Blackjack Side Bets Explained: Choose the Winning Option
You may think you only have the main course of betting when playing blackjack, but you would be wrong, as there are additional betting options known as blackjack side bets. Here I will discuss the particulars related to side bets you can place in blackjack and the impressive payouts you stand to win.
What are Blackjack Side Bets?
Side bets in blackjack are additional bets you can place during the blackjack game and are solely dependent on luck. Blackjack side bets involve predicting which cards the players or the dealer will receive, and these come in several options with various options, which I’ll outline below.
You must place most blackjack side bets before each round starts!
Why Place Side Bets in Blackjack?
It would be best to consider placing side bets in blackjack because of the potential to win massive payouts. Blackjack has a house edge of about 2%, and good blackjack players can lower the house edge to about 0.5% using smart moves and blackjack strategy. However, the blackjack side bets usually come with a higher house edge, usually around 10% or more. Still, there are several reasons why you should consider placing side bets in blackjack:
- Potential Winnings: the side bets in blackjack usually have higher payouts than the main bets, which is the main lure of placing side blackjack bets.
- Variety in Betting: blackjack is a game with a single main bet, and placing side bets in blackjack adds some variety to the gameplay, adding variety.
- Excitement: placing side bets in blackjack offers a venue for excitement, as these have high stakes and provide an extra layer of excitement to the blackjack game.
Blackjack Side Bets Pros and Cons
There are advantages and disadvantages to placing side bets in your blackjack game. Please note that you can’t count cards and improve your chance of winning the side bet. Besides the appeal of winnings and high payouts, there is also the risk of losing money, and here I’ve compiled the pros and cons of playing blackjack side bets:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Variety in betting | Risk of losing money |
| Added excitement | |
| Potential winnings |
How to Place Side Bets in Blackjack?
Placing a side bet in blackjack is simple and can be a fun way to spice up your blackjack experience. I recommend you start placing side blackjack bets after you become familiar with the blackjack rules and become good at the game. Here are the steps you must take to place side bets in blackjack:
- Place a regular bet on the circle or box on the blackjack table.
- Now select the side bet as per your bet limit.
- Place your bet on the side bet areas around the box
- If you win, the payout will be credited to your account.
Common Side Bets in Blackjack
Side bets in online blackjack are available at many online casinos. Based on my personal experience, platforms that carry blackjack games from Evolution Gaming and Playtech offer superior online blackjack experience and an excellent array of blackjack side bets. Thus, I recommend you try playing blackjack at 10Cric or enjoy 22Bet’s exceptional offers, as these two online casinos carry top blackjack selections. To know what to look for, I’ve listed the most popular side bets in blackjack you can play online:
Perfect Pairs
The perfect pairs side bet in blackjack is played on the first two cards that are dealt – you bet that you will get a perfect pair of cards. The different online casinos have different options and RTPs, but almost all allow the perfect pairs side bet. Here are the possible variants of the perfect pairs side bet in blackjack you will find at different casinos:
| Perfect Pairs Side Bet | Description | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect pair | same value cards in the same color and the same suit | 25:1 |
| Colored pair | same value cards in the same color and different suits | 12:1 |
| Mixed pair | same value cards in different colors and suits | 6:1 |
21+3
The 21+3 is the most popular side bet in blackjack. The bet entails creating a poker hand using the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up card. The 21+3 side bet is most often played in European blackjack variants, and there are several different combinations you can make, each with different payouts:
| 21+3 Side Bet | Description | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Flush | The cards are suited | 5:1 |
| Straight | The cards are consecutive | 10:1 |
| Three of a kind | The cards are of the same value, but not the same suit | 30:1 |
| Straight flush | The cards are consecutive and of the same suit | 40:1 |
| Suited triple | The cards are of the same value and the same suit | 100:1 |
Insurance
An insurance bet is a popular option as a side bet in blackjack, and it allows you to cover your losses should the dealer get a natural blackjack. Still, you must be careful with this bet, as you must place it after the cards are dealt. You will only win this bet if the dealer scores 21, with a payout of 2:1. However, if the dealer does not score 21 (natural blackjack), you will lose this side bet, even if you win the round.
Royal Match
The royal match is available in many online blackjack variants, and I recommend you try the side bet at 22Bet. Per the rules of the royal match side bet, you bet that your first two cards will be suited, where you stand to win a payout of 5:2. Should you get a suited K and Q, you stand to win a payout of 25:1.
| Royal Match de Bet | Description | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Match (K&Q) | You get suited K and Q | 25:1 |
| Royal Match | You get any to suited cards | 5:2 |
Over/Under 13
The Over/Under 13 is a very straightforward side bet in blackjack, where you bet on the prediction that your two initial cards will be over or under 13. If you make a correct prediction, for example, bet and get a hand under 13, you stand to win a payout of 1:1. Please note that there is no difference what cards create the hand, as long as you are correct in your assumption.
