Blackjack Side Bets Explained in Plain English
October 09, 2024 Simon Beasor Eliot
Thomas Casino Content Executive
With simple rules and easy-to-learn 🧲 strategies, the
game of blackjack is one of the most popular card games in both Las Vegas Casinos and
online 🧲 casinos around the world.
Blackjack side bets, a popular additional dimension in
the rules of blackjack, can add a layer of 🧲 complexity and risk to any blackjack
game.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the different side bet options, the
🧲 benefits of playing blackjack side bets, how they are structured, and what side bets
pay.
What are Blackjack Side Bets?
Blackjack side 🧲 bets are additional bets placed
during a standard game of Blackjack. They involve predicting which cards the player,
and sometimes 🧲 the dealer will receive.
Wagers are made before any cards are dealt and
each side bet is based on chance rather 🧲 than skill, although you can count cards to
help you choose the most likely combinations for your best side bets.
The 🧲 most common
side bets are Insurance, Perfect Pairs, and 21+3, but there are other side bets to
consider too. Read 🧲 on to find out everything you need to know.
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Why 🧲 Play Blackjack
Side Bets?
One of the most attractive features of the game of Blackjack is the low
house edge compared 🧲 to other games on the casino floor.
Good players will face a house
edge of around 0.5%, and even if you 🧲 play quite badly, that edge low house edge only
rises to around 2%. This means the RTP (return-to-player) rate of 🧲 Blackjack is
excellent compared with other games.
However, while the odds of losing big are low, the
odds of winning can 🧲 also be poor.
Blackjack is mostly an even money game, rising to 2:1
at best if you are dealt a Blackjack.
Side 🧲 bets offer you the chance to play much
longer odds for higher player wins – as much as 5,000:1 in 🧲 the case of some side
bets!
However, it must be noted that the house edge rises significantly for Blackjack
side bets, 🧲 with most bets carrying a house edge of 10% or more.
In other words, side
bets make it a lot easier 🧲 to win big on blackjack but also to lose more money.
The Most
Common Blackjack Side Bets
There are a number of 🧲 common side bets that you will find at
most Blackjack tables.
These are clearly marked with the odds either printed on 🧲 the
Blackjack tables or available as a handout or a side menu in the online casino
version.
Remember to always check 🧲 the pay outs carefully before placing your bets, as
they can vary considerably between different casinos or online sites.
The three 🧲 main
Blackjack side bets are:
Insurance Perfect Pairs 21+3
Insurance Blackjack Side Bet
What
is Insurance in Blackjack? Insurance is the most common 🧲 Blackjack side bet and allows
you to cover yourself against Blackjack if the dealer has an ace face up.
This bet
🧲 involves half of your original stake and pays out at 2:1 if the dealer has Blackjack.
The insurance bet reduces 🧲 the overall house edge.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack Side Bet
What
is Perfect Pairs in Blackjack? The Perfect Pairs side bet uses the 🧲 player’s cards only
and pays out if you are dealt two of a kind as follows:
Mixed pair (two of the 🧲 same
value but different suits and colors) – pays 5:1
Colored pair (two of the same value
and the same color) 🧲 – pays 12:1
Perfect pair (two of the same card) – pays 25:1
The
returns can vary between different Casinos and different 🧲 pay tables, and the house edge
will depend on both the payout and the number of decks used and can 🧲 range from just 2
or 3% up to 11% or more.
21+3 Blackjack Side Bet
What is 21+3 in Blackjack? The 21+3
🧲 side bet involves the player’s two cards and the upturned card of the dealer. It will
pay out for a 🧲 number of different combinations:
Flush – (all cards are suited) – pays
5:1
Straight – (all cards consecutive) – pays 10:1
Three of 🧲 a kind – (not the same
suit) – pays 30:1
Straight flush – (consecutive cards same suit) – pays 40:1
Suited
triple 🧲 – (three of the same card) – pays 100:1
The house edge for the 21+3 side bet
will vary depending on 🧲 the number of decks used, standing at 8.78% for four decks,
7.81% for five decks, 7.14% for six decks, and 🧲 6.29% for seven decks.
