Best Side Bets In Blackjack
Wow, what a horrible dealer. Side bets are pretty much always where the biggest house edge on a blackjack table is. Don't ever play a side bet unless you want to give money away. Why are you playing blackjack? Probably because you like it, but also probably because it has such a low house edge. So why up the house edge of your overall blackjack. Best Side Bet Payouts In Blackjack. The best payouts for side bets would be the progressive side bets. They can give the player the most for the wager they put in. It is a hard bet to win, however, because a specific set of cards must be dealt to the player, but the game of blackjack is a game of chance. The three main Blackjack side bets are: Insurance Perfect Pairs 21+3. Side bets come in different forms with different odds and varying payouts - but you may have found yourself wondering: are blackjack side bets worth it? It’s no secret that these casino games don’t often produce substantial payouts, with most players making even money at best. Bet the Set Found as a side bet for traditional games of blackjack, this is one of the better side bets that you’ll find. The goal is to get a pair with the first two cards, and a suited pair offers an even larger payout. Multiple decks are to be preferred, as this increases the opportunity for pairs.
Blackjack side bets come in many shapes and sizes. Many traditional and online blackjack games have their own lineup of side bets. It would be impossible to come up with a complete list of side bets, though all blackjack side bet options generally fall under a few different categories. Here’s a breakdown of both common and obscure blackjack side bets.
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Super Sevens Side Bet
The 7 card is a big player in blackjack side bets. Sometimes called Super Sevens bets, this side bet is a proposition wager on whether or not the first card you are dealt is a 7. This bet traditionally pays off at 3-to-1.
Another Super Sevens side bet is whether the first two cards you receive are 7s. Because this is a far less likely event, a winning Double Sevens bet pays off at 50-to-1 or more. Taking it a step further, some casinos that use multi-deck blackjack shoes offer Suited Sevens bets, which state that if you are dealt two suited sevens, you win a payoff as high as 100-to-1.
There’s one more Super Sevens bet that is one of the least likely occurrences in the casino. If the first 3 cards you are dealt are 7s, regardless of suit, you can earn between 500-to-1 (for unsuited triple 7s) or as much as 5,000 to 1 (for suited triple 7s).
Royal Match Side Bet
The Royal Match bet pays a small bonus if the first two cards you receive are suited, called an “easy match”, and a much larger bonus if the first two cards you receive are a suited king and queen, which is called the Royal Match. You’ll find several versions of this side bet, with the payouts expected just under 97% to 93%.
Streak Blackjack Side Bet
One blackjack side bet you might not see as often in the streak bet. In this proposition, you win the bonus if you have a certain number of winning hands in a row. When you have split pairs, you’ll need to determine a net win for the total hand. For instance, if you split 7s and win on one hand while pushing on the other, that’s considered a net win. Take note that most streak bets don’t allow you the surrender option.
Over/Under 13 Side Bet
This proposition calls for you to bet on whether your hand will be over 13, under 13, or exactly 13 after you’re dealt two cards. For the purpose of this bet, aces count as 1. If you make this wager and all things are even (when card counting), the better proposition is to be Under 13, which has a house edge of over 6% instead of over 10%. The exactly 13 bet, which pays at 10 to 1 odds, is over 7% house edge.
Pair Square Side Bet
In this bet, you win money if your first two cards are a pair. If the first two cards are a suited pair, you’re paid even more. This blackjack side bet, which has been spotted in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Tunica, is one of the better side bets in blackjack from the player’s perspective. The expected return ranges from 99.41% for a popular one-deck variation to a 96.15% for one of the six-deck variations.
21 + 3 Side Bet
The 21+3 side bet in blackjack is based on the first two cards you’re showing and the dealer’s face card. If the combination of these cards are a straight, a flush, a straight flush, or a three of a kind, you win your side bet. The house edge on these games ranges from over 2% to somewhat over 3%.
Sweet Sixteen Side Bet
The Sweet 16 side bet in blackjack pays if you get a 16 or more on your first two cards. This bet pays at 1 to 1. Also, one ace pays at 1 to 1, while two aces pay at 2 to 1. If you get a pair of 2s through 7s, you get a push. This combines for a 97.42% house edge.
Lucky Ladies Side Bet
The Lucky Ladies bet involves making a 20-hand, while the best payoff is for a pair with the Queen of Hearts. If you receive a Queen of Hearts pair making 20, you’re paid at 125 to 1. If you receive a Queen of Hearts pair while the dealer makes a blackjack, you win 1000 to 1 in payoff money. A matched 20 (matched rank and suit) gives you 19 to 1 odds, while a suited 20 pays off at 9 to 1. If you build a hand with an unsuited 20, you’re paid at 4 to 1.
