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Blackjack side bets explained
Play blackjack on Royal Panda’ live dealer blackjack tables. If you are already familiar with the game of blackjack and you are interested in boosting your bet payouts, it is time to dive into some optional bets.
In this quick guide you will find more information about live casino side bets and how to place them at Royal Panda live blackjack casino. Side bets can be an effective way to increase your chances of winning and make the dealer bust. Take advantage of such popular side bets as Perfect Pairs and 21+3 for a chance to win fantastic payouts!
Blackjack side bets
Online blackjack is one of the most popular card games that many players enjoy when playing at Royal Panda Casino. This casino card game is played between the dealer and the player, with the main aim of ending with a card total that does not exceed 21, but would also be higher than the dealer’s hand.
A key part of playing online blackjack is by placing bets on the predicted outcome of any game. However, players can also place several other wagers when playing blackjack, which are collectively referred to as side bets.
Keep reading this guide, where we will cover the main blackjack side bets that can be placed when playing this game, going over key information such as side bets blackjack odds, and also cover some leading blackjack games that you can test out here at Royal Panda Casino.
What are Blackjack side bets?
During the course of a blackjack game, players can place side bets, which are additional wagers that cover more unique potential outcomes from a round. In fact, blackjack side bet payout rates are generally much lower than standard bets, so it is more difficult to reap higher rewards from such bets.
However, there is also the potential for a higher reward when a higher risk is taken – which not only makes side bets an exciting aspect of blackjack gameplay, but also a very tempting prospect.
A key feature of side bet blackjack wagers is that they are entirely optional, and are generally placed just before the next round begins. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular blackjack side bets available at Royal Panda.
Popular Blackjack side bets
If you want to place a side bet when playing a game of blackjack, you can do so by placing additional chips on a specific section of the table before the cards are dealt.
The most common side bets are those that see players wagering on forming a winning combination with their first two cards, or else by wagering on the expected combination of a player’s two hole cards and the dealer’s face-up card.
These are now as 21 + 3 (or 21 3 blackjack) and Perfect Pairs (or pair square blackjack). Players often opt for these two types of wagers as they offer favourable blackjack side bet payout rates.
21+3 Blackjack
When it comes to online casino card games, it is very common to have some overlap in gameplay. In fact, the 21+3 side bet in blackjack was actually derived from poker. This is because this wager depends on you creating a usable three-card ‘poker’ hand from a combination of your two cards and the dealer’s face-up card.
As with poker, the better the combination, the higher the expected blackjack side bets payout. But as well, the better the combination, the less likely the possibility of landing it!
Here are some of the key scenarios to expect from 21+3:
- Flush – a combination formed by three cards of the same suit, and also one of the most common outcomes of this side bet.
- Straight– landing three cards in a numbered sequence of any suit, for example 3, 4, 5. As in blackjack, the Ace can be either used as the high card, or as a 1 in the presence of a 2 and 3.
- Three-of-a-kind – a combination which consists of the cards having the same number (for example 6, 6, 6), or having the same face card value (such as Q, Q, Q).
- Straight Flush– a numbered sequence of cards of the same suit.
- Suited Three-of-a-kind – a rare but lucrative combination of cards having the same number of face card value, but being of the same suit. This is possible in blackjack as multiple decks are used.
Perfect Pairs
The second most popular side bet in blackjack is Perfect Pairs, also sometimes referred to as Pair Square Blackjack. This bet is even simpler than the 21+3 one, as it only takes into account the two hole cards in the player’s hands.
The Perfect Pairs bet is placed before the beginning of a round, so before the player receives their hand. There are 3 different possible bets that can be placed on the expected outcome of the hand:
- Mixed Pair– the outcome of the two hole cards are two cards of the same value but having a different suit
- Coloured Pair– a hand composed of cards of the same colour but not the same suit, such as one heart and one diamond or one club and one spade
- Perfect Pair– a hand consisting of cards of the same suit
Blackjack side bets FAQs
Here are some questions frequently asked by blackjack players. Check out the list of the most common questions that players ask when starting to play blackjack.
