- King's Bounty Blackjack Rules
- King's Bounty Blackjack Side Bet
- King's Bounty Blackjack
- King's Bounty Game
King’s Bounty Blackjack Before each round of Blackjack play, you can place a King’s Bounty side bet on the designated spot on the table at the same time you make your regular bet. Once the first two cards have been dealt to each Player, the Dealer determines if any Players who made King’s Bounty wagers have two cards totalling 20. END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT. PLEASE READ THIS END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE INSTALLING THE GAME KING’S BOUNTY 2. This End User License Agreement (“EULA”) governs the use of the game KING’S BOUNTY 2 (“Multimedia Product”) currently provided or which will be provided by 1C Online Games Ltd. Or any of its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, its licensors. Blackjack with King’s Bounty, also known as “21”, is one of the most popular games and is rumoured to soon surpass poker as the ‘trendy’ card game in North America. Free Bet Blackjack “Free bets” will be indicated by the placement of a special “free bet” button. If you haven't played King's Bounty or want to try this strategy video game, download it now for free! Published in 1990 by New World Computing, Inc., King's Bounty is still a popular fantasy title amongst retrogamers, with a whopping 4.5/5 rating. King’s Bounty is an optional side wager that will be incorporated into selected Blackjack table games. This bonus considers the first two cards a player receives within a hand of Blackjack.
On This Page
Introduction
Free Bet Blackjack is a blackjack variant by game inventor Geoff Hall. The twist to this one is the player doesn't have to risk his own money when splitting or doubling (most of the time). It is like playing with a generous boyfriend at the table who makes all the supplemental bets for you and lets you keep the winnings. What is the catch? Like in Geoff's other game, Blackjack Switch, if the dealer gets a 22, all bets left standing push.
The game opened for business on June 20, 2012 at the Golden Nugget. I went down for the game's debut and found the table full of people enjoying the game. The strategy is simpler and offers more doubles and splits than conventional blackjack. Gamblers who find the basic strategy of conventional blackjack too complicated to memorize may take relief in the simplicity of Free Bet Blackjack.
Rules
The rules have changed since the game launched at the Golden Nugget. It is my understand that the rules below are now the norm. The game is based on standard blackjack, with the following rules:- Six decks
- Dealer hits soft 17's
- Blackjacks pay 3 to 2
- Double after split allowed
- Double on two cards only
- Re-split pairs up to four hands, including aces
- No surrender
The game introduces two major rule changes:
- 'Free Doubles' on hard totals of two-card total of 9, 10, or 11. Regular doubles are still allowed on all other two-card hands. With a 'free double,' the player's original wager is matched with a 'free bet' button and the player receives one additional card. At the end of the hand:
- If the dealer wins, the player loses his original wager only.
- If the hand results in a push, the player gets back his original wager only.
- Otherwise, if the player wins, the player gets back his original wager plus winnings equal to double that wager.
- 'Free Splits' on all pairs except 10's. With a 'free split,' the player's two cards are divided into two one-card hands. The player's original wager is placed with the first hand and a 'free bet' button is placed with the second hand. The player plays out each hand one at a time and is entitled to a 'free double' or 'free split' on both hands. For winning hands, each 'free bet' button is replaced with real chips equaling the original wager. On hands resulting in a player loss or push, the dealer takes back the 'free bet' button.
- Dealer pushes on 22. If the player has 21 or less and the dealer busts with 22, then the player's wager is a push.
Basic Strategy
Strategy depends on whether you are playing a real money bet or a free bet. There is a difference because a push is just as bad as a loss on a Free Bet, thus causing a more aggressive strategy. The following three tables show the strategy for a real money hand, free bet hand, and pairs respectively.
If you remember just one thing about the strategy, accept every free double and free split opportunity.
House Edge
The house edge under the standard rules above is 1.04%.
Rule Variants
Following are the effects of some possible rule variants. The effects are the change in the player's expected return. The figures below with a (SH) were taken with permission from Discount Gambling. The ones with a (Wiz) were calculated by me. It is interesting that the greater the number of decks, the better the odds for the player, which is the opposite of conventional blackjack. I assume it is because there is more free-splitting with more decks, due to a lesser effect of non-replacement.
- Free doubles with three or more cards (DG): +0.66%.
- Dealer stands on soft 17 (DG): +0.31%.
- Late surrender allowed (DG): +0.21%.
- One deck: -0.14% (Wiz).
- Two decks: -0.06% (Wiz).
- Eight decks: +0.01% (Wiz,DG).
- No re-splitting aces (DG): -0.08%.
- No free re-splits on a pair of fours (DG): -0.27%.
- No re-splitting 2-9: -0.32% (DG).
- No double or free-double after a split (DG): -0.70%.
- Blackjack pays 6 to 5: -1.36% (Wiz).
Pot of Gold
I have heard reports that some casinos offer a side bet called Pot of Gold, which is based on the number of Free Bet tokens the player accumulates per initial hand. The Washington Gambling Commission lists two Pot of Gold pay tables. Following is my analysis of both of them. These tables were based on a random simulation. The lower right cells show a house edge of 5.77% on pay table 1 and 4.64% on pay table 2.
