Most casino blackjack games offer optional bonuses or side bets. Once rare on a basic blackjack table, they are becoming more and more widespread. The rational is simple because they have a great advantage for the house. Between 3% and 20% or more compared to the 0.5% advantage when playing blackjack with the correct basic strategy. The higher the edge, the more money the house makes.
Side bets have an advantage for the player, as all winning bonus bets will pay out even if the player loses the original hand, and the big payouts are tempting. If you want to get adventurous, here are some of the most popular:
Twenty one + 3
This side bet brings a bit of 3-card poker excitement into the mix, as your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card are the determining factors. Once you’ve placed your optional BJ and Twenty One + 3 bets, the combination of the three cards must equal a flush, a straight flush, any straight, or a set. The bet wins 9 to 1 in a game of six or eight decks. The house edge is approximately 3%.
Royal Match 21
This is based on your first two cards dealt:
Two cards of the same suit pay 2.5 to 1
A king and a queen of the same suit (Royal Match) countries 25 to 1
One Royal Match player and Royal Match dealer in any 1000 to 1 suit country
The maximum bet allowed will vary between casinos. With the result based on your first two cards, the house edge is approximately 6%.
Bet on set 21
This side bet focuses on your first two cards after you have placed your blackjack bet and a Bet the Set bet. In some jurisdictions, this bet is also known as Pair Square. If you receive any pair, you are paid according to a predetermined paytable based on the number of decks in play:
Single deck: 15 to 1 country pair
Double deck: country pair 10 to 1, suit country pair 25 to 1
Four, six or eight decks – Pair pays 10 to 1, suited pair pays 15 to 1
Depending on the number of decks in play and the paytable that varies between jurisdictions, the house edge varies between 5% and 6%.
Dealer bust 21
The player wins if the dealer breaks by showing several cards up. Winning payouts are paid according to the following table:
Bust with Ace Up – Pays 10 to 1
Bust with 10 to K – Pay 4 to 1
Bust with 7 to 9 – Pays 2 to 1
Bust with 2 to 6 – Pays 1 to 1
The house edge is around 10% if the dealer is on soft seventeen, around 8% if the dealer is on soft seventeen.
Over / Under 13
A player can bet if the total of his first two cards will be higher or lower than 13. An exact total of 13 always loses and the Ace always counts as 1. The house edge for the Over 13 bet is 6.5% , and for those under 13, it is 10%. The side bet is generally offered in games of six and eight decks.
Square pair
A player wins if his first two cards are of the same rank (such as a pair of 8s). An unmatched pair (such as an 8 of clubs and an 8 of hearts) pays 10 to 1. A matched pair (such as a pair of 8 of clubs) pays 15 to 1. The house edge is 10.6%.
Super sevens
In addition to your bet on the game of blackjack, bet $ 1 that one to three sevens will be dealt to you, resulting in the following payouts:
One seven countries 3 to 1
Two unsuitable sevens pay 50 to 1
Two suited sevens pay 100 to 1
Three unsuitable sevens pay 500 to 1
Three suited sevens pay 5,000 to 1
The house edge is approximately 12% without a third card dealt and approximately 11% when a third card is dealt.
Lucky ladies
Here’s a bet that any hand with a total of 20 wins something. If you are lucky enough to have a pair of queens, you will earn more, as the following pay table shows:
Pair of Queens with a Blackjack Dealer – Pays 250 to 1
Queen Pair – Country 25 to 1
Any 20 of the same suit – country 9 to 1
Any unsuitable 20 – countries 4 to 1
The house edge is between 17 and 20%, depending on the jurisdiction’s pay table.
Always keep in mind that your bankroll is at a higher risk of depleting more quickly while playing blackjack games and placing these tempting side bets.
Good luck!