Blackjack side bets offer players an exciting twist on the classic game, allowing for additional wagers that can lead to substantial payouts. This article covers the aspects of these optional bets, explaining how they function independently from your main hand.
We will explore popular side bets like Insurance, 21+3, Perfect Pairs, Royal Match, and Lucky Lucky, detailing their unique payout structures and potential rewards. Whether you are a seasoned player or someone still learning how to play blackjack, understanding side bets can elevate your time at the table and open up new avenues for winning.
What Are Blackjack Side Bets?
Blackjack side bets are optional wagers you can place alongside your main blackjack bet that pay based on specific card combinations or outcomes. This means you’re betting on whether certain cards will appear in your hand, the dealer’s hand, or a combination of the two. These outcomes are completely separate from whether you win or lose the main blackjack game. Blackjack side bets add an extra layer of excitement to every hand because you can win money even if you bust or lose to the dealer.
Side bets operate independently from your main blackjack strategy. You could lose your primary hand but still collect a nice payout if your side bet hits. Think of it like having two different lottery tickets for each hand. One is for beating the dealer, and the other for getting lucky card combinations.
How Do Blackjack Side Bets Work?
The process of placing side bets is straightforward and happens before any cards hit the table. At an online casino like Hard Rock Bet Online Casino, you select your side bet amount on the screen while placing your bets. At a live game, you place chips in the corresponding betting circle. A main blackjack bet must also be made to play side bets at most games, though some electronic ones permit only playing side bets. If a main blackjack bet is required, it must meet the posted minimum bet before accounting for the side bet.
Once the bets are placed, simply watch as the cards determine your fate. Most side bets resolve immediately when the initial cards are dealt, so you know right away if you won.
Your side bet chips are completely separate from your main blackjack wager. This separation means you can bet different amounts on each, and the payouts are calculated independently. While your main bet might pay even money for a win, side bets typically offer much higher returns when they hit.
- Timing matters: Place side bets before cards are dealt
- Separate stakes: Your side bet amount doesn’t affect your main bet
- Instant results: Most side bets pay out immediately based on the first cards shown
Blackjack side bets offer players the chance for big wins. However, that comes with the trade-off of these bets carrying higher risks than the main blackjack bet.
Most Popular Blackjack Side Bets
These are the side bets you will encounter most often when playing online blackjack. Each one offers a different way to win based on the cards that appear.
Blackjack Insurance
Insurance is a side bet offered when the dealer shows an ace as their up card. It is offered at all traditional blackjack tables. This bet costs exactly half of your original wager and pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. You are betting that the dealer’s hidden card is worth 10 points, which means it is a 10, Jack, Queen, or King.
If the dealer does not have blackjack, you lose your insurance bet but continue playing your main hand normally. Insurance is purely about predicting whether the dealer has 21 on the first two dealt cards.
If the player is dealt a blackjack at a 3:2 table, and the dealer shows an ace, the dealer or online casino software will ask if the player wants even money before checking for blackjack. This is the same as insurance. The only difference is that the player does not have to put up half the bet because it is removed from the winnings. For example, the player bets $10 and receives a blackjack, and the dealer shows an ace. A blackjack here normally pays $15. However, the player may decide to trade that $5 for a guaranteed win instead of a push if the house has a 10-value card in the hole.
21+3
The 21+3 side bet combines your first two cards with the dealer’s up card to create three-card poker hands. You win when these three cards form poker combinations like flushes, straights, three of a kind, straight flushes, or suited three of a kind. The appeal lies in potentially scoring big poker payouts while playing blackjack.
Payouts range from 5:1 for a simple flush up to 100:1 for a suited three of a kind. This side bet brings poker excitement to the blackjack table, giving you multiple ways to win on every deal.
Bet the Set
Bet the Set, also known as Pair Square, pays when the player receives a pair on the first two cards. In most cases, suited pairs pay more than unsuited ones. Paytables vary by the casino and the number of decks used. The common paytable for six and eight decks pays 15 on suited pairs and 10 for unsuited ones. For double-deck games, it is usually 25 for suited pairs and 10 for unsuited ones.
Blazing 7’s
Blazing 7’s is a progressive blackjack side bet. That means part of every wager goes into a pool until somebody hits the jackpot. As the name implies, 7’s are the key cards. The player wins double their side bet when dealt any 7 in the first two cards. It pays 25 when the player’s starting hand is a pair of 7’s.