Pot of Gold — Pay Table 1
| Tokens | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1000 | 0.000002 | 0.002026 |
| 6 | 300 | 0.000027 | 0.008140 |
| 5 | 100 | 0.000194 | 0.019445 |
| 4 | 60 | 0.000847 | 0.050799 |
| 3 | 30 | 0.003866 | 0.115973 |
| 2 | 10 | 0.013488 | 0.134884 |
| 1 | 3 | 0.148155 | 0.444466 |
| 0 | -1 | 0.833420 | -0.833420 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.057686 |
Pot of Gold — Pay Table 2
| Tokens | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 100 | 0.000002 | 0.000203 |
| 6 | 100 | 0.000027 | 0.002713 |
| 5 | 100 | 0.000194 | 0.019445 |
| 4 | 50 | 0.000847 | 0.042333 |
| 3 | 30 | 0.003866 | 0.115973 |
| 2 | 12 | 0.013488 | 0.161861 |
| 1 | 3 | 0.148155 | 0.444466 |
| 0 | -1 | 0.833420 | -0.833420 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.046426 |
The player can lower the house edge on the Pot of Gold by splitting fives instead of doubling, at the detriment of the primary wager. If the player splits fives the house edge on the Pot of Gold will be 2.75% under Pay Table 1 and 1.48% under Pay Table 2. Splitting fives, instead of doubling, will increase the house edge on the base wager by 0.15%.
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank Geoff Hall, the inventor, for his cooperation with the rules and sharing the math report. This report is based on a combination of work between Stephen How and me. We are in close agreement on the house edge. The basic strategy and some of the effects of rule variations are the work of Stephen How.
Internal Links
- Original rule card. Please note that doubling on three or more cards is no longer allowed but free splits of fours is. Overall, the old rules were better, of course. Table game rules seldom get better for the player.
Outside Links
- Free Bet Blackjack page at Discount Gambling.
- Free Bet Blackjack Facebook page.
Written by:Michael Shackleford
Object of the Game
To beat the point value of the Dealer’s hand without going over 21.
How to Play
After the bets are placed, each Player receives two cards and the Dealer receives one card. All cards are dealt face up. If the initial two cards you are dealt total 21, you have a Blackjack, which pays 3 to 2 on your bet. If the Dealer also has a Blackjack, you would push (tie). If you do not have a Blackjack and feel the total of your first two cards can beat the Dealer’s total, you would “stand,” meaning you would not draw any additional cards. If you feel you need additional cards to beat the Dealer, you gesture for each new card (“hit”) with your hand until you are satisfied and decide to stand. Once all Players have played their hands, the Dealer will complete his or her hand. If the Dealer has a soft* 17 or less, he or she must draw additional cards until a hard** 17 or more is reached. If the Dealer exceeds 21, all Players who have 21 (or less) win. Otherwise the Dealer compares his or her point total to each Player’s. All winning bets are paid even money (one to one).
* A soft hand is a hand that includes an Ace and has two totals, neither of which exceeds 21.
** A hard hand is a hand in which there is no Ace or the Ace counts as one.
The Cards
Face cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) have a value of 10. Numbered cards are worth their face value except Ace, which can count as 1 or 11.
Doubling Down
Players may double down on the original two cards of a hand once. To double down a Player can wager up to the amount of their original wager. When doubling down the Player receives only one card.
Splitting Pairs
If you have two cards of equal value in one hand, you may split them into two separate hands. In order to split, simply place an additional bet, equal to your original bet. With split Aces, you receive only one additional card per hand. You may double down after splitting pairs (with the exception of Aces). You may re-split to a maximum of 4 hands with the exception of Aces (which can only be split once).
Surrender
You can surrender on any original two card hand, with the exception of when the Dealer has and Ace or a 10 value card, you may surrender if the Dealer does not have a Blackjack. When you surrender you receive half of your original wager back.
Insurance
If the Dealer’s first card is an Ace, Players are offered the option of insuring their bets against the possibility of the Dealer’s final hand being a Blackjack. Insurance bets are up to one half of your original bet. If the Dealer’s hand is not a Blackjack, the Player loses his or her insurance bet. If the Dealer’s hand is a Blackjack, the insurance bet is paid two times the amount paid for the insurance. When a Player has a Blackjack they may elect to take even money in lieu of making an insurance wager.
King's Bounty Blackjack Rules
Double Deck
King's Bounty Blackjack Side Bet
The same rules as basic Blackjack however the game is played with 2 decks of cards instead of eight and there is no surrender.
King's Bounty Blackjack
King’s Bounty Blackjack
Before each round of Blackjack play, you can place a King’s Bounty side bet on the designated spot on the table at the same time you make your regular bet. Once the first two cards have been dealt to each Player, the Dealer determines if any Players who made King’s Bounty wagers have two cards totalling 20. This occurs once the first two cards have been dealt and before you act on your hand. After the winners are paid out, the Blackjack game resumes as normal.
King’s Bounty Payable | |
|---|---|
| Two Kings of Spades + Dealers Blackjack | 1,000 to 1 |
| Two Kings of Spades | 100 to 1 |
| Two Suited Kings | 30 to 1 |
| Two Suited 10s Jacks or Queens | 20 to 1 |
| Suited 20 | 9 to 1 |
| Two Kings | 6 to 1 |
| Non-suited 20 | 4 to 1 |
Payout
King's Bounty Game
All winning bets are paid even money except for Blackjack, which pays three to two. When a push (tie) occurs, the Player keeps the original bet. A Blackjack, two cards that equal 21, beats all other combinations of cards that equal 21. A two-card 21 on split hands is not a Blackjack.