Other Blackjack
Side Bets to Look Out For
The Casino industry is highly competitive, and so new side
🧲 bets are being invented all the time to try and attract & retain new Blackjack
players.
Some of these will flourish 🧲 and become widely available, while others remain
niche and can only be found in selected Casinos. Here are a few 🧲 examples:
Royal Match
Side Bet
Pays 5:2 for any suited player’s cards and 25:1 for suited king and
queen
Over/under 13 Side Bet
Pays 🧲 even money for correctly predicting the sum of the
player’s cards as less than or greater than 13. In most 🧲 cases, exactly 13 will lose,
but some Casinos will allow bets on exactly 13.
Super Sevens Side Bet
This bet pays out
🧲 if one or more sevens are dealt in the player’s cards. One seven pays 3:1, two unsuited
sevens pay 50:1, 🧲 and two suited sevens pay 100:1. If the third card dealt is also a
seven, the bet will pay 500:1 🧲 unsuited and 5000:1 suited. However, it is important to
ensure that the Casino will still deal a third card if 🧲 the dealer has a Blackjack, as
some Casinos will not do this.
Lucky Ladies Side Bet
This bet pays out if the 🧲 player’s
cards add up to 20, with an unsuited 20 paying 4:1, a suited 20 paying 10:1, a matched
20, 🧲 same rank and suit pays 25:1, two queens of hearts 200:1 and two queens of hearts
when the dealer has 🧲 Blackjack 1000:1.
Are Blackjack Side Bets Worth Playing?
Blackjack
side bets do not involve any skill, and you are simply betting on 🧲 the luck of the
draw.
Moreover, the returns do not reflect the odds of each bet coming in, which gives
the 🧲 house a significantly larger edge.
Therefore, blackjack side bets are best viewed
as a bit of extra complexity that adds to 🧲 a session at the Blackjack table.
However,
you should not make them the main focus of your gameplay or your wagering, 🧲 and you
should be aware of the significantly increased house edge.
Blackjack Side Bets
FAQs
What are blackjack side bets? Blackjack side 🧲 bets are optional bets that you can
place in addition to your main blackjack bet. They are based on specific 🧲 outcomes or
combinations of cards that may occur during the blackjack game. How do I place a side
bet in 🧲 blackjack? To place a side bet, just place chips in the designated area on the
blackjack table, separate from your 🧲 main bet. The availability of side bets may vary
depending on the casino and the specific blackjack variant being played. 🧲 What are some
common blackjack side bets? Popular blackjack side bets include Perfect Pairs, 21+3 and
Insurance, all of which 🧲 are explained in detail on this page. What is insurance in
blackjack? Insurance is the most common Blackjack side bet 🧲 and allows you to cover
yourself against Blackjack if the dealer has an ace face up. This bet involves half 🧲 of
your original stake and pays out at 2:1 if the dealer has Blackjack. The insurance bet
reduces the overall 🧲 house edge. Are side bets in blackjack worth it? Side bets can be
entertaining and potentially offer higher payouts than 🧲 the main blackjack game.
However, they also have a higher house edge, which means they are riskier in the long
🧲 run. What is the house edge for blackjack side bets? The house edge for blackjack side
bets depends on the 🧲 specific bet and the blackjack variant being played. Some side bets
can have a significantly higher house edge compared to 🧲 the main blackjack game, so it's
important that you review the rules and payouts for each side bet to understand 🧲 the
associated house edge. Can you win both the main blackjack bet and a side bet in the
same hand? 🧲 Yes, you can win both your main blackjack bet and a side bet in the same
hand, as the two 🧲 things are independent wagers. Are there any strategies for playing
blackjack side bets? Side bets are primarily based on luck, 🧲 and there are no foolproof
strategies to guarantee a win. Players should be cautious and not overcommit to side
bets, 🧲 as they can lead to substantial losses. Should I use a specific betting strategy
when playing side bets? Betting strategies 🧲 that are effective for the main blackjack
game may not necessarily apply to side bets. If you choose to play 🧲 side bets, do so for
fun and entertainment, and set limits to manage your bankroll responsibly.
Article last
updated: 10th October 🧲 2024
Simon Beasor
