Blackjack Side Bets

21+3

This is a popular side bet and it is based on the first cards dealt in each round – the two cards received by the player and the dealer’s face-up card. The 21+3 bet wins if the combination of these three cards is one of several possible poker hands, namely a Flush, Straight, a Straight Flush, a Three of a Kind, or a Suited Three of a Kind. Originally, all these combinations paid equally at 9:1 but nowadays, most casinos pay differently for each hand and the most common pay table is as follows:

• Flush – Three cards of the same suit – 5:1
• Straight – Three consecutive cards – 10:1
• Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same rank – 30:1 (25:1)
• Straight Flush – Three consecutive cards of the same suit – 40:1
• Suited Three of a Kind – Three identical cards – 100:1

These payouts for the 21+3 side bet are mostly found in online versions of blackjack. Land-based casinos tend to pay less for wagers of this type or offer equal payouts for the different outcomes – anything from 2.5 to 9 times the bet size.

Lucky Ladies

The Lucky Ladies side bet was introduced a couple of decades ago and is now extremely popular in brick-and-mortar casinos. It pays if the player’s initial hand totals 20, with certain combinations of cards paying more than others. This side bet comes in plenty of versions but the following pay table is most commonly offered:

• Player Queen of Hearts Pair plus Dealer Blackjack – 1,000:1
• Player Queen of Hearts Pair – 200:1 (125:1)
• Player Matched 20 (2 cards of the same suit and rank) – 25:1 (19:1)
• Player Suited 20 – 10:1 (9:1)
• Unsuited 20 – 4:1

As you can see, a pair of Queens is particularly rewarding, especially if the cards are hearts and the dealer has blackjack. However, there are several other versions of the Lucky Ladies side wager and in some of them, this outcome pays only 100:1.

Perfect Pairs

This is also quite a common side bet that can be found in both online and brick-and-mortar casinos. With it, players bet that they will be dealt a pair, i.e. two cards of the same rank. Depending on whether these cards are also of the same color or suit, the payouts will be different:

• Mixed Pair (Two cards of the same rank, yet of a different color) – 6:1 (5:1)
• Color Pair (Two cards of the same rank and color) – 12:1 (10:1)
• Perfect Pair (Two cards of the same rank and suit) – 25:1 (30:1)

There is an online version of this side bet and the payout depends not only on whether the pair is suited or not but also on the rank of the cards. Suited Aces, for instance, pay 40:1, while unsuited 2s bring a payout of only 2:1.

Over/Under 13

The Over/Under 13 side wager is offered at many brick-and-mortar casinos but it is rarely found online. With it, players bet whether the sum of their two initial cards is over or under 13. For this side bet, the Ace always counts as 1 and if the player’s hand totals 13, the bet loses. The Over/Under 13 bet is usually available in six and eight-deck games and it pays even money (1:1).

Super Sevens

Super Sevens, also known as Super 7’s or Lucky 7’s, is yet another popular side wager in blackjack. It pays when there are 7s in the player’s hand. In fact, the more 7s dealt in the round, the better. If the first card drawn to the player is a 7, the bet pays 3:1. If the second card is also a 7, the payout jumps to 50:1 for an unsuited pair of 7s and to 100:1 for a suited pair of 7s. Here is the complete pay table for the Super Sevens side bet:

• First Card is a 7 – 3:1
• Two Unsuited 7s – 50:1
• Two Suited 7s – 100:1
• Three 7s (player and dealer cards) – 500:1
• Three Suited 7s – 5,000:1

There are several variations of this side wager but this is probably the best offering right now. As you can see, players who decide to place it can win extraordinary rewards if the dealer’s upcard is also a 7.

Royal Match

The Royal Match side bet can be found in a wide variety of land-based casinos. Its name refers to the top bonus payout of 25:1 when the player’s first two cards are suited Queen and King. This wager also come in several versions and these are the most commonly offered payoffs:

• Easy Match (Any two cards of the same suit) – 5:2
• Suited Blackjack – 5:1
• Royal Match – 25:1