The Ultimate Guide to Blackjack Side Bets
Blackjack side bets are simple rules and easy to learn that add a layer of complexity to the game through more significant risk. However, you only have a few options, and by using some fundamental blackjack techniques, you can improve the small blackjack house edge. We’ll look at the various side bet choices, how they’re set up, and how much side bets pay in this post.
What are Blackjack Side Bets?
Blackjack side bets are additional wagers that can be put on while playing a conventional hand of Blackjack. They require the player, and sometimes the dealer, to make educated guesses about which cards they will be dealt. Although you have the cards to help you with choosing possible combinations for the best side bets, bets are made before the release of cards, and each side bet is dependent on luck rather than ability.
Blackjack Side Bets at Online Casinos
The majority of tables provide a selection of blackjack side bets, some of which are more popular than others. These are denoted with the odds, which are either posted on the blackjack tables themselves or are accessible on the internet form as a handout or a side menu. Before you place any bets, you need to do some rigorous research on the payouts, as they can be rather variable between different online casinos and land-based gambling establishments. You can get an idea of the typical side bets by looking at the table below:
1. Insurance
It is the most common side bet in Blackjack, and it allows you to protect yourself against Blackjack if the dealer is showing an ace up on the table. This wager requires that you risk half of your initial stake and offers a payout of two to one if the dealer has Blackjack. The insurance bet lowers the overall advantage enjoyed by the casino.
2. Perfect Pairs
This side bet utilizes the player’s cards solely and pays out in the following manner if two of a kind are dealt to the player:
Mixed pair: The payout for a mixed pair, which consists of two cards of the same value but of different suits and colors, is five to one.
3. 21+3
The side bet employs the player’s two cards in addition to the card that is face up in the dealer’s hand. It will reward you for a variety of various combos, including the following:
When playing with four decks, the house edge for the 21+3 side bet is 8.78%. When playing with five decks, the house advantage is 7.81%; when playing with six decks, the house edge is 7.14%; and when playing with seven decks, the house edge is 6.29%.
Other Side Bets to Consider
Because of the intense competition in the casino industry, new blackjack side bets are being developed to draw in more customers. While some of them may thrive and become broadly accessible, others will continue to occupy a specialized niche and will be located exclusively in certain casinos. The following are some examples:
Royal Match
The royal match pays 5:2 for any player’s cards of the same suit, and it pays 25:1 for a suited king and queen.
Over/under 13
Over/under 13 is a wager that pays even money if the player correctly predicts that the total value of the player’s cards will be either greater than 13 or less than 13. Exact 13 is a losing proposition in most situations; certain casinos allow wagers on Exact 13.
Super Sevens
This wager pays out if the player’s cards contain one or more sevens and is referred to as the “super sevens” bet. For example, one seven is worth 3:1, two sevens that are not suited pay 50:1, and two suited sevens are worth 100:1. Whenever the third playing card being dealt also contains a seven, then the amount paid out associated with the bet will be an amount of 500:1 for unsuitable cards and 5000:1 for suited cards. This happens if the third card which is dealt is also a seven. However, before you play in a casino, you should ensure that even if the dealer has a blackjack, you will still be dealt a third card. This is because some casinos do not follow this practice.
Lucky Ladies
If the player’s hand totals 20, the wager is deemed successful, and the payouts are as follows: 4:1 for an unsuited 20, 10:1 for a suited 20, 25:1 for a hand that matches in rank and suit, 200:1 for two queens of hearts, and 1000:1 for two hearts of queens when the dealer has Blackjack in side bets.
FAQs
Conclusion
Blackjack side bets are most effectively understood as an additional layer of complexity added to the overall experience of playing Blackjack at a table. Despite this, you should not make them the primary focus of your gameplay or your betting, as you must remain mindful of the greatly enhanced house edge that comes with playing these games within the online gambling website or the mobile app.