The big payouts come on three 7’s. That pays 200 if it is a mix of black and red ones. Three 7’s of the same color pay 10% of the progressive jackpot. The jackpot hits when a player makes a hand of three suited 7’s. Another paytable awards 500 on three 7’s of the same color, 10% of the jackpot on suited clubs, hearts, and spades 7’s, and 100% if the 7’s are all diamonds.
This blackjack side bet requires a change in strategy. Players must never split 7’s or stand when holding two 7’s, even if basic blackjack strategy says otherwise in that situation. The goal is to catch three 7’s to hit the large payouts.
Bonus Spin
Bonus Spin uses a weighted electronic wheel. Players spin it when dealt a blackjack. Prizes range from $40 to $5000 plus a progressive jackpot. Some casinos return the original Bonus Spin bet or double it when the player is dealt an ace.
Some Las Vegas casinos have tables that require this side bet to be placed on every hand. These games do not return any of the bet on a dealt ace.
Buster Blackjack
Buster Blackjack pays when the dealer busts. The dealer plays out the hand, even if all players busted or had blackjack, and there is no need for the house to draw. The more cards the dealer takes to bust, the higher the payout:
- 3 or 4 cards: 2
- 5: 4
- 6: 15
- 7: 50
- 8 or more: 250
EZ Bust
The EZ Bust blackjack side bet lets players wager that the dealer will bust when showing a weak upcard. It’s based on the dealer’s starting card, usually a 2 through 6, and pays out if the dealer’s total exceeds 21 after drawing additional cards. Payouts vary by the dealer’s upcard, with higher bust chances paying less. For example, a dealer starting with a 6 offers a smaller payout than one starting with a 2. The EZ Bust bet adds extra excitement and quick-win potential to a standard game of blackjack.
Lucky Ladies
Lucky Ladies is a simple side bet that pays when the player gets dealt a 20. While paytables vary, payouts increase based on the rarity of the hand. An unsuited 20 has the lowest payout, while suited and paired 20s receive more. The biggest wins are when the player is dealt two queens of hearts, especially when the dealer has a blackjack.
Lucky Lucky and Fortune
Lucky Lucky and Fortune pay on the total value of your first two cards plus the dealer’s up card. You win when these three cards add up to specific totals of 19, 20, or 21, with special bonuses for suited combinations and multiple sevens. The most exciting outcome is suited 777, which can pay up to 200 for every dollar wagered.
This side bet offers numerous ways to win because several different card combinations can create the target totals. The variety keeps things interesting as you watch three cards determine your fate. Fortune is a different name for this side bet.
King’s Bounty
King’s Bounty is like Lucky Ladies, except kings are the key cards, as opposed to queens. All 20s are paid in this bet. Unsuited pairs on tens, jacks, and queens are lumped into the lowest payout for any 20, as a pair of kings has an added bonus. Suited pairs of tens, jacks, and queens have a higher payout, and suited kings go a step above that. The two highest payouts are for a pair of spaded kings with an added bonus if it loses to a dealer blackjack.
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs pays when your first two cards form any type of pair. The side bet recognizes three different pair types with varying payouts. Mixed pairs (different colors like red 8 and black 8) pay the least, colored pairs (same color like two red 8s) pay more, and perfect pairs (identical suit and rank) offer the biggest rewards.
The simplicity makes Perfect Pairs appealing to beginners. You just need matching card values in your initial hand, with perfect pairs typically paying 25 or 30 for every dollar wagered, depending on the specific game rules.
Royal Match
Royal Match is one of the simpler side bets to understand. You win when your first two cards are the same suit, with special bonus payouts for king-queen combinations of the same suit. Regular suited cards might pay 2.5 to 1, while the royal match (suited king and queen) jumps to 25 for each dollar bet.
This straightforward side bet appeals to players who want easy-to-follow action. You are simply hoping your two starting cards share the same suit symbol.
Blackjack Side Bet Payouts
Understanding side bet payouts helps you choose which ones match your risk tolerance and excitement level, which is useful when deciding where to place your wagers. Here’s what you can expect from the most common side bets:
Insurance offers the most conservative payout at 2:1, making it the safest side bet option. Perfect Pairs payouts vary dramatically based on pair type, ranging from 5:1 for mixed pairs up to 30:1 for perfect matches. The 21+3 side bet provides the widest payout range, starting at 5:1 for basic poker hands and climbing to 100:1 for the rarest combinations.
Royal Match keeps things simple with suited cards paying around 2.5:1 and the royal combination jumping to 25:1. Lucky Lucky offers the biggest potential windfall, with regular wins starting at 2:1 but suited 777 combinations reaching 200:1 or higher.
