Best Side Bets In Blackjack

Best Side Bets In Blackjack 8,2/10 5002 votes

The Hot 3 side bet is available in Infinite Blackjack and Free Bet Blackjack. Here, you place a wager on either the total or combination of three cards comprising your two first cards and the dealer’s upcard. The theoretical payout of this bet is 94.60%. 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. Per my closest casino, it varies per table. I've personally hit a 270:1 off a 2 dollar side bet for 3 of a kind suited. There is one variation of a royal flush that pays 2400:1, sorry but I don't remember what the requirements are. Today, you can find the Lucky Lucky side bet offered by more than 2,000 blackjack tables in Las Vegas and beyond. How to Land a Winner on the Lucky Lucky Side Bet. The best possible scenario in blackjack is to wind up with a total of 21 on the deal. The most common side bets are 21 + 3 or Blackjack Perfect Pairs. Gamblers love side bets as they offer the chance of blackjack side bets payout. However, strategic blackjack players might avoid them because side bets are purely based on luck. The 21 + 3 blackjack side bet.

What Are The Side Bets In Blackjack

Overview of 21+3 Blackjack

The 21+3 side bet is optional, and its size does not need to be the same as the main bet. In order to play the side-bet, you need to participate in the main hand.

Online blackjack with side bets

Placing a bet in the 21+3 square is all you need to do to participate. As soon as the deal is made, and before any player takes any actions the 2 player cards and the dealer’s up-card (or only card in European Blackjack) are compared to the pay table.

There are several variations of 21+3 payouts, the most simple pays from a ‘flush +pair’ and up, with 9-to-1 payouts in each case. When pairs are also included, this is hit more often, so the prizes are lowered to reflect this. There are 3-to-1 for all hands (pair, flush, straight, trips and straight flush) or there are staggered pay tables.

When the prizes are staggered, a straight flush or better can win significant money. Here is an example:

  • Flush – Pays 5:1
  • Straight – Pays 10:1
  • Straight Flush – Pays 35:1
  • Three of a Kind – Pays 33:1
  • Suited 3 of a Kind – 100:1

Keep in mind that depending on the pay table, the house edge can get as high as 13% for this side bet. You can find examples of games (depending on the number of decks in use) where this is around 2.78% instead.

Blackjack With Poker Side Bet

Strategy for 21+3 Blackjack

It goes without saying that knowing the correct basic strategy of the base game is a prerequisite here. Without this you are just handing money to the house.

Your main ‘strategy’ decision over the long run with the 21+3 side-bet is whether to play or not. The house edge is bigger than in most base games. If you know this, then you get to decide whether the added interest and entertainment (and chance of a windfall win) are worth it to you. If the extra engagement from the 21+3 bet works for you – then you can simply add a little to your bankroll to cover this.

Card counters can beat this game by memorizing the suits as they are dealt. It is possible on some deals to find one suit over-represented as the shoe gets smaller – turning the edge positive for players. The expected hourly rate for this is very low compared to other forms of counting. Online the deck is shuffled after each hand, making card counting impossible.

Best Side Bets In Blackjack

Best Side Bets In Blackjack No Deposit

Worth

Pros and Cons of 21+3 Blackjack

Best Side Bets In Blackjack Games

Adding a poker style hand to blackjack makes for an interesting variation – though I do wonder whether ‘purists’ in either discipline would approve! Depending on which of the pay tables you use there is the chance of a 9-to-1 or even bigger windfall. That elusive suited 3-of-a-kind (paying 100-to-1) would certainly be memorable.

In Between Side Bet Blackjack

Whether you participate depends on your attitude towards side-bets in general. Some players like these bets, and are happy to pay the extra house-edge for the chance of the occasional big win. Others scorn these bets as long-term losers.