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Blackjack’s simplicity is its greatest popularity factor as the game is easy to pick up and master. Apart from some tweaks, the rules are mostly the same for all variants.
By extension, you can learn the basic strategy necessary for achieving the coveted 0.5% house edge fairly easily.
Blackjack side bets add a new dimension to an already fun game. Besides providing entertainment value, optional side wagers can yield large payouts, explaining their appeal to casual players.
In this handy guide, we walk you through the different side bets you can make in blackjack. You will learn how optional wagers work and how much profit you can expect from them.
What Are Side Bets in Blackjack?
Side bets are essentially additional ways to get some skin in the game. These bets are based on things other than whether you will get closer to 21 than the dealer. Many are staked at the start of a round, along with regular bets.
If they are available, side bets will be displayed in a designated area next to the standard wagers. The minimum and maximum stake amounts vary from side bet to side bet, but they tend to be in the $1–25 range.
Since most side bets are made before the cards are dealt, they’re mostly luck-based. Since no tactics can change your odds of winning, side wagers are better suited for recreational players than advantage ones.
Most side bets are based on you and/or the dealer getting a certain hand combination from the first two cards dealt.
What Side Bets Are Available in Blackjack?
Blackjack side bets come in all shapes and sizes. Some are prevalent in US online casinos, while others are esoteric and only offered in a few places.
The following is a list of the most common side bets in blackjack.
21+3
The 21+3 side bet considers your initial hand and the dealer’s face-up card. If these three cards combined form a winning five-card poker combination, you score a payout according to the paytable.
Most 21+3 blackjack variants offered by land-based casinos pay out 9:1 for each winning hand.
The modern versions of 21+3 offered in most online casinos pay out greater payouts for straight flushes and suited three of a kind — 40:1 and 100:1, respectively.
Depending on the number of decks used, the house edge for 21+3 is between 2%–11%. The more decks there are in the shoe, the lower its edge.
Perfect Pairs
This side wager only considers your two hole cards. If they form a pair, you win. The payout depends on the type of pair in question. When you get a Perfect Pair, which is when both cards have the same suit and value, you win a 30:1 payout. Colored pairs pay 12:1.
The Perfect Pair side bet is placed before any cards are dealt and doesn’t impact the main wager anyhow.
Insurance
Insurance bet becomes available if the dealer’s up card is an ace. It lets you stake half of your original bet to protect against the dealer hitting a blackjack. If the dealer has a natural, you’ll score a 2:1 payout.
Lucky Ladies
A Lucky Ladies side bet is contingent on the player’s initial two hands having a total of 20. In some card combinations, payouts can be as high as 1000:1. The player receives the grand prize when the two cards are Lucky Ladies (Queen of Hearts), and the dealer has a blackjack.
Super Sevens
Super Sevens side bet pays if you’re dealt one or more sevens in the first three cards. The more sevens you hit, the bigger the payoff. You get a 5000:1 payout for three suited sevens.
Over/Under 13
As the name implies, you bet on whether your first two hands will add up to a value of 13. The house edge for over 13 is at 6.5%, which is several percentage points lower than for the underside.
Royal Match
Royal Match side bet awards bonus payout if your first two hands are King and Queen in the same suit. The payout for this hand combination is 25:1 in most multi-deck variations.
Match the Dealer
This is an optional wager on whether one of your cards will match the dealer’s up-card. In cases where the suits match the rank, you will be paid out 11:1.
FAQ
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