If you are an avid blackjack player, you may have heard of side bets. These are additional bets that can be placed alongside the main bet in a blackjack game. While they are not mandatory, side bets can add an extra layer of excitement to the game and potentially increase the payout if you win.
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Some common side bets in blackjack include Perfect Pairs, 21+3, and Insurance. Let’s take a closer look at each of these side bets.
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs is a side bet that pays out if the player’s first two cards are a pair. The payout amount varies depending on the type of pair:
– Perfect Pair (two identical cards): Pays out 30:1
– Colored Pair (two cards of the same color and rank): Pays out 10:1
– Mixed Pair (two cards of the same rank but different suits): Pays out 5:1
While Perfect Pairs can be tempting due to their high payouts, it is important to remember that pairs only occur about 7% of the time in a standard deck of cards.
21+3
21+3 is another popular side bet in blackjack. This bet combines the player’s first two cards with the dealer’s up card to create a three-card poker hand. If this hand forms one of several poker hands, such as a straight or three-of-a-kind, then the player wins.
The payout for 21+3 varies depending on the strength of the poker hand formed:
– Suited Three-of-a-Kind: Pays out 100:1
– Straight Flush: Pays out 40:1
– Three-of-a-Kind: Pays out 30:1
– Straight: Pays out 10:1
– Flush: Pays out 5:1
Insurance
Insurance is perhaps one of the most well-known side bets in blackjack. It is offered when the dealer’s up card is an Ace, and the player has the option to place a side bet that the dealer will have a blackjack. If the dealer does indeed have a blackjack, then the player receives a 2:1 payout on their insurance bet.
While insurance can seem like a good idea, particularly if you have a strong hand, it is important to remember that it is essentially just another bet. You are betting on whether or not the dealer has a blackjack, which means you are essentially betting against yourself.
Conclusion
Side bets can add an extra layer of excitement to your blackjack game. However, it is important to remember that they are optional and should be approached with caution. While they may offer high payouts, they also come with higher risks and lower odds of winning.
If you do decide to place side bets in your games of blackjack, be sure to do so responsibly and within your budget. Remember that gambling should always be fun and enjoyable – never gamble more than you can afford to lose.
