Over the last half a century or so, both brick-and-mortar and online casinos have introduced a host of side bets to their blackjack tables in an effort to attract more players and their action. What many unsuspecting patrons don’t know is that these side wagers also aim at improving the casinos’ margins, generating more long-term profits for the house.

1. What Are The Side Bets In Blackjack
2. Blackjack Trainer With Side Bet

Nevertheless, side bets are a good way to make blackjack more engaging when posted occasionally. While these wagers carry significant risk, they also have the potential to be quite rewarding, often returning many times your initial stake.

• The odds of the dealer achieving a blackjack are just over 9:4 against with the payout being 2:1 – this is a house edge of 12% for every insurance bet made. Perfect pairs is another side bet – this is the bet that.
• Hot 3 is a new live blackjack side bet that we can find on Infinite Blackjack and Free Blackjack tables.The side bet is a based on the totals or combination of the players first 2 cards and the dealers face up card. Player wins with a total of 19 and above with side bet blackjack payout odds.
• Lucky Lucky Blackjack: You get extra payout for reaching 19,20,21 with specific cards.
• In the original version of the 21+3 side bet, the payout for each of the winning hands was 9 to 1, resulting in a house edge of 3.24%. Nowadays, new pay tables have been introduced that have higher house.

The jackpot potential of the 777 side bet appeals to many players, and the regular payouts for Perfect Pairs is also popular. For me the 21+3 bet compares well, and is sure to have its fans. Casino software.

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In the following article, SuperCasinoSites explores the different side-bet options in blackjack, explaining their structure and how much they pay. We also take a look at these wagers’ theoretical return percentages and how they measure up against bets made in the base game.

Side Bets in Blackjack Explained

Side bets in blackjack are additional wagers players can make during the base game. They usually involve guessing what cards the dealer or the player will receive. In some instances, payouts are also awarded when the first two cards of the player and the dealer’s upcard form specific three-card poker hands.

It is important to understand these are entirely separate wagers and as such, they are settled independently from your original stake. They bear no relation to your odds of winning your main wager. Side bets must be posted at the start of a round before anyone has received their cards. They are settled immediately after the initial deal before players have made any playing decisions.

Another distinctive trait of side bets is that they offer significantly higher returns than the winning wagers in the main game. They require you to put a very small amount at stake, typically no more than a dollar.

Rather than paying even money like most other successful bets in blackjack, side bets could potentially earn you many times your stake depending on their probability of winning. In some cases, players can pocket payouts of up to 2,000 to 1. Not a bad return for a $1 wager, right?

With that in mind, we recommend players to experiment with these exciting wagers only occasionally and in moderation. Side bets yield considerably higher house edges and can quickly drain your bankroll if you are not careful.

Their outcomes have extremely long odds of winning and are based entirely on chance, although it is possible to exploit them to your advantage if you count cards. Card counting will enable you to identify the situations when certain side bets stand higher chances of winning due to the shoe’s changed composition.

Most Common Side Bets in Blackjack

There are many different side bets in blackjack but some are more commonly available than others. Perfect Pairs and the 21+3 side wagers are the most widespread options for players looking to earn a little extra on the side.

Online players can find them in RNG-based variations of the game such as those developed by Realistic Games, Playtech, NetEnt, RealTime Gaming, Microgaming, and Felt. The bets are posted in separate betting boxes. The payouts are displayed on the table layout although in some online variations you might find them in the game menu.

The Perfect Pairs and 21+3 side bets are also available across live dealer casinos powered by the Evolution Gaming software. They can be found in live variations like Blackjack Party, Free Bet Blackjack, and Infinite Blackjack, among others.

The Insurance Bet

Insurance is not your typical side wager in blackjack but is a side bet, nevertheless, because it is made independently from your original stake and has no impact on your odds of winning in the main game. Insurance is offered at the start of a round but only when the dealer shows an ace.

Players who accept this optional side bet must cover it with a wager equal to half their original stake. The dealer then peeks under their ace and pays the player at odds of 2 to 1 if their hole card is indeed a ten for a blackjack. The player loses their main bet in this case but breaks even for the round.

