Most blackjack fans know well what Perfect Pairs is – a type of blackjack side bet that pays extra if players are holding two identical cards. Many casino software developers have added this bet to their games but RTG has built one of its blackjack versions around the Perfect Pairs wager, naming the game itself after it.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack is similar to the majority of blackjack games by RTG as it follows the same rules. It comes with a blue-colored felt and bets from $1 to $500 per round.
Rules and Gameplay
As some of the features of RTG software are configurable, Perfect Pairs Blackjack may be played with either 6 or 8 decks. This is a single-hand game, in which the dealer draws two cards initially and while one of them is face-up, the other one is not revealed. The dealer must Hit on soft 17 and Stand on hard 17 or higher. Soft hands are those hands with an Ace, where the Ace can count as 1 or 11. Hard hands are, of course, not as adjustable, so if the dealer is allowed to draw more cards to a soft 17, this gives him an advantage,
In this game, players can Hit, Stand and Double on any two cards. If they have a pair, they can also Split it into two hands and continue Hitting as many times as they want to. They can take only one card to split Aces, however. Two Splits are allowed. If the dealer’s first card is an Ace, the chances of him holding blackjack are higher than usual. This is why the game has the Insurance side bet, which can be purchased for half of the original bet size.
Insurance wins if the dealer’s second card is a 10-value card and he really has blackjack. The payout for Insurance is 2:1, while for blackjack, it is 3:2. Surrender is not available.
Distinctive Features
RTG’s Perfect Pairs Blackjack seems quite regular, featuring more or less standard blackjack rules. But its side bets give players the chance to win much more it is usually possible when playing classic blackjack. To qualify for the Perfect Pairs bonus payouts, players need to make the optional side bet, which wins only if the first two cards dealt to the player are of the same denomination. There are three possible payouts, depending on whether the two cards are of the same value, color, and suit.
- Mixed Pair – 6:1
- Colored Pair – 12:1
- Perfect Pair – 25:1
Conclusion
Perfect Pairs Blackjack is a great option for blackjack fans of any experience and bankroll levels. However, players should be careful with the side bet as it could cost them more than they have anticipated.