Can you play both blackjack side bets?
This means that a player would like to place two different side bets in one round. Is it possible?
The answer is Yes!
Some players enjoy placing the 21+3 and Perfect Pairs side bets at once as it spices things up for them, and also increases the overall odds of landing a big win before the game even starts.
However, it is important to consider that placing multiple bets at once can lead the bankroll mismanagement, so beginners should avoid doing so unless they are fully confident in their blackjack skills.
How to place blackjack side bets in three steps?
- Step 1: Place a regular bet on the circle or box
- Step 2: Place a blackjack side bet on the side bet areas around the box
- Step 3: Enjoy great payouts if your side bet wins!
What is a Perfect Pair in blackjack games?
When playing the blackjack Perfect Pairs side bet, and your first two cards are a pair, there are three winning scenarios:
- Mixed pairs (e.g. King of Diamonds and King of Clubs) - 6:1
- Colored pairs (e.g. King of Diamonds and King of Hearts) - 12:1
- Perfect pairs (e.g. two King of Diamonds) - 25:1
Insurance bet – is it a type of Side Bet?
Yes, even though ‘insurance’ is not necessarily classified as a complex side bet like 21+3 and Perfect Pairs, a lot of players still opt for it before a round begins.
When a dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, the player will be given the option of placing an insurance side bet before the dealer reveals other cards. This side bet protects the player in the likely scenario that the dealer gets a Blackjack.
What are the 21+3 blackjack odds?
The popular 21+3 blackjack side bet is based on the first two cards dealt to the player and the dealer’s face up card. You win if the combination of these cards is either:
- Suited trips (e.g. Three Queen of Diamonds) – 100:1
- Straight flush (e.g. Jack, Queen, and King of Diamonds) – 40:1
- Three of a kind (e.g. Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Clubs and Jack of Hearts) – 30:1
- Straight (e.g. Six of Diamonds, Seven of Clubs, and Eight of Hearts) – 10:1
- Flush (e.g. Jack, King, and Ace of Diamonds) – 5:1
Bet Behind
The fourth most common side bet, which is also not technically a side bet blackjack but is still included in this guide due to its popularity, is Bet Behind.
Bet Behind is a wager that a player places on the outcome of a hand that is dealt to another player, and can be made by both a player sitting at a blackjack table or a spectator observing from behind (hence the name!).
In fact, this is one of the main reasons why the Bet Behind side bet is very popular in live dealer casino games, as it allows players to participate in a blackjack game even if the table is full.
In order to keep this side bet fair, most online casinos will limit the wagers from a Bet Behind side bet, as they would prefer to avoid spectators landing bigger wins than the actual players!
Five-Card Charlie
The final side bet blackjack that we will cover in this guide is Five-Card Charlie, which is not as common as the previously mentioned four side bets, but is still prevalent with many players.
The main reason why 5-Card Charlies is a rarer side bet is mainly due to its requirements – in order for a player to win, they must be dealt five cards by the dealer and not go bust, and the dealer must also not have Blackjack.
The gameplay for 5-Card Charlies differs when compared to other side bets, and involves the following steps:
- You must choose the amount to wager and place it on the table before the dealer starts distributing cards.
- You must wait for all the players to receive their cards around the table.
- If the dealer lands a 10-value card, they can check for Blackjack. If they have it, then your wager is lost.
- Continue playing your hand each time your turn arrives. If you manage to get five cards without going bust, then you win the side bet.
- If you go bust or land a decent hand value before reaching five cards, then you will lose your wager.
Some online casinos can also offer variations of this side bet, referred to as 6-Card Charlie or 7-Card Charlie, where they increase the number of cards required to win the side bet.
Other great side bet Blackjack options to test out
Seeing as blackjack is played with multiple decks, this creates the opportunity to create more interesting card combinations, which opens up the field for even more exciting side bets.
