This page will list and describe all the most popular side bets in blackjack that we have come to love (and hate), including Perfect Pairs, Lucky Ladies, Blackpot, Match the Dealer, Royal Match, Lucky Lucky, 21+3, and more.
If you’re a regular blackjack player, you will have no doubt noticed or come across many exciting variations of the standard game. Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games in the world and it’s only natural to expect several unique changes to be introduced to the game over the time. Some are virtually identical to the original template and others are completely different.
One popular aspect regularly added to the traditional game of 21 are side bets. Side bets slightly alter the mechanics of play and offer bonus payouts, but otherwise retain the traditional blackjack template in that they are made separate to your primary wagers and the end goal of obtaining 21.
Sep 08, 2019 So, to cut to the chase, side bets in blackjack are extra wagers that are designed to make the game more exciting. In other words, they can enrich the experience of playing blackjack. As their name implies, these wagers are independent of the main bet. As a rule of thumb, side bets require a small wager, such as $1. Oct 16, 2020 I am looking for the most common blackjack side bets for a real-time VBA spreadsheet I am creating. So far, I have 6 side bets on the spreadsheet: Insurance Lucky Ladies Pair Square (Bet the Set) Royal Match Royal 20's Twenty One Plus Three (in all its versions) What else would you add to this list?
There are several side bets out in the wild and for your convenience, we are covering the most popular ones regularly added onto traditional blackjack games. We’re going to examine their rules and odds to determine whether or not blackjack side bets are worthwhile.
Blackjack side bets are optional wagers offered in many games of blackjack, both in live casinos and online games. They’re specifically designed to offer attractive bonuses which, in turn, lure more players to the tables.
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Types of Blackjack Side Bets
Blackpot: The Blackpot side bet, popular at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, offers players the chance at large payouts if they hit the coveted 6-7-8 combination. Usually holding a minimum bet of $1, if a player draws any combination of a Six, Seven or Eight (cannot be of the same value; must be a Six and Seven, Six and Eight, or Seven and Eight) with his/her first two cards, a payout of 10-1 is immediately granted. Opt to hit to continue the side bet, and if the 6-7-8 combination is completed with the other card value (a total of 21), a 100-1 payout is awarded. If this eventuates, the side bet carries over to the player’s next hand free of charge, and the payouts become even greater if a successful combination is managed again. A subsequent two card combo of any of the three cards nets a 1000-1 payout, and completing the 6-7-8 three-card combo on this second consecutive hand nets a maximum payout of $20,000. Read our Blackpot article for further info about the mechanics of this unique side wager.
Lucky Ladies: The Lucky Ladies side wager is popular throughout the United States and in the online gaming community, and is based on a player’s initial two cards, and those cards totalling 20 points. We have multiple options of initial two cards totalling 20, each which hold different payouts for this side bet: two non-suited cards, two suited cards, two matching cards of the same suit and rank, a pair of Queens of Hearts and finally, the coveted pair of Queen of Hearts with a dealer blackjack, which nets a payout of 1000:1. Find out the probabilities and all payouts of the Lucky Ladies side bet here.
Perfect Pairs: Simple enough and very enjoyable to play, the Perfect Pairs side wager is one of the most accessible and thus one of the most commonly played side bets in the game of blackjack. Based on a player’s initial two cards, if these two cards are of the same value, a payout is awarded. There are three types of pairs – a mixed pair (two cards which differ in suit and colour, but are of the same rank); a coloured pair (two cards which differ only in suit); and a perfect pair (two identical cards). A mixed pair holds the lowest payout, the coloured pair then holds a slightly higher payout, and the perfect pair holds the greatest payout. Payouts can differ depending on the casino. This side wager is also used in baccarat and can be added to other card games, too. For a full chart of payouts, probabilities and combination, read our Perfect Pairs article here.
Match the Dealer: A popular side wager found in blackjack as well as Spanish 21, if either or both of a player’s initial two cards match the dealer’s up-card, that player is awarded a payout based on the type of match: one non-suited matching card; one suited matching card, two non-suited matching cards; one non-suited match and one suited match; and two suited matching cards. Different games hold different payouts for each outcome, with two suited matches owning the largest payout (differs from 18:1 to 28:1).
Royal Match: This side bet is based only on the player’s first two cards. If the player’s initial two cards are suited (i.e. a seven and four of Spades), he/she is rewarded with a bonus payout (most commonly 2.5 to 1). Drawing a ‘royal match’ – defined as a suited King and Queen – holds a 25:1 payout. The house edge on this wager differs depending on the numbers of decks used in a typical game.