- Conservative choice: Insurance at 2:1 offers frequent, smaller wins
- Moderate risk: Perfect Pairs and Royal Match provide balanced action
- High reward potential: 21+3 and Lucky Lucky offer the biggest payouts for rare combinations
Should You Play Blackjack Side Bets?
Side bets transform blackjack from a strategic card game into a more exciting experience with instant win potential. They are perfect for players who enjoy the excitement of chasing bigger payouts beyond standard blackjack returns. Every hand becomes more engaging because you have multiple ways to win, even if the main bet does not work out.
These optional wagers add variety to your blackjack sessions without changing the core game. You can choose which side bets appeal to you and adjust your approach based on your mood and bankroll. Some players love the frequent action of Perfect Pairs, while others prefer chasing the massive payouts available through Lucky Lucky combinations.
The key is understanding that side bets are pure entertainment designed to add another layer of fun to your session. They offer the chance for significant wins based on card combinations that occur naturally during play, making every deal more exciting than standard blackjack alone and occasionally sparking an incredible blackjack heater that turns modest stakes into massive payouts.
Play Blackjack Side Bets at Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet Casino features an extensive collection of blackjack games with all the popular side bets available at your fingertips. The mobile-optimized platform makes it easy to place both main bets and side bets with just a few taps, whether you’re playing classic blackjack variants or live dealer games with real cards and professional dealers.
Every side bet you place connects to the Unity by Hard Rock rewards program, turning your action into valuable points that unlock exclusive prizes and experiences, plus you will have access to special promotions like the Big Sunday Jackpot for even more winning opportunities. This integration means you are not just playing for immediate wins. You are building toward long-term rewards that enhance your entire Hard Rock experience. The combination of exciting side bet action with legendary Hard Rock entertainment creates a gaming environment that truly lets you bet to a different beat.
FAQ about Blackjack Side Bets
Below we’ve put together a few questions and answers about blackjack side bets.
What are Blackjack side bets?
Blackjack side bets are optional wagers that players can place in addition to their main hand. These bets are based on specific outcomes, such as the player’s first two cards or a combination of player and dealer cards. They offer higher payouts than standard hands but come with higher house edges.
Why do players make side bets in Blackjack?
Players make side bets for the excitement and potential of large payouts. While the main game of Blackjack has relatively even odds, side bets can return payouts as high as 25:1, 100:1, or more. However, they should be used for entertainment rather than as a winning strategy.
What are the most common Blackjack side bets?
Popular side bets include:
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Perfect Pairs – Pays if the player’s first two cards form a pair.
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21+3 – Combines the player’s cards with the dealer’s up-card to form poker-style hands.
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Lucky Ladies – Wins when the player’s total equals 20, with bonus payouts for specific card combinations.
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Royal Match – Pays if the first two cards are suited or form a suited King and Queen.
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Insurance – Pays if the dealer’s up-card is an Ace and they have Blackjack.
Are Blackjack side bets worth playing?
Mathematically, most side bets have a higher house edge (often 5–15%) compared to the main game (usually under 1%). They’re designed for entertainment rather than long-term advantage. Casual players may enjoy them for variety, but advantage players typically avoid them.
How do payouts work on side bets?
Each side bet has its own payout structure. For example:
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Perfect Pairs: 5:1 for mixed pair, 10:1 for colored pair, 30:1 for perfect pair.
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21+3: Up to 100:1 for suited trips.
These odds can vary by casino or online Blackjack provider, so it’s essential to check the table rules before playing.
Which side bet has the best odds in Blackjack?
Among popular side bets, Perfect Pairs and 21+3 generally offer the best odds for players. However, “best” is relative as all side bets carry a higher house edge than standard play. Some newer variations like Lucky Lucky or Top 3 may offer better paytables depending on the casino.
Can you use strategy for Blackjack side bets?
Unlike the main Blackjack hand, side bets are mostly based on luck rather than skill. There’s no effective strategy to reduce the house edge, though some advantage players track cards to identify favorable counts for certain bets (like 21+3).
Do online Blackjack games offer side bets?
Yes, nearly all online and live dealer Blackjack variants offer side bets at Hard Rock Bet Online Casino.
What’s the risk of playing Blackjack side bets?
Side bets come with high volatility. While they offer the chance for big payouts, they can also drain a bankroll quickly due to their higher house edge. Responsible play and bankroll limits are strongly recommended.