If the dealer does not have a ten in the hole, the player loses their insurance and the round continues as usual, with everyone at the table making their splitting, doubling, hitting or standing decisions. At first glance, accepting insurance seems like a good idea because it supposedly helps you protect your hands against potential dealer blackjacks.

It does nothing of this kind. Basic strategy players should avoid posting this optional wager at all costs no matter what hands they have. The insurance bet does not improve your chances of winning in any way. What it does, though, is yielding a monstrous house edge that far exceeds that in the base game.

The casino advantage on insurance bets ranges from 5.8% to 7.5% depending on the number of decks in play. Only card counters can exploit this side bet to their advantage. By keeping track of the cards that leave the shoe, they can identify the instances when the dealer indeed has higher chances of having a blackjack.

Insurance is never a profitable bet for basic strategy players because their playing decisions, as mathematically correct as they are, are based on a neutral shoe, i.e. they only have knowledge about their two cards and the dealer’s upcard.

The Perfect Pairs Set of Side Bets

Perfect Pairs is easily the most popular and commonly available side wager in blackjack. It comprises a category of side bets that win when the player’s first two cards are of equal rank like a pair of Queens or a pair of 8s, for example.

The dealer’s upcard has no bearing in this instance. Also important is to remember this wager loses or wins separately from the player’s main bet. The bet wins as long as you get any pair of cards. If not, the dealer collects your chips immediately after the initial deal before you make any playing decisions.

The payouts range from 30 to 1 to 5 to 1 depending on the probability of getting certain pairs. The poorer the odds for a specific pair, the higher it pays as you can see below. There are three types of pairs that pay in blackjack.

• Suited pairs consist of cards of the same suit and rank, such as [10s][10s]. These are called “perfect” pairs and offer the highest payout of 30 to 1 (25 to 1 in Playtech’s variation).
• Colored pairs comprise two offsuit cards that are of the same rank and color like [Qs][Qc], for example. They yield a payout of 10 to 1 or 12 to 1, depending on the online blackjack variation.
• Mixed pairs are those consisting of two cards of the same rank but of different suits and colors like [6s][6h]. Such pairs offer lower returns because of their higher probability of showing up. Some online blackjack variants pay at odds of 6 to 1 while others offer lower returns at odds of 5 to 1.

The 21+3 Set of Side Bets

The second broadly available set of side wagers in blackjack comprises the so-called 21+3 bets. You will find those in some online variations developed by software suppliers Realistic Games and Felt Gaming, among others. These are also available at many live-dealer tables by Evolution Gaming.

To win with a 21+3 side bet, you must make a qualifying poker hand that consists of three cards, your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard. The payouts range from 100 to 1 to 5 to 1 but there may be discrepancies in the paytables from one online blackjack variation to the next.

How much you pocket depends on your poker hand’s strength. The house edge on this group of side bets also varies depending on the payouts and the number of decks the respective blackjack game uses. Here are the qualifying poker hands and their payouts:

• The flush offers the lowest payout of 5 to 1 for three cards of the same suit like [6s][9s][Qs].
• The straight yields a payout of 10 to 1 for hands consisting of three cards of consecutive rank but of different suits. An example is [5s][6h][7c][8s][9d].
• Trips, i.e. three of a kind, pays at odds of 30 to 1 for three cards of the same rank like [Qs][Qd][Qh].
• The straight flush pays at odds of 40 to 1 for three cards of consecutive ranks and of the same suit like [10s][Js][Qs].
• The top payout is awarded for suited trips like [Ks][Ks][Ks] or [7d][7d][7d], for example. Such hands pay at casino odds of 100 to 1.

Other Supported Side Bets in Blackjack

Perfect Pairs and 21+3 are only some of the numerous side bets players can find in online blackjack. You won’t believe how inventive casinos are when it comes to increasing their margin and attracting new customers to their blackjack tables. Most of these are niche bets in the sense they are unique to specific blackjack variations developed by certain suppliers. We explain some of these exotic side wagers below.

