Side Bets in Blackjack: Full Rundown

Blackjack side bets are completely optional bets you can make at the start of a hand. You essentially wager on additional outcomes that are separate from the main action. They don’t affect standard play, but add a dose of excitement and winning potential to the game, which is perfect for Blackjack veterans. Plus, they can perfectly complement your favorite blackjack betting strategies.

Theres a bunch of side bets to choose from, and each have their own set of rules and payouts. These are the most popular ones:

Insurance bets are safety nets when the dealer shows that nasty Ace on the upcard:

• You make an insurance bet if you think the dealer will pull a blackjack with that ace.

Payout details: The typical payout for this bet is 2:1. It’s a tempting sidebet to make, because an Ace in the upcard makes it likely that the dealer will hit 21.

Sidebets are for advanced Blackjack players, and you can already tell why. They’re niche bets that generally do not favor you as a player. But, with enough skills and wits, you can easily offset losses and extend your time at the tables. Insurance bets are good at this.

The 21+3 side bet in Blackjack adds a bit of Poker to the mix. You leverage your two cards with the dealer’s upcard to form any of these Poker hands:

• Flush: All three cards share the same suit, like all spades or all diamonds.
• Straight: The cards are sequential but from different suits, for example, 3, 4, 5 with mixed suits.
• Three of a Kind: Each card has the same rank, such as three Kings.
• Straight Flush: Sequential cards all in the same suit, like 2, 3, 4 of hearts.
• Suited Three of a Kind: A rare find where all three cards are not only of the same rank but also the same suit, like three Jacks of spades.

Perfect pairs sidebets focus on whether your initial cards will be a pair. They can be mixed (each card has different suits), colored (same color, different suits), or perfect pairs (identical cards).

Win condition: you get dealt any of the types of pairs we listed above.

Payout: payouts vary depending on the type of pair. Perfect pairs are the least likely to occur, so they offer the highest payouts.

This sidebet focuses on whether one or more of your initial cards are sevens. The more sevens you get dealt, the higher the payout.

Win condition: you win if one or more of your initial cards are sevens, with specific payouts for one, two, or three sevens. If none of the cards dealt are sevens, you lose and you continue with your main blackjack hand.

Payout: payouts vary depending on the number of sevens you get. This increases exponentially, if the sevens share the same suit.

• Single Seven: If your first card is a seven, you win a payout. The payout varies from platform to platform, but generally sits at 3:1. Not bad!
• Two Sevens: this is when it starts to really ramp up. If your first two cards are both sevens, the payout increases significantly (around 50 to 1). If the sevens are of the same suit, the payout is even larger!
• Three Sevens: Landing three sevens in a row, especially if they’re of the same suit has a crazy payout, again this varies but it floats at around 5000 to 1. It’s your classical jackpot scenario that can earn you lifechanging money in an instant.

Like many other sidebets, these only offer payouts in niche scenarios. But to any true gambler, they’re just incredibly fun and nobody will convince me otherwise. It offers high-stakes, high-rewards betting options to players that are touched by luck itself.

The Lucky Ladies Blackjack sidebet focuses on your first two cards’ overall card score. If you hit 20, you win. You place this bet at the same time as your main blackjack wager, just like any of the other side bets we’ve covered.

Win condition: you win if your first two cards total 20. You get even better payouts for certain combinations of cards.

• Payout: payouts vary depending on the combination of 20s you get.
• Any 20: Any two cards whose values add up to 20. Generally offers a payout of 4 to 1.
• Matched 20: Two identical cards, both in rank and suit, totaling 20, like twin Kings of spades. The payout floats at around 10:1 or even more.
• Suited 20: A pair of cards that both add to 20 and share the same suit, such as a 10 and a Queen of hearts. Often rewards players with about 25 to 1, so these definitely ramp up in terms of rarity.
• Queens of Hearts: The namesake hand, consisting of two Queens of Hearts. Typically pays 100 to 1, although this can vary by casino, so make sure you have their pay tables memorized to avoid awkward moments.
• Queens of Hearts with Dealer Blackjack: The ultimate win, occurring when you hold two Queens of Hearts and the dealer draws a blackjack. This is an exceedingly rare thing to occur, but it comes with a tremendous payout, sometimes paying out as much as 1,000 to 1. This is another Jackpot-type scenario that makes side bets in Blackjack extra exciting.