Several casinos online will use different side bets as a way of attracting new Blackjack players, offering a mix of popular wagers and more niche side bets.
Let’s take a look at some other great side bet blackjack options that you could test out:
- Royal Match – a side bet that is exclusively focused on Face Cards. Any suited player’s cards make for the most common outcome, with a suited King and Queen having the best blackjack side bets payout.
- Over/Under 13– a side bet that pays even money for predicting the expected outcome of the sum of a player’s cards as being either less or greater than 13. For this side bet, landing a 13 loses the wager.
- Honey Bonus – a side bet that is very similar to the 21+3 but with the difference that the wager is still valid if you land a Blackjack of the same suit with your hole cards. This side bet also has lower payouts when compared to 21+3.
- Super Sevens – an interesting blackjack side bet that focuses on the number 7, where it pays out if one or more sevens are present in a player’s hole cards. The higher the number of sevens of the same suit, the better the payouts, with three suited sevens being the optimal outcome.
- Lucky Ladies – another combination side bet that sees players betting on the expected outcome of their hole cards adding up to 20. In addition, specific combinations of 10-value cards give higher payouts, with two queens of hearts being the optimal hand.
Blackjack side bets payout explained
We have covered quite a number of side bets in this guide, but which ones have the most decent payouts?
Here are some key blackjack side bets payout values to keep in mind when playing blackjack online at Royal Panda casino:
21+3 Side bets blackjack odds in numbers
When looking at the various side bets blackjack odds, the side bet with the best odds but with a lower return will be the Insurance side bet. On the other end of the spectrum, the side bet with the lowest odds but with the highest payout potential is the Three Suited Sevens hand in the Super Sevens side bet.
Check out the detailed summary of blackjack side bets odds below:
| Flush | 5:1 |
|---|---|
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Three of a kind | 30:1 |
| Straight flush | 40:1 |
| Suited three of a kind | 100:1 |
Perfect Pair Side bets blackjack odds
| Mixed pair | 5:1 |
|---|---|
| Coloured pair | 10:1 |
| Perfect pair | 30:1 |
Insurance
The Insurance side bet carries side bet blackjack odds of 2:1.
Honey Bonus
| Suited blackjack | 3:1 |
|---|---|
| Flush | 5:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Three of a kind | 20:1 |
Super Sevens
| One Seven | 3:1 |
|---|---|
| Two Sevens (Unsuited) | 50:1 |
| Two Sevens (Suited) | 100:1 |
| Three Sevens (Unsuited) | 500:1 |
| Three Sevens (Suited) | 5000:1 |
Lucky Ladies
| 20 (Unsuited) | 4:1 |
|---|---|
| 20 (Suited) | 10:1 |
| 20 (same rank and suited) | 25:1 |
| Two Queens of Hearts | 200:1 |
| Two Queens of Hearts and dealer has blackjack | 1000:1 |
Are Blackjack Side Bets worth the effort?
If you’re an online casino player who is just starting to dip their toes in the world of online blackjack, are all these different side bets even worth the effort?
We cannot really answer that for you, as wagering is something that is personal to each blackjack player. However, what we can suggest is for beginners to not jump in blindly in their first few attempts.
Getting a strong understanding of the basic rules of blackjack, and the key odds and payouts of various bets is the first key step. Secondly, we suggest starting by using a blackjack strategy to increase your comfort of playing this exciting game.
When you reach a level where you feel that you have a sound grasp of the game, then you should definitely start trying a few side bets. Blackjack side bet payouts are pretty decent and come in a good range to choose from, so they keep the game entertaining!
Where can you test out Blackjack side bets?
There are several great Blackjack online games available at Royal Panda casino, which include a wide range of variants as well as live dealer games by leading providers.
Below are some of our top picks which you can use to test out Blackjack side bets:
- Back Blackjack by Golden Rock Studios
- Blackjack by Relax Gaming