The Lucky Ladies Bet

Lucky Ladies is among the best-known side wagers in landbased casinos across North America but recently made its debut online thanks to software developer Felt Gaming. These side wagers win when the player is dealt a two-card total of 20 or their starting hand features a Queen of any suit.

The biggest payout is awarded for paired Queens of hearts, otherwise known as the “lucky ladies”. Some variations offer staggering extra prizes of 1,000 to 1 if you get lucky ladies and the dealer has a blackjack at the same time. However, this payout is unavailable in Felt Gaming’s online variant. The exact payout depends on the rank of the player’s first two cards. Check out Felt’s paytable below.

• A pair of Queens of hearts yields the biggest payout of 100 to 1 and wins whenever the first two cards of the player are both Queen of hearts.
• Matched Twenty hands pay at casino odds of 30 to 1. You win when the first two cards you receive from the dealer are suited, have the same face value, and their total adds up to 20. An example is when you are dealt two Kings of spades.
• The Suited Twenty is pretty much self-explanatory. This hand wins at odds of 10 to 1 and comprises two suited cards whose combined value equals 20. One example is a hand that consists of a Jack of spades and a 10 of spades.
• The Any Twenty pays out 3 to 1 when your first two cards total 20 but are of different suites as is the case with a hand of Queen of spades and a Jack of diamonds.
• The Any Queen is the lowest payer out of all Lucky Ladies side bets because the player stands the highest chances of obtaining this hand, especially when multiple decks are in play. The only condition here is that your starting hand contains a Queen like [Qd][6s]. The card’s suit is irrelevant in this case. Any Queen pays even money, or 1 to 1.

Suit ‘Em Up Bets

The Suit ‘Em Up side bets are available at the blackjack tables at some landbased casinos in Las Vegas like the Red Rock Casino in the downtown part of the city. Software supplier Felt Gaming recently developed an online variation of the game, bringing a host of new side bets to the attention of online gambling mavens.

The exact house edge on the Suit ‘Em Up side wagers varies depending on the paytable and the deck number. Felt Gaming’s version, in particular, offers the following payouts for certain special hands consisting of suited cards.

• A pair of suited aces earns you a payout of 50 to 1. Some casinos would offer odds of 60 to 1 for this hand.
• A suited blackjack wins at odds of 10 to 1 whenever the player’s first two cards make a natural and are of the same suit like [Qs][As].
• Suited pairs win whenever the player has two cards of both the same rank and suit like [10s][10s]. The payout is 5 to 1.
• The suited eleven pays out 3 to 1 when your first two cards have a combined total of 11 and are of the same suit. Examples are [6s][5s], [8d][3d], [9h][2h], and [7c][4c].
• Two suited cards of any rank pay 2 to 1. You win as long as your first two cards are of the same suit and unlike ranks. One example is a hand of [6h][7h].

The Lucky Lucky Bet

Similarly to the 21+3 side bets, the Lucky Lucky side wagers are based on the player’s first two cards and the card the dealer is showing. According to American gaming expert and mathematician Michael Shackleford, this is the first ever group of blackjack side bets settled on the basis of players’ starting hand and the dealer’s upcard.

Lucky Lucky is available at numerous landbased casinos across Canada and the USA. You can now post it from the comfort of your home thanks to Felt Gaming, the software studio that adapted these side bets for online play. A Playtech version is also available online.

The Lucky Lucky paytables differ across landbased casinos and so does the number of decks in play. Some casinos use a single deck at their Lucky Lucky tables while others utilize as many as six. Felt Gaming’s version also incorporates six full decks and offers payouts for the following three-card hands:

• A hand of 7/7/7 of the same suit yields the highest return of 200 to 1.
• A hand of 6/7/8 of the same suit pays at odds of 100 to 1.
• 7/7/7 of different suits yields a payout of 50 to 1.
• 6/7/8 of different suits offers a payout of 25 to 1.
• A suited 21 wins whenever the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s upcard have a combined total of 21. The three cards must be of the same suit, however. The payout is 15 to 1.
• An offsuit 21 is basically the same as the suited 21, the only difference being the three cards’ ranks add up to 21 but are offsuit. The payout is lower at 3 to 1 because this hand is easier to obtain.
• A total of 20 wins the side bet as long as the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s upcard add up to 20. The cards’ suits are irrelevant in this instance while the payout stands at 2 to 1.
• A total of 19 also returns at odds of 2 to 1. The player wins as long as their first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card have a combined value of 19.

