Blackjack itself has evolved over the years. There are over a dozen variations of the game, many of which offer blackjack side bets. These wagers are separate from your initial bet on your hand.
This article covers the differences of regular bets and side bets, popular side bets, strategy, if they’re worth it, and other blackjack playing tips.
What Are Blackjack Side Bets?
Side bets in blackjack are bets that can be placed before a hand is dealt in addition to the regular bet.
A regular bet is the bet you place at the start of each round before the cards are dealt.
This opening bet is standard in almost every variation of blackjack. To win this wager, all you have to do is beat the dealer’s hand.
How Are Blackjack Side Bets Different From Regular Bets?
Side bets are an additional wager you can place “on the side” of your regular bet. Many variations of the game will allow you to make side bets. These bets can often be won or lost regardless of whether you beat the dealer’s hand.
The conditions of each side bet are different. For example, some bets are about the cards in the dealer’s hand. Others may be about the cards in the player’s hand.
What Are the Most Popular Blackjack Side Bets?
There are many different types of side wagers. Some common side bets are insurance, perfect pairs, and 21 + 3.
Insurance Bet
Most side bets have to be made before any cards are dealt by the dealer. An Insurance wager is one of the rare exceptions to this rule.
Insurance wagers are also one of the few bets that are not made about the player’s own hand. Instead, you make this bet about the dealer’s hand.
To make an insurance wager, both you and the dealer must have already received your cards. If the dealer is showing an Ace, you may have the option of making an insurance bet. This wager wins if the dealer’s second card is 10 or a face card, giving them a natural blackjack.
An insurance wager pays 2:1, but the stake must be half of your original stake amount. So if you originally wagered $100, then you would have to bet an additional $50 for an insurance wager.
Perfect Pairs
Another commonly found blackjack side bet is the perfect pairs wager. Players have to decide on their perfect pairs bet before they receive any cards. To win this wager, you have to be dealt a pair as your starting hand. Payouts are determined by the type of pair you are dealt.
There are three types of pairs a player could receive.
- Mixed pair: Cards that are different colors and different suits
- Colored pair: A pair that has the same color (red or black) but different suits
- Perfect pair: Pairs of cards that are identical with the same color and suit
Blackjack side bets payouts vary from one casino to another. Mixed pairs are the lowest payout for this bet. A true perfect pair would be worth the most.
21 + 3
Some casinos also offer a 21 + 3 side bet on blackjack games. This wager brings a poker element to the game of blackjack.
For this wager, a player is allowed to use their own hand and the face-up card from the dealer’s hand. Players use these three cards to make the best three-card poker hand they can.
Blackjack side bets payouts for a 21 + 3 bet are based on the strength of the player’s hand. The five possible hands are:
- Flush
- Straight
- Three-of-a-Kind
- Straight Flush
- Suited Three-of-a-Kind
A three-card flush is the easiest to make and has the lowest payout as a result. A suited three-of-a-kind is the least likely to occur and has the highest payout in this version of blackjack.
How Do Blackjack Side Bets Work?
Casinos often offer a range of side bets, and while the rules may differ slightly depending on the blackjack variant you’re playing, the general principle remains the same. Players have the chance to earn additional payouts if certain combinations of cards appear, but it’s important to remember that these bets are separate from your main wager on the blackjack hand.
When Can You Place a Side Bet in Blackjack?
In most variations of blackjack, side bets must be placed before any cards are dealt. This means that players need to decide whether to place a side bet based on potential card combinations, without seeing their hand or the dealer’s hand. Since these bets are separate from your main wager, they are placed before the dealer begins dealing cards, giving you the chance to gamble on more specific outcomes.
However, there are exceptions. For example, Insurance is a unique type of side bet that can be placed after the initial cards are dealt, specifically when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace. Players can choose to bet on whether the dealer has a blackjack, offering a chance to mitigate losses if the dealer’s hand turns out to be a natural blackjack.
Some blackjack variants also offer side bets that extend throughout the game, such as bets involving multiple rounds or accumulative hands. These are less common, but it’s essential to check the specific rules of the blackjack variant you’re playing to understand when and how side bets can be placed.
What Are the Payouts for Common Blackjack Side Bets?
Payouts for blackjack side bets vary depending on the specific bet and the rules of the casino, but they are generally designed to offer higher returns compared to standard blackjack bets. Here are the payout structures for some of the most common side bets:
These payout ratios can differ slightly depending on the casino, but the general rule is that the less likely the event, the higher the potential payout.
Are Blackjack Side Bets Worth It?
Blackjack side bet payouts are typically lower than the true odds for the wager you are making. For example, your odds of winning an insurance bet are 35:16 in a single-deck game. But an insurance bet only pays 2:1.
This discrepancy helps the casino maintain the house edge. But it also prevents some players from making insurance bets altogether.
Insurance wagers are not the only side bet that has a lower payout than its true odds. In fact, most wagers in casino games offer lower payouts than their true odds. This helps the casino to make money.
The issue is that many people do not understand what they are truly betting on. With insurance wagers, you are betting on the card in the dealer’s hand being a 10. If it is, your insurance bet wins but your main wager loses.
At best, you break even with this side bet. At worst, both of your bets lose because the dealer does not have a 10, but still beats your hand anyway.