Bonus Blackjack Side Bet
This is a series of side bets in which either you or the dealer, or both, get a blackjack. You can bet on the player getting the blackjack, the dealer getting the blackjack, or both of your hitting on it. If both you and the dealer get blackjacks with an ace and jack of spades, you win a progressive bonus payoff.
More Blackjack Side Bets
Below are some other blackjack side bets you’ll find in casinos. Each blackjack floor is going to offer its own list of side bets, so learn what the side bets are in the local card rooms where you live. Online casinos also sometimes offer their own selection of blackjack side bets.
Bonanza Blackjack – Player has a hard or soft 20 and the dealer has a 10-point card of any type.
Hi/Low Side Bet – You can bet on whether your first card is going to be higher or lower than the dealer’s card.
2 through 6 Side Bet – If the dealer is dealt a 2 through 6 card, you win a side bet.
Jack Magic Side Bet – This involves getting jacks in your hand and the dealer’s face-up card. You’re paid more for one-eyed jacks.
Match the Dealer Side Bet – For each of your first 2 cards which matched the dealer’s up card, you win a side bet.
Lucky Lucky Side Bet – This involves getting certain combinations in your first 2 cards and the dealer’s up card: 777, 678, and other combinations that add up to 21.
Bonus Spin Side Bet – In this game, you’ll receive a spin at a wheel if you win the bonus spin side bet. The prize wheel range from 5x to 100x.
Dare Any Pairs Side Bet – This bet pays at 11 to 1 and is simple as can be. If your first two cards are a pair, you win the 11 to 1 bet.
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Side bets are an extremely popular way to diversify the gameplay and add some additional edge to it. As all things, it has it pros and cons. We will try to be short here and give all the basic details of various blackjack side bets options so you could decide for yourself. For more details – you can check the dedicated pages of each version and try these games for free before playing for real money.
Side Bets – Pros and Cons
It’s going to be short:
The good: side bets add additional rush to the standard black jack game play. Plus, they offer much higher payouts. Some, such as Progressive blackjacks for instance, can sometimes offer life changing multi-millions jackpots.
The bad: basic blackjack game is the best payout game can be found in casinos. Some game offer house edge lower than 0.3%!!! That’s not the case with side bets, where the house edge usually goes from 3% and up to even 10-15%.
Word of advice:
If we were asked for advice as whether to use side bets, we would say:
- If you enjoy them – go ahead.
- But! be aware that you are likely to loose more money faster.
- We would recommend to use them from time to time and not on every hand you play.
- Check the specific game rules before playing, as the payouts vary between one game to another, even within the same game variation (21+3 Blackjack by Felt Gaming will give you 3% more than similar game by Realistic Games and so on).
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Best Side Bets In Blackjack
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Black Jack Side Bets Odds & Payouts
Bet | Rules | Common House Edge | Maximum Payout | Where to Play |
---|---|---|---|---|
21+3 Blackjack | Combination of blackjack and three card poker (on players first 2 cards and dealers up card). | 3-5% | x100 | Guts Casino |
Bonus Spin Blackjack | If you are handed a blackjack, you will get to spin the money reel for opportunity to win massive prizes. | $25,000 or Progressive Jackpot | N/A | |
Buster Blackjack | Bet on whether the dealer goes bust. | 6-7% | x2000 | Vegas Casino Online |
Hi Lo 13 | Whether the total of your first two cards will be higher than 13, lower than 13 or exactly 13. | 0.09 | x9 | Ignition Casino |
High Streak Blackjack | Bet on your winning streak. | x10 | Royal Panda | |
Lucky Ladies blackjack | You win if your first two cards are queens or you reach 20. | 12-25% | x1000 | Ignition Casino |
Lucky Lucky Blackjack | You get extra payout for reaching 19,20,21 with specific cards. | 2-3% | x200 | Guts Casino |
Match the Dealer Blackjack | Bet if on of your initial cards matches the dealer’s one. | 3-4% | x22 | Black Diamond Casino |
Perfect Pairs | Most popular side bet. You win if your initial cards match. | 3-7% | x30 | Extreme Casino |
Progressive Blackjack | Endless variations of the game, each one has its own trigger for progressive jackpot. | Progressive Jackpot | Miami Club Casino | |
Suit ‘Em Up Blackjack | You win if your first two cards are suited. | 3-5% | x60 | Roaring 21 |
Super Fun 21 | You win extra on Diamond blackjack and 5-6 charlie. | 0.09 | x2 | Vegas Casino Online |