Free Play Coupon

**burney** · 09-23-2016, 05:34 AM

A casino where I play poker will send me free play coupons from time to time. I can play them on any table game and I don't have to play my own money when I do. I'm curious as to what would be the basic strategy changes for this? I obviously have to use my own money for DD and splits.

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 09-23-2016, 05:38 AM

Blackjack is NOT the best game for "free play" coupons.

Baccarat and craps are superior choices.

**stopgambling** · 09-23-2016, 05:44 AM

The "basic" strategy is do not use it on bj.

if it is the usual even money coupon . Just put it on baccarat or something fast and simple and be done with it . that is if you only got a few coupons. If you are not getting 3:2 on bj then it reduce it's value. Look up the info at blackjackforumonline ,I think there is some info by James Grosjean on coupons.

**burney** · 09-23-2016, 05:45 AM

Thanks. I'll check that out

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**ZenMaster_Flash** · 09-23-2016, 05:53 AM

RE: coupons, read this ...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/juh149j2uq...upons.pdf?dl=0

[I believe that this is in the public domain.]

**burney** · 09-23-2016, 05:59 AM

Thanks Zen, I'll check that out. Unfortunately, this casino doesn't have craps or baccarat. It's not in Vegas.
I wasn't clear in my post, this isn't a match play coupon. It's a free coupon, I don't have to play my own money with it. Say it's a $10 coupon, if I win the hand I get $20. That's why I was curious with DD and splits since that would be my own money bet at those times.

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**bigplayer** · 09-23-2016, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by burney

A casino where I play poker will send me free play coupons from time to time. I can play them on any table game and I don't have to play my own money when I do. I'm curious as to what would be the basic strategy changes for this? I obviously have to use my own money for DD and splits.

Blackjack isn't the best game but if it's a coupon that's good until it loses it's not all that much worse than anything else. If BJ pays even money a $100 good til it loses coupon or promo chip is worth around $97.50. Where it gets tricky is if the coupon is a one shot deal win or lose, then blackjack doesn't look as good (your $100 coupon is worth about $48.50 at blackjack if BJ pays even money). Without giving up too much info, think of about a game, perhaps a carnival game, where your coupon pays even money and rarely loses and rarely wins and mostly pushes (because you get to keep it on a push). In that situation your one shot coupon's value begins to approach face value. Likewise, if you can bet odds then your one shot coupon is worth closer to face value the more of a longshot the wager is. For example a one shot $100 coupon is worth $47.37 betting red or black on Roulette. But if you can bet on a single number, say 0 for example, your one shot coupon is worth around $92.00 I remember one casino in Tunica let bet the coupon on anything at craps, even betting the on the 2 or 12 (30 to 1 payoff) so your one shot coupon is worth around $81 What its worth as straight odds behind your line bet would depend on what the point is but probably not anywhere near $81.00.

Getting to your other question, regarding basic strategy changes I can't think of any except to always take even money on a blackjack vs dealer Ace (if they'll let you). If you're gonna get even money anyway so you might as well just take it as a guaranteed payoff. Likewise, if they let you surrender your $100 one shot freebet, you should surrender virtually every negative EV hand, you're locking in $50 on a $100 Coupon worth $47.50 is the smart play. I was trying to think of some other situations where insuring your hand is beneficial but I'm drawing a blank right now.

**Bigdaddy** · 09-23-2016, 06:34 AM

You can lock in the expected value of the coupon if you want -

Let's say you have a $50 free play coupon. Go to the craps table and put it on pass line. Also place $25 on the don't pass and put $1 on the 12 (prop bet - pays 30:1). Do the math - you're a guaranteed winner for slightly less than 50% of the free play coupon ($24 in this case). If the 12 hits, it's slightly more than that ($30)...

Or, if you prefer roulette, do the same thing with red, black and 0, etc...

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 09-23-2016, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by bigplayer

" ... your coupon pays even money and rarely loses and rarely wins and mostly pushes (because you get to keep it on a push)."

Pai Gow Poker ?

**bigplayer** · 09-23-2016, 07:01 AM

Thinking of the Play Bet at 3CP

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**Ryemo** · 09-23-2016, 07:15 AM

Look up Beyond Coupons by James Grosjean. This can be located on Google. It's a PDF file that's about 21 pages long that discusses how to handle free play.

**burney** · 09-23-2016, 08:33 AM

Thanks, but Beyond Coupons didn't deal with what I'm asking.

Here's how the casino does this. They exchange the coupon for chips at the table. I play one hand then leave. My question is do you vary from basic strategy on plays that you normally wouldn't if you were playing with your own money?

For instance, 9v2. BS is to hit, but doubling is +EV. Do you go into your pocket and play your own money? The chips on the table aren't yours.

**Jabberwocky** · 09-23-2016, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by burney

Thanks, but Beyond Coupons didn't deal with what I'm asking.

Here's how the casino does this. They exchange the coupon for chips at the table. I play one hand then leave. My question is do you vary from basic strategy on plays that you normally wouldn't if you were playing with your own money?

For instance, 9v2. BS is to hit, but doubling is +EV. Do you go into your pocket and play your own money? The chips on the table aren't yours.

Bet it Banker with a confederate betting half the amount bet on player.