Super Sevens
The Super Sevens bet includes sevens, and this bet is very commonly found at blackjack tables at many online casinos. The Super Sevens side bet involves betting that you’ll get one or more sevens in your hand, and the different variations of this side bet stand to win you massive payouts:
| Super Sevens Side Bet | Description | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| One seven | Your hand has one seven | 3:1 |
| Two unsuited sevens | Your hand contains two unsuited sevens | 50:1 |
| Two unsuited sevens | Your hand contains two suited sevens | 100:1 |
| Hat-Trick | Your hand has three unsuited sevens | 500:1 |
| Identical Sevens | Your hand contains three suited sevens | 5000:1 |
Other Blackjack Side Bets to Try
Above, you can see the most commonly found and played side bets in blackjack that most online casinos in India offer. For example, you can play any of these at 10Cric, and experience the excitement of waiting for the draw of the cards. But these are not the only blackjack side bets, and the list below shares more possible blackjack side bets:
- Hot 3: An exclusive bet at the Infinite blackjack game provided by Evolution Gaming. This side bet involves the player’s two cards and the dealer’s up card, placed at the start of the round. To win this side bet, you must get a blackjack using these three cards, and depending on the score, you can get a payout of 1:1 to 100:1.
- Bust It: Evolution Gaming’s infinite blackjack table offers this side bet, involving betting on the dealer going bust, and the payout is 5:2.
- Buster: Similar to the Bust It side bet above, Playtech Gaming blackjack variants offer the Buster side bet, which involves betting on the dealer going bust. The payouts vary per the number of cards needed for the dealer to go bust, and there is a unique option should the dealer go bust and the player gets a blackjack.
- Lucky Ladies: this blackjack side bet lets you bet on 20, and if you are correct and you get a score of 20, you stand to win a 4:1 payout. However, if you get a suited hand, you can win a 10:1 payout; if you get a suited and same-value card, the payout rises to 25:1, and if you are fortunate and get suited Queens of Hearts, you stand to win a 200:1 payout.
- Lucky Lucky: The Lucky Lucky side bet in blackjack is attractive, as it involves betting on the combination of the player’s cards and the dealer’s up card. If these three are suited 7s, the payout is 200:1; if these are suited 6-7-8, the payout is 100:1; unsuited 7s give a payout of 50:1; unsuited 6-7-8 give 30:1, and a suited total of 21 gives you a possible payout of 15:1.
Should You Play Blackjack Side Bets?
The blackjack side bets are utterly dependent on luck, and they can be really appealing to you, as they allow you to win massive payouts even if you lose the main bet. Still, the blackjack side bets come with a dose of risk, as you get one chance at winning.
“The primary purpose of side bets in blackjack is to keep you engaged in the game and encourage you to play more rounds of blackjack. Still, I must caution you to be careful when placing side bets in blackjack, as you can quickly lose track of your bankroll and lose the money you can’t afford to lose. I urge you to be practical and play wisely to get the most out of your online blackjack experience.” – Rohit Parmar, casino expert at ProIndianCasinos.
Where to Play Side Bets in Blackjack?
Many online casinos accept side bets in blackjack, as these mainly depend on the online blackjack game provider. I’ve found that Evolution Gaming and Playtech’s blackjack variants provide the best side bet options, so I suggest you look for these names when playing online blackjack. Where to find these, you may ask? These are reputable online game providers that cooperate with reputable online casino platforms.
When I say reputable, I mean online casinos in India with active licenses, varied deposit methods, sound design, seamless navigation, game variety, and timely customer support. From my extensive experience playing online casino games and playing blackjack, I can freely suggest you try the blackjack side bet options at these online casinos:
FAQs
How much do side bets in blackjack cost?
The side bets in blackjack are usually affordable, with most of them costing only $1 to place. Still, this depends on your chosen online casino, the blackjack variant, and the blackjack game provider.
What blackjack side bet has the best payouts?
One of the most appealing payouts from a blackjack side bet is the Super Sevens side bet, where if you are lucky enough to get three identical sevens, you stand to win a 5000:1 payout.
What blackjack side bet has the worst payouts?
One of the worst side bets you can place is the insurance bet, as this comes with a 1:1 payout and has the lowest winning odds and perhaps the highest house edge.
What is the most profitable side bet in blackjack?
The 21+3 is one of the most profitable side bets in blackjack, as this one has perhaps the best winning chances of all. Of course, you can win a 100:1 payout if you have a suited triple hand.
Are there side bet strategies?
No, side bets are not strategies, but these are solely dependent on luck and serve to spice up the usually single-bet blackjack round.