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Blackjack Side Bets Explained: Rules, Odds, Payouts
The objective of Blackjack is to defeat the dealer with a better hand than them valuing 21 or closest to it. Side bets are additional wagers placed on independent outcomes than the main game.
While you need to understand the game basics and play according to the basic strategy to increase your odds of winning against the dealer, when it comes to side bets, there is nothing to do to manipulate the outcome. In other words, blackjack side bets are entirely based on luck and this is the reason behind their popularity and risk.
So, are blackjack side bets really worth the risk? The short answer to this question is NO! Blackjack side bets are basically designed so the casino gains extra profit. The terrible house edge and odds prove this fact. That’s why most Blackjack pros advice against placing side bets while playing blackjack games.
However, such bets are true life changers similar to slots progressive jackpots , making them pretty alluring to novice and experienced players. So, let’s learn each side bet and see which one is worth the risk.
Blackjack Side Bets With The Best & Worst Odds
While none of the side bets have odds in favor of players, comparing the main factors involved in choosing a best bet; odds and house edge, some side bets are better than others, making them worthy of your money. Having said that, the following side bets in blackjack offer better odds of winning.
1. Perfect Pairs
In Perfect Pairs blackjack, you wager on the first two cards that the player gets. In this side bet, there are three ways that you can win:
- Mixed pairs. In Mixed pairs, the player’s first two cards have the same number, but come from different colors and suits. This side bet usually has a 5:1 payout rate.
- Colored pairs. When you have a colored pair, you win the bet because the player has two cards with the same number and color. But these cards are from different suits. The Payout for colored pairs is usually 10:1.
- Perfect pairs: As you can see in the name, everything about the player’s first two cards is perfect. They have the same number, color, and suit. And you can get a 30:1 payout if you get a perfect pair.
The odds of the Perfect Pairs depend on how many decks of cards are in the shoe and how many hands have been played before. So, you can’t calculate the exact odds for each bet. While the house edge for perfect pairs side bet varies between casino, it usually falls around 10%.
2. 21+3
In 21+3 side bet, the value of players two face up cards together with the dealer’s up card matter. In other words, the three cards make a three-card poker hand. The ranking is the same as in 3-card Poker. That said, there are five possible winning outcomes:
- When the three cards are the same number and the same suit. This is called a Suited Three-of-a-kind, and the payout is 100:1.
- When the three cards are the same suit, and make a sequence, you have a Straight Flush , and the payout is 35 or 40:1.
- When the three cards are the same number but not the same suit, that is a Three-of-a-kind, giving you 30 to 33:1 payout.
- When the three cards make a sequence but are not from the same suit. This is a Straight, paying 10:1.
- When the three cards are of the same suits but not in sequential order, it is a Flush with a 5:1 payout.
The side bet payouts vary depending on the casino and the number of decks used for the game. Hence, house edge varies from game to game, generally ranging from 2.78% to 13.39%.
3. 5, 6, or 7 Card Charlie
5 Card Charlie is an old rule in Blackjack that is nowadays used as a side bet in the game. As you know, the main objective of Blackjack is to get a hand value of 21 or closest to it. According to the 5 Card Carlie rule, you will win the game if you get 5 cards without going over 21.
The 5 Card Charlie side bet works the same. In this side bet, you wager to get 5 cards without going over 21 or the dealer getting a Blackjack. For example, in 5 Card Charlie, you will win if your 5 cards are 2, 5, 7, 3, and an Ace. In this case, the total value of your cards is 18. You will get a 5:1 payout if your dealer has not already gotten a Blackjack.
The 5 Card Charlie has two other variations:
- 6 Card Charlie, in which you will have to get 6 cards- 21 hand without going over. The payout is 10:1.
- 7 Card Charlie side bet pays out 30:1 if you get 7 cards valuing 21 without going over. The odds to get a 7-card 21 hand is 1 out of 4,600 played hands and there is no way to adjust the basic strategy to improve the odds. So, accept is as an unexpected bonus and try it only if you are ok to lose!
The number of land based and online casinos offering Card Charlie side bets at blackjack tables are limited. So, if you find a casino that does, you might want to try it once.
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4. Super 7s
As the name suggests, the idea behind this blackjack side bet is betting on the number of 7s you get in your hand. Typically, this side bet is offered at blackjack tables using six-deck of cards. If your first card is 7, the typical payout will be 3:1. If you get off suit 2 7s as your first two cards, you will be paid 50:1 and if the two 7s are suited, you will enjoy a 100:1 payout. If you are lucky enough to get the super seven, three 7 cards, you can enjoy the insane payout of 5000:1.
The payouts and house advantage varies among casinos. However, the typical pay table for super 7 blackjack side bet looks like this:
| Event | Payout |
| Suited 7-7-7 | 5000:1 |
| Off suit 7-7-7 | 500:1 |
| Suited 7-7 | 100:1 |
| Off suit 7-7 | 50:1 |
| 7 | 3:1 |
5. Over/under 13
The idea behind this side bet is pretty straightforward and if you are happened to be a sports bettor, you would have guessed how this side bet works. You wager on the value of your first two cards to be over or under 13. Typically, casinos count the value of 13 as a lost bet. The twist here is that Aces are counted as 1 and not either 1 or 11. The payout of this side bet is usually 10:1 making it one of the most straightforward and easiest blackjack side bets.
6. Insurance: The Ultimate Sucker Bet!
Insurance bet is the worst side bet with a higher house edge than almost all blackjack side bets. The Insurance bet is when the dealer gets an Ace as their up card and you can wager half your initial wager as insurance against the dealer’s possible Blackjack. The house edge in the Insurance bet is 6% which is a huge advantage making it an ultimate sucker bet.
There is more to the concept of insurance and how it differs from even money than the scope of this article. Make sure to read our guide on insurance in blackjack , where everything about this side bet is explained in detail.
Final Thoughts
Many professional Blackjack players would tell you to stay away from side bets because of their significant house edge. That is true! Side bets should be avoided, especially by novice players, and betting on side bets should not be considered a Blackjack strategy.
However, the promising life changing payouts of 1000 or 5000:1 is something that is hard to resist. So, if you are willing to take the risk, make sure to bet what you can afford, place side bets with better odds, and avoid betting the side bets consistently.
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