How to Play Live Free Bet Blackjack
If you have ever played Blackjack before then it will take you no time at all to get to grips with Live Free Bet Blackjack. The game is very similar to the standard version and as usual, the aim is for players to build a hand of cards with a value as close to 21 as possible but without exceeding 21 and going bust. At the end of the round, if the player’s hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s is then the player wins.
Hand values are very easy to understand in Blackjack. The numbered cards 2 to 10 are worth their face values, the face cards (Jack, Queen and King) are all worth 10 and Aces are worth 1 or 11. This means that 21 can be formed with just two cards, and Ace and a 10 card. This is called Blackjack and it is the strongest possible hand. In this version of Blackjack, there is one exception to this rule. If the dealer has a hand of 22 then they will push rather than bust. This means that players receive their bets back rather than a winning payout.
At the start of a round players need to place their main bet and any side bets that interest them. In this version of the game, all players are betting on the same hand, but each player is free to make his/her own decisions. Once the betting time has elapsed, the dealer deals two face-up cards to the player position and one face-up and one facedown to the dealer.
At this point, if the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace then players are offered Insurance against the dealer having Blackjack. Insurance costs half of the initial bet and the dealer will immediately check for Blackjack. If the dealer does have Blackjack then Insurance pays at 2:1.
Players then have the standard Blackjack options, but in this version of the game, there are a few differences:
- Hit – The player hand receives an additional card. If it doesn’t send the hand bust then players can hit once again.
- Stand – The hand remains as it is.
- Double – In regular Blackjack, this doubles the bet and the hand receives just one more card before play moves on. However, in this version, the Double bet is free if the player hand has a hard total of 9, 10 or 11 (hard means it does not contain an Ace).
- Split – If the first two cards dealt to a hand are identical then players can split them into two separate hands by placing a second bet equal to the first. However, in this version of Blackjack, splitting a hand is free as long as the cards being split are not worth 10. It is important to note that split hands cannot be doubled and that split Aces receive just one more card.
When all players have finished, the dealer will play their hand. The dealer must draw to 16 and will stand on all 17s.
At the end of a round, winning hands are paid out at 1:1, except for Blackjack, which is paid at 3:2. If the hands are tied then the bet is returned as a push. Furthermore, as noted, if the dealer has 22 then bets are returned as a push.
Live Free Bet Blackjack Special Features
Live Free Bet Blackjack offers four exciting side bets that give players the chance to win even more.
The Any Pair side bet pays out if the player’s first two cards form a pair. Suited pairs will pay at 25:1 while a mixed pair will pay at 8:1.
The 21+3 side bet pays if your initial two cards and the dealer’s first card form a 3 card poker hand. It pays 100:1 for Suited Trips, 40:1 for a Straight Flush, 30:1 for Trips, 10:1 for a Straight and 5:1 for a Flush.
The Hot3 side bets pays if the player’s two up cards and the dealer’s up card have a total of 19, 20 or 21 or are three 7s. It pays even money for 19, 2:1 for 20, 4:1 for unsuited 21, 20:1 for suited 21 and 100:1 for three 7s.
The BustIt side bet is on the number of cards the dealer has when they go bust. It pays 1:1 for three cards, 2:1 for four cards, 9:1 for five cards, 50:1 for six cards, 100:1 for seven cards and 250:1 for eight or more cards.
