see our blackjack odds and house edge page.
For a conventional game without free bets or the dealer-22 push rule, use our blackjack strategy charts and UK blackjack strategy guide. Do not apply those conventional charts to Free Bet Blackjack.
Frequently asked questions
Is Free Bet Blackjack better than classic blackjack?
Not for your bankroll. With correct strategy the house edge is about 1.0%, against about 0.5% for a typical UK six-deck game. The free doubles and splits make the game feel generous and add variance, but the dealer 22 push more than pays for them. If you enjoy the format, play it with the chart above; if you want the lowest edge, play classic rules.
Should I always take the free double?
Yes. On hard 9, 10 or 11 the free double risks nothing extra and pays double when it wins, so it is correct against every dealer up-card including a 10 and an ace. Paid doubles are a separate decision and depend on whether the hand carries your original stake or a free token. Use the appropriate soft-total chart rather than applying the free-double rule to soft hands.
Should I always take the free split?
Yes, for every eligible pair against every up-card, including A,A and 8,8 against an ace. The free hand costs you nothing. 10,10 is not eligible and should not be split for your own money. 5,5 is not split either; it is played as hard 10 and takes the free double.
What happens when the dealer gets 22?
Every player hand still standing is a push and the stake is returned, except a player blackjack, which is paid at 3:2. Hands that bust before the dealer drew to 22 have already lost. This is the rule that funds the free bets and is the main reason stiff hands stand less often in this game.
Can you count cards in Free Bet Blackjack?
In principle yes, since it is dealt from a shoe. In practice the 8-deck shoe, the higher starting edge of about 1.0% and the shallow penetration of live-dealer tables make it a poor target, and the index numbers from our card counting page do not transfer directly because the dealer 22 rule changes the value of standing. Treat it as a basic strategy game.
Where is Free Bet Blackjack available in the UK?
Evolution's live Free Bet Blackjack is carried by most UKGC-licensed online casinos with a live casino section, and some operators also offer RNG versions. Rules can vary between versions, in particular whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17 and which pairs qualify for free splits, so read the rules panel at the table before applying this chart.