- Blackjack side bets are optional wagers that you can place while playing a traditional blackjack game at online casinos or bricks and mortar casinos.
- These blackjack side bets require players to place a small bet, with payoffs substantially greater than traditional even-money blackjack payoffs.
- There is limited skill in playing blackjack side bets – hence their popularity.
- Player-friendly blackjack side bets have a house edge of around 5% or less.
Casinos are always coming up with inventive ways to add new side bets to attract blackjack players. Many of these optional bets never see the light of day, but some do. In today's post, we will tackle the best blackjack side bets available to you.
There are three primary reasons why players choose to place blackjack side bets:
- No skill is required – it's all about the luck of the draw.
- Blackjack side bets are typically affordable – less than a dollar.
- These bets have payouts much greater than traditional even-money blackjack bets.
HOW TO PLACE A BLACKJACK SIDE BET
Take a look at the blackjack table for a moment. You'll usually see signage on the layout indicating that blackjack side bets are available. The signage is visible at online casinos and brick-and-mortar casinos. You may even notice these bets on a placard at the table. Remember, it's unnecessary to place a side bet; it's optional. Playing these bets is over and above the cost of playing a blackjack game.
So far, so good. Now let's say you are interested in placing the side bet. The first thing you do is place your bet on your hand. Next, place the optional side bet (extra bet) in the relevant space on the table. Or use your mouse to add chips to the side bet option with online blackjack games.
The majority of casinos require the placement of a bet in the main blackjack game before you can place a side bet. Also, there are minimums/maximums in place for side bets. You will probably notice the maximum bet displayed on the placard on the table or in full view on your screen. If you are playing live blackjack or in-person blackjack, ask the dealer if you are unsure.
Recall that blackjack side bets have a high house edge. It's much higher than the house edge in a traditional blackjack bet in the main game. Using a basic blackjack strategy, you can whittle down the house edge to less than a percent. But if you fancy yourself as a risk-taker, place a blackjack side bet and try your luck for a much bigger payout.
Naturally, I recommend placing side bets with the lowest house edge. So, in the next section, I will list the best blackjack side bets for you to play. They have a modest house edge, and they are plenty popular.
21+3
Even if you've never placed a blackjack side bet before, you've likely heard about 21+3. This bet is a fusion of blackjack and three-card poker. The first two cards you are dealt (your hole cards) and the dealer's upcard are used in 21+3 side bets. Your goal is to form a ranking hand according to the paytable.
Initially, the side bet focused on the following hands from the cards (your two cards and the dealer's upcard): Flush, Straight, and Three-of-a-Kind. If you hit those hands, your payout was 9:1. That's associated with a house edge of 3.24% (this is pretty low). These odds apply to a six-deck game of blackjack. If you're playing a four-deck game, the house edge rises to 4.24%, but if you're playing an eight-deck game of blackjack, the house edge drops to 2.74%.
These days, traditional blackjack casinos and online casinos have many different variants of 21+3, each with unique pay tables. Take a look at the paytable below, which reflects your hand and the associated payout.
It's worth pointing out that a Straight pays more than a Flush in Three Card Poker – that's in sharp contrast to a Five Card Poker hand.
| HAND | PAYOUT |
|---|---|
| Suited Three-of-a-Kind | 100 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 35 to 1 |
| Three-of-a-Kind | 33 to 1 |
| Straight | 10 to 1 |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
Note the above paytable is used in a six-deck game of blackjack where the house edge is 4.24%. If we are playing with three decks of cards, the house edge rises to 7.76%, but if we ramp it up to 8 decks of cards, it is just 3.18%, specifically for the above schedule.
As with all casino games and optional side bets, you will find many different pay tables online and at land-based casinos. The house edge will vary according to the payouts for each hand that you form. There are so many different pay schedules, too many to list, but if you're interested in finding out more, check the 21+3 page at wizardofodds.com – it's a valuable source of information.
P.S. Eliott Jacobson wrote a fascinating article about card counting systems for 21+3. It focuses on Flushes and is worth reading.
PERFECT PAIRS
This blackjack side bet is only concerned with your two pocket cards. You will win this side bet if your cards form a pair. You lose the Perfect Pairs side bet if your initial two cards aren't a pair. The following three types of pairs award payouts:
- Mixed Pairs – two cards of the same rank but different colours, such as a Jack of spades and a Jack of hearts.
- Coloured Pairs – two cards of the same rank and the same colour, such as King of clubs and King of spades.
- Perfect Pairs – two identical cards of the same suit – Kings of diamonds, Queens of hearts, Jacks of clubs, Aces of spades, etcetera.
Naturally, payout schedules will vary from one casino to the next. However, you can expect the following pay schedule for a typical eight-deck game of blackjack:
| PAIR | PAYOUTS | PAYOUTS | PAYOUTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect Pair | 25 to 1 | 30 to 1 | 25 to 1 |
| Coloured Pair | 12 to 1 | 10 to 1 | 15 to 1 |
| Mixed Pair | 6 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1 |
| House Edge (8 decks) | 4.09% | 3.38% | 2.17% |
As seen above, the house edge ranges from 2.17% to 4.09%
ROYAL MATCH
You can win this side bet when you have two suited hole cards. Blackjack casinos can use different payout schedules and numbers of decks for the Royal Match side bet. The most commonly used payoff schedules at online casinos and land-based casinos are the following:
| Suited Cards | Description | Payoff (6 decks) |
Payoff (1 Deck) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy Match | First Two Cards are Suited | 2.5 to 1 | 10 to 1 |
| Royal Match | First Two Cards are King and Queen | 25 to 1 | 3 to 1 |
| House Edge | 6.67% | 3.78% |
Another version utilizes six decks of cards and features a 25:1 payoff for Royal Match, 5:1 for Suited Blackjack, and 5:2 for other matches. The house edge for Royal Match side bets is a reputable 3.70%.
Please note that you can find a card counting system for Royal Match side bets in the following two books: The Big Book of Blackjack by Arnold Snyder and Beyond Counting by James Grosjean.
SUMMARY OF BLACKJACK SIDE BETS
Each of the aforementioned blackjack side bets is the best side bet you can play in blackjack. They include 21+3, Perfect Pairs, and Royal Match. In addition, there are numerous published card counting systems for other side bets with higher house edges.
You can use these systems to reduce the house edge significantly. Think of Over/under 13, Lucky Ladies, and Super Sevens as cases in point. Check out Chapter 13 of the Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide for further information.
That's a wrap, folks!