Dealer Bust Side Bets

Thanks to this group of side bets, blackjack players now have one more reason to rejoice when the dealer busts their hand by exceeding 21. With the dealer-bust side bet, you have the chance to pocket extra-large payouts when your dealer breaks their hand. How much you get depends on the number of cards the dealer has busted with.

In Felt Gaming’s version Buster Blackjack, the top payouts are awarded when the dealer exceeds 21 with specific cards. The general rule of thumb is the more cards it takes for the dealer to go over 21, the higher the side bet’s payout.

Understandably, the side bet loses when the dealer fails to bust. Unlike the rest of the side bets, the Buster wager is not settled at the start of the round. The player must first act on their hand and wait for the dealer to complete or bust theirs afterward.

In Felt’s variation of Buster Blackjack, the biggest prizes drop when the dealer busts with at least 7 or 8 cards against a player blackjack. Examine the rest of the payouts below.

• An 8+ dealer bust while the player has a blackjack offers the mind-blowing payout of 2,000 to 1. Do not get over-excited, though, as a dealer busting with eight or more cards is something that happens on extremely rare occasions. The payout is reduced to 250 to 1 if the dealer busts with eight cards but you lack the blackjack.
• A 7+ dealer bust occurs when the dealer exceeds 21 with seven or more cards. The Buster side bet returns at odds of 800 to 1 in this case but you need to have a blackjack to collect this payout. Without the blackjack, the dealer busting with 7 or more cards pays at lower odds of 50 to 1.
• A dealer bust with 6 cards pays at odds of 18 to 1.
• A dealer busting with 5 cards offers a payout of 4 to 1. This only happens around 1.9% of the time in a six-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17 (S17).
• Finally, we have a dealer busting with 4 or 3 cards, which yields a payout of 2 to 1. The likelihood of this happening stands at 26.6%. Meanwhile, the probability of the dealer not busting at all is a little over 71% so you better think twice before you overdo it with the Buster side bets.

Under/Over 13

The over/under 13 must be the simplest of all blackjack side bets. This category comprises a couple of wagers that win whenever the first two cards in the player’s hand have a total below or over 13. The side bet loses if the hand’s total is precisely 13.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the aces lose their flexibility when this side wager is in play. Rather than being counted as 1 or 11 depending on the player’s preferences, the aces are always assigned a value of 1.

This side bet is usually offered at select landbased blackjack tables that utilize either six or eight decks. Regardless, you are battling a terrible house edge with this side bet which stands at 6.5% for the over 13 proposition and 10% for the under 13 proposition.

The Royal Match Side Bet

The Royal Match side bet partially resembles Perfect Pairs because payouts are awarded when the player’s first two cards form specific suited pairs. How much you get depends on the complexity of getting the match.

Respectively, there are two types of matches with this side bet, an easy match and a royal match. An easy match is when you have a pair of two suited cards. This is easier to accomplish which is why the payout is only 5 to 2, or 2.5x your stake.

The royal match consists of a King and a Queen of the same suit like [Ks][Qs], [Kh][Qh], [Kc][Qc] or [Kd][Qd]. It pays at casino odds of 25 to 1. Some tables that support this group of side wagers also award bonus payouts of 5 to 1 when the player gets a blackjack consisting of suited ten-value cards and aces. Since the Royal Match is available in both pitch games and multi-deck blackjack, its house advantage fluctuates based on deck number.

Playing for the Progressive Jackpot with Side Bets

Progressive blackjack games are hard to come by but are well-worth the digging online because they have the potential to award life-changing prizes. In such games, players are normally required to post a small side bet, usually no more than a dollar, just to qualify for winning the pot.