This does not mean that you should stay away from side bets entirely. Some side wagers, in the right situations, can give players the edge.
What Other Variations of Blackjack Feature Side Bets?
Some of the most popular blackjack variations that feature side bets include:
- Spanish 21: This variation offers several unique side bets, such as the “Match the Dealer” bet, where players wager on whether their cards will match the dealer’s upcard in rank.
- Free Bet Blackjack: Along with free doubling and splitting options, this variant includes a common side bet called “Push 22,” which allows players to win even if the dealer busts with a 22.
- Blackjack Switch: This version allows players to switch cards between two hands and features side bets like “Super Match,” where players bet on getting pairs, three-of-a-kind, or four-of-a-kind among their initial four cards.
- Pontoon: Similar to Spanish 21, Pontoon often includes side bets, with a focus on hands that feature specific card combinations such as five-card trick wins.
Can You Play Blackjack Side Bets Online?
Yes, casinos allow you to place side bets online, including the placement of side bets before the cards are dealt. Players can place side bets on popular options like Insurance, Perfect Pairs, and 21 + 3, with many online casinos displaying clear payout odds for each bet before you place your wager.
Are Live Dealer Games Different for Side Bets?
yes, side bets are often available in these games as well. However, there are some key differences when it comes to live dealer games and side bets:
- Real-Time Interaction: In live dealer games, side bets are placed in real-time, just like in a physical casino. The live dealer deals the cards, and you have a set time window to place your main bet and any side bets before the round begins. This creates a more immersive experience compared to fully digital blackjack games.
- Game Speed: Because live dealer games operate at a slower pace due to real-time dealing and interaction, you’ll have more time to think through your side bets. This can be an advantage for players who prefer to take their time evaluating odds and strategies before placing side wagers.
- Availability of Side Bets: While most live dealer blackjack games include popular side bets like Insurance, Perfect Pairs, and 21 + 3, the range of side bets might be more limited compared to purely digital online blackjack games. This is because live games must accommodate a larger number of players, and not all casinos offer the same side bet options for live dealer tables.
What Is The Super 7s Side Bet?
Super 7s, a popular blackjack side bet from the 1990s, offered players the chance to win big with just a $1 wager, but its 11.4% house edge made it highly profitable for casinos. The bet involved winning if the player’s first card was a 7, with higher payouts for multiple sevens, particularly suited 7s. Despite its initial popularity, card counters discovered a way to beat the bet, gaining up to a 60% edge, which led casinos to phase it out by the early 2000s.
Recently, Super 7s has made a comeback, primarily in online blackjack, though without the potential for card counting and with some unfavorable rules that can increase the house edge to nearly 50%. While Super 7s is available in some land-based and online casinos, players should be cautious of the game’s variations and the house edge before placing the bet. Other side bets like Hi-Lo, Royal Match, and 21+3 offer better odds for players looking to try their luck.
Which Casinos Offer the Best Side Bet Options?
We’ve listed some of our recommendations for online casinos with side bets below.
Wild Casino – If you enjoy having plenty of options, Wild Casino offers 20 RNG blackjack games and 26 live blackjack tables. Explore blackjack variety at Wild Casino and refine your strategy across different game types.
Wild Casino
Super Slots – Ready for some competition? Super Slots hosts blackjack tournaments with prize pools up to $20,000. Join blackjack tournaments at Super Slots and put your skills to the test.
Super Slots
Bovada – For an authentic experience, Bovada features 34 live dealer blackjack tables, with betting limits catering to both casual players and high rollers. Play live dealer blackjack at Bovada and immerse yourself in real-time action.
Bovada
DuckyLuck – If you want to practice first, DuckyLuck offers free play on six different blackjack games. Try free blackjack games at DuckyLuck to perfect your strategy before betting real money.
DuckyLuck
Thunderpick Casino – For crypto users, Thunderpick Casino provides a great selection of blackjack games, including 15 RNG tables and live dealer options. Play blackjack with crypto at Thunderpick and enjoy a seamless crypto-gambling experience.
Thunderpick Casino
What Are Some Related Blackjack Strategies and Tips?
Our guides cover blackjack strategy across a range of subjects, from the most beginner friendly guides to more advanced strategy.
- Blackjack beginner’s guide
- Basic strategy
- Beating blackjack: how the house edge works
- Managing your bankroll
Can Card Counting Help With Blackjack Side Bets?
While card counting is effective for regular blackjack, it has limited value when it comes to most side bets. Most blackjack side bets, such as Perfect Pairs or 21 + 3, are based on combinations of cards dealt during a single hand. These bets rely heavily on chance rather than what cards are left in the remaining deck, making card counting less useful. As an example, the Perfect Pairs bet only depends on whether you are dealt two matching cards. No amount of card counting can predict such an outcome.
What Are Some Advanced Blackjack Strategies You Can Use?
Advanced strategies are implemented to reduce the house edge. Ironically, advanced players tend to avoid side bets as they increase the house edge and make the game less profitable in the long run. Advanced strategies such as shuffle tracking, ace sequencing, and wonging allow players to predict how likely the cards being dealt will be advantageous to them. These advanced strategies don’t reap the benefits of the side bets, but allow the player to adjust the size of their regular bet if they are more or less confident about the next cards to be dealt.
