Blackjack Side Bets Explained: 21+3 and Other Variants

The main goal in blackjack is always to try to get closer to 21 than the dealer, without going past this total. Yet, some versions of the classic card game also include blackjack side bets to give players another way of trying to win. 

All of the different side bets in blackjack are optional wagers that you can place alongside the main bet. This makes it worth understanding how they work before you start looking at different versions of the game. 

How Blackjack Side Bets Work 

Learning how side bets work is one of the key steps as you learn how to play blackjack [link to how to play blackjack guide]. Once you’ve placed your main bet, you can decide whether you also want to place a side bet. This is a completely separate wager that has different odds and payout figures from the main game.

You’ll also see that each of the side bets in blackjack is unique in terms of the payout structure. When you join a table to play, you’ll want to look at the side bets offered and understand what they each mean. 

If you’re using basic blackjack strategy [link to basic blackjack strategy guide], this isn’t affected. You still want to try to get a hand worth 21. However, you’ll also have an additional bet on another aspect, such as the value of the first three cards. You can win the main bet but not the side bet, or the other way around. 

Side bets can be added to any type of blackjack game, so you might find them in our live games or on virtual tables. But not all online blackjack games have side bets.

21+3 Blackjack Rules and Payouts

What is 21+3 in blackjack, and why is it one of the most popular side bets? This is an optional wager where you’re combining your two cards with the dealer’s face-up card to form a three-card poker hand.

The possible payouts are based on the strength of the hand formed, with options like the following: 

• A flush is where the three cards are of the same suit.
• A straight includes three consecutive cards but from different suits.
• Three of a kind has three cards with the same number or face symbols on them.
• A straight flush is where you have three consecutive cards, and they are from the same suit.
• Suited three of a kind includes three cards of the same suit and rank.  

Perfect Pairs, Lucky Ladies Blackjack and Other Variants

Other options include the Perfect Pairs blackjack side bet, which is where you need to see a matching pair of cards in the hand dealt to you.

There are usually three different ways of winning, with different payout rates:

• Mixed pair has the lowest return. It means that you have two cards of the same value or rank. 
• A coloured pair is where you have two cards of the same value and colour but different suits. You will need a heart and a diamond or a club and a space.
• A perfect pair is the most valuable combination in this side bet. It occurs when you get two cards that are identical in terms of value, colour and suit. So, this could be a pair of 8 of Hearts or two Kings of Diamonds, for example.

The Lucky Ladies blackjack side bet is also based on the first two cards dealt to you. However, this wager looks at whether those cards reach a total of exactly 20. The following payouts are typically listed :

• Any 20 is the lowest-value combination. It consists of a hand totalling 20 with any combination of suits and ranks.
• Suited 20 includes two cards of the same suit.
• Matched 20 has two cards that have identical rank and suit.
• Lucky Ladies is the top payout. It is a hand with a pair of Queens of Hearts in it.

Like all of the other side bets, Perfect Pairs and Lucky Ladies are paid regardless of whether you win the main bet or not.

Blackjack Insurance and Riskier Side Bets 

What is insurance in blackjack, and when does it come into play? Blackjack insurance isn’t like the other blackjack side bets. It’s an optional wager that pays out if the dealer gets a blackjack hand of 21.

The cards in your hand don’t matter in this case, as it’s simply based on the dealer’s cards.

Insurance is offered when the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. This means that you’re basically betting on whether their other card has a value of 10.

You might also see other side bets offered. Always check the payouts and calculate how likely it is to occur. This lets you see the value you’re getting from the wager.

Side bets generally have a higher house edge than the standard game of blackjack, meaning that they pay less often but with higher amounts. 

FAQs About Blackjack Side Bets

Can I Place More Than One Blackjack Side Bet on a Hand?

Yes, if the game offers more than one side bet, you can normally place a wager on each of them. Bear in mind that this increases the volatility of the wager, since side bets have larger payouts but also tend to pay out less frequently.

What Are the Best Side Bets in Blackjack?

There is no simple answer to this question, since everyone likes to try different bets. The 21+3 blackjack bet and the Perfect Pairs blackjack bet are among the most popular.

How Can I Tell Which Blackjack Side Bets Are Offered in a Game?

You’ll see a section on the table where you can place your chips on the side bet if you want to. This is done during the betting round, at the same time that you place your main wager. 

Can I Place a Side Bet Without Betting in the Main Game?

No, generally this is an optional extra that you can only choose in addition to the main blackjack bet