There are two popular progressive blackjack games available for real-money online. One comes from the Playtech studio while the other one was developed earlier by supplier Microgaming. Let’s have a look at the Microgaming variation first.

Triple Sevens Blackjack by Microgaming

Triple Sevens is available at some Microgaming-powered casinos and offers a progressive pot that pays $80,000 on average. The progressive pot drops once every year or so. To play for the huge prize or a portion of it, you need to place an optional side bet of $1.

The entire pot goes to the player who obtains a hand of three sevens of diamonds. Needless to say, this affects the way you should play this hand, requiring you to deviate from basic strategy. Splitting paired sevens would obviously destroy your chances of winning the pot.

You are better off hitting your sevens no matter what card the virtual dealer shows in an attempt to draw a third card of this rank and pocketing a portion of the progressive prize. In this vein, smaller payouts from the progressive pool are awarded for the following hands:

• 1 seven of any suit pays 5 to 1.
• Paired sevens of any suit pay 25 to 1.
• Paired sevens of the same suit offer a payout of 50 to 1.
• Trips with sevens of any suit pay out at odds of 250 to 1.
• Trips with suited sevens (bar sevens of diamonds) pay at odds of 1,000 to 1.
• Triple sevens of diamonds award the entire progressive jackpot.

Progressive Blackjack with Side Bets by Playtech

Playtech’s take on progressive blackjack allows you to play anywhere between one and five hands per round. A single-hand version of the game is also available at some Playtech-powered casinos. Similarly to Microgaming’s version, you must play the jackpot side bet to even stand a chance of collecting the progressive prize.

The side bet is again a nominal amount, only a dollar. However, playing it each round can quickly leave you with an empty balance so we advise caution with this side wager. To win the pot or the entire prize pool, you are expected to draw one or more aces.

You should draw the aces consecutively, which means hands like [As][7h][As] do not qualify for larger portions of the pool. We recommend you wait until the jackpot goes being $581,000 as otherwise, you are playing a negative expectation game. The payouts for the progressive side bets are as follows:

• A single ace in your hand offers the smallest payout of 5 to 1.
• A pair of aces awards a payout of 50 to 1.
• Two aces of the same suit pay 100 to 1.
• Three offsuit aces pay 250 to 1.
• Four offsuit aces pay 2,500 to 1.
• Three aces of the same suit pay 5,000 to 1, the biggest portion of the pool.
• Four suited aces award the entire progressive jackpot.

Side Bets and Theoretical Player Return Percentages

The massive payouts are easily one of the most enticing aspects of playing the blackjack side bets, along with the added excitement these wagers yield to one’s gameplay. With that said, casinos do not offer side bets just to spice things up a little for their patrons.

The main goal here is to attract more customers to the blackjack table and lull them into playing bets with a huge negative expectation value. Or no value at all, depending on how you look at things.

As much as we hate to say it, side bets offer a significantly lower theoretical return to player than that in the main blackjack game. We advise you to look up the table below to see precisely what you are up against in terms of house edges and player return percentages with the most common side bets. By way of comparison, the base game has a house edge of roughly 0.50% with perfect basic strategy and an RTP of 99.50%.

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games mainly due to it being relatively easy to understand and play along with the fact that is has a very low house edge when played with optimum blackjack strategy.

As well as being able to bet on your hand against the dealers, many blackjack tables give you the option of betting on a range of side bets. There are a number of different side bets available depending on the casino you’re playing at and the individual table. Some of these side bets can return huge profits when hit for a relatively low stake on them which makes them attractive to many players. Especially when they see other players at the table winning on their side bets.

However, are side bets worth it? Do they have value? What are the odds of a side bet on blackjack?

We’ll be answering all these questions in this article to ensure you get the most value from your bets.

What Are Blackjack Side Bets?

As mentioned, there are a number of different side bets available and the ones you’ll be able to bet on will depend on the casino and table you’re playing at and if they offer them. However, there are some more common blackjack side bets which are the ones we will be focusing on in this article. Those side bets are:

1. Perfect Pairs
2. 21+3
3. Insurance

We’ll be taking a look at these two side bets individually and showing you how they work along with a bit of math to determine whether or not they have value.

