Blackjack Side Bets There are a variety of side bets that you can play when you are at a blackjack table. Typically, there is just the choice on whether you want to place a side bet and for how much. Side bets at blackjack tables require no skill and no strategy for the most part. Blackjack Side Bets Pairs. This is a simple side bet to understand. Any time your first two cards are a pair, you will be paid out 11:1. This is a popular side bet found at many land based casinos, it can also be played online at the 888. A winning rummy side bet will pay out.

1. Blackjack Side Bet Odds
2. Blackjack Rummy Side Bet Poker

Blackjack is one of the most popular bets at live dealer tables.

The simplicity of its rules and the fact that players can lower the house edge to 0.50% are the main reasons why we all love to play it. However, the truth is that winning with a natural can earn you a 3:2 payout, which is the biggest prize you can obtain when playing the main bet only. That’s why some players looking for higher payouts may skip this great card game.

To attract this target group and add more excitement to the gameplay, many live casino solutions providers have included side bets in their Blackjack games. In this article, we bring you the lowdown on live dealer Blackjack side bets you can play at live casinos.

Most Common Live Blackjack Side Bets

The game of Blackjack starts with placing a main bet or Ante. With this bet, you predict that you will create a hand that is closer to 21 than the dealers without exceeding this number. While this bet pays 1:1 or 3:2, depending on the outcome of a round, side bets pay bigger prizes, but also involve more risk.

These bets are optional meaning that it’s up the player whether they will go for them or don’t. Let’s see which optional side bets are the most common at Blackjack tables hosted by real-life dealers.

Perfect Pairs

This side bet can be played at most Live Blackjack tables. When playing it, the player bets that their two cards will create a pair. It can be placed at the same time as the main bet and pays based on the initial two cards dealt to the player. There are different options when it comes to possible outcomes. Cards can be matched based on suits, colours or ranks, and each of these options awards different payouts and has a different house edge.

To play the Perfect Pairs bet, you need to place your wager on this betting option on the table. If you get a mixed pair, you will win 6:1 on it. A coloured pair pays 12:1 whereas a so-called perfect pair consisting of two cards of the same suit and ranking earns you 25:1. The Perfect Pair bet has a house edge of 4.1%. It is offered by most Live Blackjack tables including Evolution Live Platinum VIP Blackjack and NetEnt Live Perfect Blackjack.

Blackjack Side Bet Odds

21+3

Another standard option at live dealer Blackjack tables is also based on the initial two cards the player receives with the addition of the dealer’s face-up card. The 21+3 side bet wins when these three cards form a poker hand including a three-of-a-kind, flush, straight or straight flush. However, the biggest win is paid when you have a so-called suited trips, which means that you have created a hand consisting on three suited cards of a kind (for instance, three Aces of hearts).

Again, the payout depends on the combination of cards. The smallest prize is awarded when you receive a flush, which means three cards of the same suit, and it is worth 5:1. A straight hand containing three cards in numerical sequence but of a different suit earns you 10:1. A three of a kind hand consisting of three cards of the same value and different suits pays 30:1, while a straight flush wins you 40:1.

This hand must contain three cards of the same suit in numerical order. A suited trips pays out 100:1. The house edge depends on the number of decks in play and payouts, which may vary, but in most cases, it sits at 3.24%. The 21+3 side bet can be played at Ezugi Live Blackjack Bet Behind and Pragmatic Play Live Blackjack tables.

Less Common Live Blackjack Side Bets

Now that we have presented the two most common side bets to you let’s take a closer look at those that are not regular at live tables.

Hot 3 & Bust It

With their Live Infinite Blackjack, Evolution Gaming has introduced a few novelties including a few new side bets. The Hot 3 side bet pays out on different card combinations worth 19, 20 and 21. It is based on the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s upcard. A total of 19 pays 1:1, 20 earns you 2:1 while 21 pays depending on the cards included. An unsuited 21 pays 4:1, a suited 21 wins 20:1 while three 7s grant 100:1.

As for Bust It, this side bet pays when the dealer busts. It pays based on how many cards the dealer busts with, so busting with 3 or more cards in their hand pays from 1:1 up to 250:1. The Hot 3 side bet has a 5.4% house edge while the Bust It bet comes with a house margin of 6.18%.

Honey Bonus & Lucky 7s

We have another pair of optional bets you can play in Live Blackjack by Betconstruct.

Honey Bonus resembles the 21+3 side bet as it pays when the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card create a 3-card Poker hand. Besides, it earns you a prize when the first two player’s cards form a Blackjack of the same suit. A flush pays 5:1, a straight pays 10:1 while a 3 of a kind grant 20:1. As for a suited Blackjack, it pays 3:1. The house edge for Honey Bonus sits at 13.51%.

When you play the Lucky 7 bet, your first card must be a 7 to get paid. In this case, the side bet pays 3:1. If the first 7 is followed by another 7 of a different or the same suit, you get paid 25:1 or 50:1 respectively. Getting three unsuited 7s, based on your two initial cards and the dealer’s upcard, grants a payout of 100:1 while three suited 7s earn you the top prize of 500:1. Be cautious with the Lucky 7s side bet as it has an abysmal house edge of 49.88%.

Rummy

The last entry in our list of less common live dealer Blackjack side bets is available at a Live HD Blackjack table powered by Visionary iGaming. Again, we have a side wager that functions like the 21+3 bet to a certain extent. It allows players to bet that their two initial cards and the dealer’s face-up card create rummy.

You need either three cards of the same rank, three cards of the same suit or a three-card straight regardless of the suit to win on this bet. In all cases, you will win the same payout standing at 9:1.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, there is a variety of side bets available at Live Blackjack tables.

They pay more than the main wager, yet their house edge is much higher, which means that they are more risky to play. If you like taking risks, give them a try from time to time, but keep an eye on your bankroll. You don’t want to lose money which you can invest in main bets that have better odds, at least when you play according to the optimal strategy.

Needless to say, it is recommended if you want to make the most of playing Blackjack.

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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