A complete Guide to Blackjack Side Bets

• The main bet in blackjack is a wager against the dealer’s hand.
• A blackjack bet pays 1:1 when you beat the dealer and 3:2 when you score 21 (blackjack).
• Side bets are optional blackjack betting options placed together with the main wager.
• The most popular side betting options while playing blackjack are insurance, 21+3, and perfect pairs.
• There are other blackjack betting options like Lucky Ladies and Super Sevens.
• Bet behind means backing another player to beat the dealer.
• A soft hand in blackjack refers to a hand with a flexible Ace.

Also known as Twenty One, Blackjack is a popular card comparison game loved for its simple rules and low house edge. The game offers one main wager, which is a bet against the dealer getting a higher hand or scoring 21. While this bet is simple and straightforward, wagering on the same outcome repeatedly can be monotonous and boring. This is why you need to explore some blackjack side betting options to spruce up the gameplay.

Basically, side bets are additional wagers that you place alongside your main bet. These wagering options not only allow you to predict more outcomes but also provide you with the chance to boost your payout. An example of a popular side betting option in blackjack is 21+3, which you can use to predict various card combinations for the player and dealer. You also have the insurance side bet and perfect pairs. You can place these wagers when playing Original Blackjack with Side Bets in our Blackjack lobby.  

Read our blackjack betting options guide to learn more about these side bets and when to use them.

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As earlier mentioned, the most basic blackjack betting option is a wager against the dealer. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer by getting a hand with a higher value or closest to 21 without running over. A value of 21 is known as Blackjack and it’s a natural win. Your bet pays even money if you beat the dealer, and 3:2 if you win with a blackjack. The values of the cards are calculated as follows:

• 2 to 10 - Worth their face value
• Face cards (King, Queen, and Jack) - 10
• Ace - Zero or 11.

Apart from betting against the dealer’s hand, you can place a dozen other bets known as side bets. These blackjack betting options provide you with more ways to win and they also make the game more exciting. Some of the common side bets are blackjack perfect pairs 21+3 and insurance. We also have others like Lucky Ladies and Super Sevens, which we will explain in this guide.

However, let’s first look at some basic blackjack betting rules and terminologies.

• Hit: Hitting means asking the dealer for a third card.
• Stand: Standing means you’re satisfied with your initial cards and you don’t want an additional card.
• Split: Blackjack rules allow you to split your cards if you receive a pair of like cards in the initial draw. Split cards count as two separate hands. You’re required to place a bet equal to your initial wager before splitting.
• Double down: Doubling down means doubling your initial bet in exchange for a third card.
• Surrender: This option allows you to forfeit your hand immediately after the first draw. You lose half of your bet when you surrender your cards. You can implement this betting strategy while playing Blackjack Surrender at Betfair Casino.

Side bets are bonus wagers that you can place when playing standard blackjack, as well as in our casino Premier Blackjack tables. These bets don’t alter the game's structure and you can make them together with your main bet. Most side bets are placed before the start of a round. You can use them to predict several outcomes such as the dealer’s cards and the player’s cards.

When exploring blackjack side bet betting options, you’ll realise that these wagers pay higher than the main bet. A winning mixed pairs bet, for example, pays 5:1 compared to the even money payout you receive when you beat the dealer. On the other hand, the house edge for these wagers is higher. Let’s look at some of the most common blackjack side bets odds and payout.

Insurance

You’ve probably come across the insurance betting option while playing blackjack. The wager allows you to protect your bet against a potential loss if you suspect the dealer has a blackjack. This bonus bet is placed if the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace.

The value of the blackjack insurance bet is half your original stake, and the house-edge varies between 5.2% and 7.5% depending on the number of decks used in the game. The bet pays 2:1 if the dealer gets a blackjack. The insurance side bet is available in several variations of blackjack offered at Betfair Casino, such as First Person Blackjack.

Perfect Pairs

Perfect Pairs is a common side betting option for blackjack. This wager predicts that you’ll receive two  cards with the same value in the initial draw. This side bet pays separately from the main wager and the payout depends on the type of pair in your hand. There are three possible outcomes - mixed pair, coloured pair, and perfect pair.

To make the side bet, place your chips in the Perfect Pairs area next to your spot on the table before the start of each round. You can select this wagering option when playing All Bets Blackjack Live. Now let’s look at the different types of pairs and the payout for each.

Mixed pair

A mixed pair is made up of two cards of the same value but different colours. For example, you can get a 7 of diamonds (red) and a 7 of clubs (black). The probability of landing a mixed pair is about 3.9%, and the payout for the combination is 5:1.

Coloured pair

The coloured pair is made of two cards of the same value and same colour.  An example of such a combination is 2 of hearts and 2 of diamonds. The odds of you being dealt this pair is a measly 1.95%, but, the payout is 15:1.

Perfect pair

As earlier mentioned, a perfect pair is the highest-paying combination for this blackjack betting option. The pair is made of two cards of the same value, same colour, and same suit. Your probability of getting this hand is approximately only 1.7%. However, the combination pays you a staggering 25:1, which is equivalent to 25x your bet plus your initial stake.

21+3

21+3 is a popular blackjack betting option which you make by placing your chips in the 21+3 box on the table. By making this side bet, you’re predicting that your two cards and the dealer’s face-up card will combine to form a winning hand. The bet has five possible outcomes - flush, straight, 3-of-a-kind, straight flush, and suited trips. The payout for this bonus bet varies between 5:1 and 100:1, with a suited triple being the highest-paying combination.

Below is a breakdown of the 21+3 blackjack side bets payouts and odds.