Lucky Lucky: The Lucky Lucky wager is commonly found in Las Vegas casinos and some online blackjack games, too. It holds one of the lowest house edges of any blackjack side bet (around 2.65%, depending on how many decks are used), and has multiple combinations which receive bonus payouts when the bet is played. Based on the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up-card, here are the results which net a bonus return (payouts in parentheses):
- Suited 7-7-7 (200:1)
- Suited 6-7-8 (100:1)
- Unsuited 7-7-7 (50:1)
- Unsuited 6-7-8 (30:1)
- Suited 21 total (15:1)
- Unsuited 21 total (3:1)
- Any total of 20 (2:1)
- Any total of 19 (2:1)
For example, if the player is dealt two royal cards (let’s say a King of Diamonds and a Jack of Hearts), and the dealer’s up-card is an Ace of Clubs – we have three unsuited cards totalling 21 and the player is awarded the specific payout for that outcome (3:1), assuming he/she placed the Lucky Lucky wager.
21 + 3: The 21 + 3 wager, like Lucky Lucky, is also based on the dealer’s up-card and the player’s initial two cards. If these three cards make a flush, straight, straight flush or three of a kind, a payout (often of 9:1 for all the above outcomes) is awarded.
Hi/Lo 13: The aim of the Hi/Lo 13 side bet option is to accurately guess whether your first will be valued at more than, less than or exactly at 13, with each result offering a fixed payout.
High Streak: The High Streak blackjack side bet awards a progressive bonus payout when you win several hands in a row.
Super 7 Side Bet: The Super 7 side bet option is a wager that you will be dealt a seven card of any suit.
Understanding Side Wagers
Side bets are popular because they’re easy to understand, easy to play and usually offer attractive returns, separate from the main hand. As attractive and fun as side bets can be, we should use them sparingly. They are not designed for players to expect consistent winnings by banking on them, as the casino always employs a significantly higher house edge than that of the traditional blackjack game (side bets can carry a house edge anywhere from around 2% to as high as 75%).
Blackjack comes in numerous variants and the difference between them is in side bets they offer. Side bets add more excitement to the gameplay and have higher payouts than regular ones, but at the same time they come with a higher house edge. In this guide we will present you some of the most popular Blackjack side bets.
21 + 3
The 21 + 3 side bet is one of the most popular Blackjack side bets. The game combines the standard Blackjack and Tri Card Poker rules. To play this bet you have to place a regular bet and put your money on the side bet additionally. The player wins when playing a 21+3 side bet if their two cards and the dealer’s face-up card form a flush, three-of-a-kind, straight or straight flush. Originally, this side bet pays 9:1 if any of these combinations if formed and the house edge is 3.2386%. However, there have been certain modifications of the 21+3 side bet, so you can find game variations with different paytables and house edges. Some tables include the Top 3 side bet which can pay even bigger prizes going up to 270:1 for suited three-of-a-kind. The house edge on this Blackjack side bet can range between 2% and over 3%.
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs Blackjack comes with a side bet which can be placed along with a regular bet. The Perfect Pairs side bet wins if you have a pair of cards, just like its name says. Payouts depend on a pair you get and can go up to 30:1 when you get a perfect pair of the cards of the same colour and suit. Getting a pair of mixed colours and suits pays 5:1 whereas a pair of cards of the same colour and mixed suits grants a 10:1 payout. The house edge on this bet is 6% which is pretty high, so be careful when playing it.
Blackjack Side Bets Games
Triple 7’s
Blackjack
Triple 7’s or Super Sevens, which is one of the variations of its name, is a side bet based on the 7s you get. When you play this Blackjack side bet, you will win as long as you get 7s and payouts vary depending on the number of the cards of this value you have in a hand. For the first 7 card you are paid 3:1, two 7s of mixed suits pay 50:1 and two 7s of the same suit pay 100:1. If you are lucky enough to get three 7s, payouts are much higher and they stand at 500:1 and 5,000:1 for three 7s of mixed suits and three suited 7s respectively. This side bet may come in many variations, but you should keep in mind that all of them have a huge house edge of 11.40%.
Royal Match
Blackjack Side Bets Payouts
Royal Match is a Blackjack side bet that pays when the first two cards you get are the same suit or a King and Queen of the same suit. The first combination is called an easy match while a pair of a suited King and Queen is called a royal match. An easy match pays 5:2 whereas a royal match awards 25:1. You can find different variations of this Blackjack side bet with different paytables and house edges. One of the options is to bet that both the player and dealer get a royal match. This bet pays 1,000:1. Depends on the number of decks in play, the house edge varies between 6.46%, when the game uses eight decks, and 10.86%, when played with only one card deck.
Blackjack Side Bets Reddit
There are other Blackjack side bets available and the offer varies from one casino to another. They include Over/Under 13, Streak, Pair Square, Lucky Ladies, Bonanza, Hi/Low, Bonus Spin, Progressive and more. Check out the paytable for every of these variations before you start playing. Although using a proper Blackjack strategy can increase your advantage over the casino, remember that side bets are always a tricky business.