The Pair Square Blackjack sidebet is fairly straightforward: you bet on whether your first two cards will be a pair. You place the Perfect Pairs bet along with your main blackjack bet, before any cards are dealt.

Win condition: if you’re dealt a pair, you win. Payouts vary depending on the type of pairs you get.

Payouts:

• Perfect Pair: Both cards are identical in both number and suit, like two Kings of Hearts. Typically offers the highest payout, around 25 to 1.
• Colored Pair: Both cards have the same number and color but differ in suit, such as a 7 of Diamonds paired with a 7 of Hearts. Payout sits at around 12:1.
• Mixed Pair: Both cards have the same number but differ in color and suit, for instance, an 8 of Hearts and an 8 of Clubs. These have the lowest payouts, offering around 6:1.

That being said, the Perfect Pairs sidebet is fairly easy to place, has a very clear win condition and is great when you’re due to get a pair.

The Royal Match Blackjack Side Bet centers on your first two cards having the same suit. Just like any other side bet in Blackjack, you place it along with your main Blackjack bet and you’re good to go.

Win condition: if you’re dealt two cards that share the same suit, you win. Payouts very depending on the cards you match.

Payouts:

• Easy Match: Any two cards of the same suit qualify, like a 5 of Hearts and a 9 of Hearts. Offers a payout of 5:1.
• Royal Match: Specifically, a King and a Queen of the same suit, such as the King and Queen of Diamonds. It’s a rare combination so the payout sits at 25:1 or so.

This is a fairly popular side bet in Blackjack, due to its relatively low stake and potentially high payouts. Like most sidebets, it adds a bit more excitement to your blackjack hands and it’s not particularly hard to track or follow.

So, not all Casinos offer the Over/Under 13 side bet, so be sure to check their rules first. Basically, you predict whether your first two cards will exceed, be less than OR exactly match a total score of 13. The house edge is pretty high on this one, so beware.

Win Condition: if you’re dealt two cards that exceed 13, you win the over 13 side bet. If they’re less than 13, then you win the under 13 side bet. If they exactly add up to 13, you win the exactly 13 side bet.

Payouts:

• Under 13 and Over 13: The typical payout for these bets can vary by casino but often hovers around even money (1 to 1).
• Exactly 13: If available, this bet usually offers higher payouts due to its rarity, such as 10 to 1.

This is a fairly simple sidebet to place, but the payouts aren’t anything to write home about. The exactly 13 is the exception, but it’s also much harder to come by.

So, there’s a few factors you need to consider if you’re going for side bets in your Blackjack games. Let’s go over them as briefly as possible:

Look, if you got the money and you’re in it purely for the thrill of the bet, then by all means, play side bets to your heart’s content. Otherwise, avoid side bets until you’ve become a veteran at the game. Understanding the odds and maths behind each side bet scenario takes substantial time, and it should only be invested once your fundamentals are strong enough.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about blackjack side bets:

What are the most common side bets in blackjack?

The most common include Insurance, 21+3, Perfect Pairs, and Match the Dealer.

How do side bets affect the gameplay and strategy of blackjack?

Side bets can provide additional winning opportunities but typically have a higher house edge, which can influence overall strategy.

Are side bets in blackjack recommended for beginners?

Beginners should focus on understanding basic blackjack strategy before incorporating side bets, which involve more complex odds and potential risks.

What are the highest paying side bets in blackjack?

Bets like Perfect Pairs and 21+3 can offer significant payouts for high-risk combinations.