Perfect Pairs

First up we have Perfect Pairs which is perhaps the most popular blackjack side bet.

When betting on Perfect Pairs, you are betting on the two cards which you are initially dealt being the same. They don’t have to be of the same suit but the payouts are greater if they are.

For example, if you bet on Perfect Pairs and you were dealt two sixes, your side bet would win. If you were dealt two Jacks, your side bet would win, and so on.

It’s a simple side bet to understand which is why it is so popular.

What Are The Payouts For Perfect Pairs?

The payouts for perfect pairs vary depending on the number of decks of cards in the shoe along with the table you’re playing at. Some casinos offer different payouts on Perfect Pairs but in our example, we’ll be using the payouts which the majority of online casinos in the UK use. Typically, online casinos such as William Hill, 888Casino, Paddy Power and others use 8 decks in their shoes.

So, if you were to place a £1 Perfect Pair side bet and you were dealt 2 x 6 of hearts, your returns would be £26. This doesn’t include any potential winnings from your hand against the dealers. Regardless of whether your hand wins, you will still be paid for your winning side bet.

What Are The Odds For Perfect Pairs?

In order to decide whether or not the Perfect Pairs side bet has value, we must determine the probability of winning the side bet and compare it to the payouts. This will give us the house edge.

Perfect Pair Probability

A perfect pair, which is a pair of the same cards and the same suit, pays out at 25/1.

In a show which has 8 decks, there are a total of 416 cards. One of these cards will have already been dealt to you and so by using the number of remaining cards we can determine the probability of the same card being dealt next.

So, one card has been dealt which leaves 415 cards. Only 7 of these cards are the same as the one which you have been dealt and so the odds of you receiving a second card which is the same as your first card are 7/415 which is around a 1.69% chance.

Perfect Pair Probability = 1.69%

Coloured Pair Probability

If you receive a pair of the same cards which are of the same colour but have different suits, the payout on your perfect pair side bet is 12/1.

Again, as you have been dealt one card, there are 415 remaining cards and this time there are 8 cards remaining in the deck which could give you a coloured pair.

Therefore, there is an 8/415 chance that you will be dealt a coloured pair which is around a 1.93% chance.

Coloured Pair Probability = 1.93%

Mixed Pair Probability

The final Perfect Pair side bet which you can win is a mixed pair (one red & one black) which pays out at 6/1.

When you are dealt your first card, there are 415 cards left in the shoe and there are 16 cards remaining which will result in a coloured pair.

This means that there is a 16/416 chance that you will be dealt a coloured pair which is around a 3.86% chance.

Mixed Pair Probability = 3.86%

Perfect Pair Expected Value

Now that we’ve determined the probability of each of the perfect pair possibilities occurring, we can use the payouts offered to determine the Expected Value of each.

To do this, we simply multiply the probability by the payout odds.

Perfect Pair Expected Value = 25 x 1.69% = 0.4225

Coloured Pair Expected Value = 12 x 1.93% = 0.2316

Mixed Pair Expected Value = 6 x 3.86% = 0.2316

Perfect Pair RTP (Return To Player)

To determine the RTP of a Perfect Pair side bet, we simply need to add the three possibilities listed above together.

Perfect Pair RTP = 0.4225 + 0.2316 + 0.2316 = 0.8857 = 89%

Perfect Pair House Edge

The house edge of a Perfect Pair side bet can be determined by subtracting the RTP from 100%.

Perfect Pair House Edge = 100% – 89% = 11%

Advantages of Perfect Pairs

A house edge of around 11% is extremely high. So, why do players bet on perfect pairs if they know that the odds are stacked heavily in favour of the casino?

The main appeal to betting on perfect pairs is the potential for very high returns. Hitting a perfect pair at 25/1 early on in a session can give your bankroll a big boost.

However, it’s important to look at the bigger picture when playing any casino game and you always want to do whatever you can to keep the house edge to a minimum if the aim is to make money.

Therefore, we would advise against placing Perfect Pair side bets.