Flush

A flush refers to a combination of three cards of the same suit. An example of this combination is when you have a two of hearts and four of hearts and the dealer’s face up card is an eight of hearts. Your bet pays 5:1 if your two cards and the dealer’s face up card are suited.

Straight

A straight is a combination formed when your two cards and the dealer’s card form a consecutive pattern. An example of this combination is three, four, and five, or eight, nine, and ten. This combination pays you 10:1.

Three of a Kind

As the name suggests, a three-of-a-kind is a combination formed when your first two cards and the dealer’s face up cards have the same value. Your payout for this outcome is a solid 40x the bet or 30:1.

Straight Flush

A straight flush refers to a combination of three consecutive cards of the same suit. An example of this combination is when you get a four and five of spades and the dealer’s revealed card is a six of spades. A straight flush pays 40:1.

Suited Triple

A suited triple is made up of three cards of the same value and suit. For example, your two initial cards and the dealer’s seen card could be nines of hearts. The combination pays you 100 to 1.

We’ve discussed the most common bonus bets in blackjack in the previous section. Now, we will explain other side betting options available, although they’re not as popular. You can use these wagers to enhance the odds when playing blackjack at Betfair Casino. 

Royal Match

A royal match side bet pays when you get two cards of the same suit. There are two possible combinations for this blackjack betting option - an easy match and a royal match. An easy match is made of any two cards of the same suit such as 4 and 5 of clubs. On the other hand, a royal match is made of a queen and a king of the same suit. The wager pays as follows.

• Easy match: Pays 2.5:1
• Royal match:  Pays 25:1

Super Sevens

The super sevens bet is an optional wager predicting that you’ll have one or more sevens in your hand. Your payout for this bet depends on the number of sevens you receive. Furthermore, the amount increases if the cards are of the same suit.

Here are the five possible outcomes and the payout in each instance.

• One seven: 3:1
• Two sevens of different suits: 30:1
• Two suited sevens: 100:1
• Third card is a seven: 500:1
• Third card is a seven of the same suit: 1000:1

Lucky ladies

The lucky ladies side bet is another lucrative blackjack betting option with high payouts. When you make this bet, you’re predicting that your cards will have a total value of 20. The payout for this wager varies between 4x and 1000x the bet, depending on the cards you’re dealt.

Possible card combinations and payouts for Lucky ladies blackjack side bets explained:

• Any combination adding up to 20: Pays 4 to 1
• A suited 20: Pays 10 to 1
• A matched 20 (e.g two 10s): Pays 25:1
• A pair of queens of hearts: Pays 200:1
• A pair of queens of hearts when the dealer has blackjack: Pays 1000:1

Apart from the side bets we’ve already explained, there are other betting options for blackjack that you can utilise at casinos such as Betfair. An example is the bet behind option, which allows you to bet on another player’s hand. You’ll also come across some terms such as hard totals and soft totals when playing the game.

In this section, we will explain the bet behind wagering options and share some easy blackjack betting strategies which you can implement when playing with soft and hard hands.

Bet Behind

The bet behind option comes in handy when you can’t find an empty seat at a blackjack table. But you can also use it when you’re seated. Making this bet means that you’re backing another player to beat the dealer. The wager wins if the player you bet on beats the dealer. Consequently, you lose the bet if the player you back loses. If you want to place this wager, you should do so at the beginning of a round. The bet pays 1:1.

Here are the pros and cons of using the bet behind another player blackjack betting option:

Pros

1. You can make the bet even if you’re not seated.
2. You can place the wager alongside your main blackjack bet.
3. You don’t have to worry about making strategic decisions.  

Cons

1. The wager takes the power away from you of making strategy decisions.

Soft Totals

The term soft totals refers to a player’s hand when one of the cards is an Ace. This is because an Ace is flexible and it can count as 1 or 11. There are nine soft hands in blackjack, starting with 13 (A, 2) and going all the way to 20 (A, 9). Notably, some casinos don’t allow you to double down if you have a soft hand.

Hard Totals

Hard totals are the opposite of soft totals. The term refers to a hand with no flexible Ace. It can also refer to a hand with an Ace of the value of the card is 1. You can follow the basic blackjack rules of hitting, standing, doubling down, and splitting when playing with a hard hand.

• Most side bets in blackjack are placed at the beginning of a round.
• The maximum value of a blackjack insurance bet is half your initial stake.
• The 21+3 side bet predicts that your first two cards and the dealer’s upward card will combine to form a flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, or suited triple.
• A perfect pairs bet pays 5:1, 15:1, and 25:1 for mixed, coloured, and perfect pairs, respectively.
• Side bets are optional blackjack betting options placed together with the main wager.
• The super sevens side bet predicts that you’ll receive at least one lucky 7 in your hand.
• Lucky Ladies side bet can pay up to 1000:1 if you get two queens of hearts when the dealer has a blackjack.
• You can follow the standard rules of splitting, surrender, hitting, doubling down, and standing when playing with a hard hand. 

We believe that now you’re familiar with the most common blackjack betting options and you can place these side wagers when playing at Betfair. Next, we invite you to read our blackjack basic strategy article to find out how you can boost your odds. We also have an informative guide to how to play blackjack for beginners in case you skipped the basics.

Apart from blackjack, we have other games in our lobby and lots of helpful guides to help you learn how to play them. To learn how to play roulette, for example, you can read roulette advanced strategy and introduction to roulette wheel and table layout. We also have a baccarat strategy and how to play guide for beginners, craps playing guide and strategies articles, and guides to how to play slots.

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