Blackjack Side Bets

21+3

This popular side bet is based on the first three cards dealt in each round – the two cards dealt to the player and the dealer’s face-up card. The 21+3 bet wins if these three cards form any of several poker hands, namely a Flush, Straight, Straight Flush, Three of a Kind, or Suited Three of a Kind. Originally, all of these combinations paid equally at 9:1, but today most casinos pay different amounts for each hand. The most common pay table is as follows:

• Flush – Three cards of the same suit – 5:1
• Straight – Three consecutive cards – 10:1
• Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same rank – 30:1 (25:1)
• Straight Flush – Three consecutive cards of the same suit – 40:1
• Suited Three of a Kind – Three identical cards – 100:1

These payouts are most common in online versions of blackjack. Land-based casinos often pay less for this wager or apply equal payouts for the different outcomes – typically anywhere from 2.5 to 9 times the bet size.

Lucky Ladies

The Lucky Ladies side bet was introduced a couple of decades ago and is now extremely popular in brick-and-mortar casinos. It pays when the player’s initial hand totals 20, with certain card combinations paying more than others. This side bet has several variations, but the following payout table is the one most commonly offered:

• Player Queen of Hearts Pair plus Dealer Blackjack – 1,000:1
• Player Queen of Hearts Pair – 200:1 (125:1)
• Player Matched 20 (2 cards of the same suit and rank) – 25:1 (19:1)
• Player Suited 20 – 10:1 (9:1)
• Unsuited 20 – 4:1

As you can see, a pair of Queens is particularly rewarding, especially if the cards are hearts and the dealer has blackjack. However, there are several other versions of the Lucky Ladies wager, and in some of them this outcome pays only 100:1.

Perfect Pairs

This is another common side bet that can be found in both online and brick-and-mortar casinos. Here, players wager that they will be dealt a pair – that is, two cards of the same rank. Depending on whether these cards are also the same color or suit, the payouts differ:

• Mixed Pair (Two cards of the same rank, yet of a different color) – 6:1 (5:1)
• Color Pair (Two cards of the same rank and color) – 12:1 (10:1)
• Perfect Pair (Two cards of the same rank and suit) – 25:1 (30:1)

An online version of this side bet is also available, and its payouts depend not only on whether the pair is suited but also on the rank of the cards. Suited Aces, for example, pay 40:1, while an unsuited pair of 2s offers a payout of only 2:1.

Over/Under 13

The Over/Under 13 side wager is offered at many brick-and-mortar casinos, but it is rarely found online. Players bet on whether the sum of their two initial cards is over or under 13. For this side bet, the Ace always counts as 1, and if the player’s hand totals exactly 13, the bet loses. The Over/Under 13 bet is usually available in six- and eight-deck games and pays even money (1:1).

Super Sevens

Super Sevens, also known as Super 7’s or Lucky 7’s, is another popular blackjack side wager. It pays when 7s appear in the player’s hand; the more 7s dealt in the round, the better. If the first card drawn to the player is a 7, the bet pays 3:1. If the second card is also a 7, the payout jumps to 50:1 for an unsuited pair of 7s and 100:1 for a suited pair of 7s. Here is the complete pay table for the Super Sevens side bet:

• First Card is a 7 – 3:1
• Two Unsuited 7s – 50:1
• Two Suited 7s – 100:1
• Three 7s (player and dealer cards) – 500:1
• Three Suited 7s – 5,000:1

There are several variations of this side wager, but this is currently one of the best offerings. As you can see, players who place it can win extraordinary rewards if the dealer’s upcard is also a 7.

Royal Match

The Royal Match side bet can be found in a wide variety of land-based casinos. Its name refers to the top bonus payout of 25:1 when the player’s first two cards are a suited Queen and King. This wager also comes in several versions, and the following payoffs are the most commonly offered:

• Easy Match (Any two cards of the same suit) – 5:2
• Suited Blackjack – 5:1
• Royal Match – 25:1