Disadvantages of Perfect Pairs

The disadvantage of Perfect Pair side bets is that they have a high house edge. If the house edge is greater than that of playing a standard hand of blackjack, then your money is better spent on the hand rather than the side bet.

21+3

What Are The Side Bets In Blackjack

21+3 is another popular side bet when playing blackjack and unlike Perfect Pairs from which you can win in 3 ways, 21+3 has 5 different ways to win.

Another difference between 21+3 and Perfect Pairs is that instead of just using the two cards which you are dealt, with 21+3, you are using your two cards as well as the dealers up-turned card.

When placing a 21+3 side bet, you are betting on any of the following occurring.

1. Suited Three of a Kind: Your two cards and the dealer’s up-turned card are identical, including value, suit and colour.
2. Straight Flush: Your two cards and the dealer’s up-turned card are suited and make a numerical sequence eg 6 diamonds, 7 diamonds, 8 diamonds.
3. Three of a Kind: Three cards the same but not matching suits
4. Straight: Three cards which make a numerical sequence but not matching suits
5. Flush: Three cards of the same suit

What Are The Payouts For 21+3 Side Bets?

Just like with the Perfect Pairs side bet, payouts can vary depending on the online casino you’re playing at, the variation of the blackjack game and the number of decks being used.

The following payouts are most common for UK players playing on live dealer tables powered by providers such as Evolution Gaming.

For example, if you placed a £1 21+3 side bet and you were dealt 2 x 9 of hearts and the dealer was also dealt a 9 of hearts, you would receive £101 back along with any winnings from your hand.

21+3 Side Bets House Edge

The original 21+3 side bet paid out at 9/1 for a winning hand which resulted in a house edge of 3.24%. However, newer pay tables mean that there is greater volatility in house edges which depend on the card which you are dealt and the cards which remain in the shoe at the time of the hand being dealt.

There are different variations of 21+3 which have a house edge ranging from 2.78% all the way up to 13.39% but the theoretical RTP of a 21+3 side bet is 95.38% which gives a house edge of 4.62%.

Blackjack Insurance

The final blackjack side bet we will be covering in this article is Blackjack Insurance. Players are only offered this bet when the dealer is dealt an Ace.

Players are offered insurance after their cards have been dealt and only if the dealers up-card is an Ace.

Players can choose to take insurance for a cost of half of their original bet. Should the dealer have Blackjack, the players insurance bet will pay out at 2/1.

Blackjack Trainer With Side Bet

For example, if you placed a £10 bet on your hand too insurance after the dealer showed an Ace, the cost for the insurance bet would be £5. Should the dealer have Blackjack, you would receive back £15 from your insurance bet as well as anything you win from your hand.

Many players see insurance as a good bet as they can receive their overall stake back from the hand should the dealer have blackjack. However, in the majority of cases, it is mathematically a bad bet.

Blackjack Insurance House Edge

To make the calculations a bit easier, in this example, we will be using one 52 card deck.

If you were dealt two cards, let’s say a 6 and a 7, and the dealer was dealt an Ace, there are 49 cards remaining in the deck. 16 of these remaining cards have a value of 10 which would give the dealer Blackjack.

To determine the odds of the dealer having blackjack, we simply need to divide the number of cards in the deck which wouldn’t result in Blackjack by the number of cards which would.

Blackjack Insurance Odds = 33 / 16 = 2.0625 to 1

However, when you place an insurance bet, you only get offered odds of 2/1.

This works out as a house edge of around 2% – 3% which may not seem too bad. However, the house edge of Blackjack Insurance can fluctuate and be a lot higher.

Should your hand contain a 10-value card, then there is a reduced chance that the dealer has blackjack as there are fewer cards to do so. This increases the house edge significantly and if you are holding two 10-value cards, it can be as high as 14%.

Is Insurance A Bad Bet In Blackjack?

Based on the house edge we’ve determined above, this would make taking insurance a bad bet. However, there may be exceptions.

If you know that a lot of 10-value cards remain in the shoe, then taking insurance could be a wise bet. You will only be able to determine this if you are card counting but it can reduce the house edge significantly and in some circumstances, actually give you the edge!