What Is a Perfect Pair in Blackjack?

A perfect pair is a blackjack term for a hand consisting of two cards of the same rank. For example, two jacks or two sixes.

The probability of being dealt a perfect pair is about 3 in 10,000 hands, or 0.03%.

There are three types of perfect pairs: mixed, colored, and suited. A mixed perfect pair is two cards of the same rank but of different suits, like two jacks.

A colored perfect pair is two cards of the same rank and color, like two red sixes. And a suited perfect pair is two cards of the same rank and suit, like two spade sixes.

The payout for a perfect pair varies from casino to casino but is usually between 5 to 30 to 1. Some casinos offer higher payouts for suited or colored pairs.

And some casinos offer what’s called a “perfect pairs side bet” which pays even more if you hit a suited or colored pair.

So what’s the best strategy for playing perfect pairs? First off, don’t make the side bet unless the payout is at least 25 to 1. The house edge on the side bet is just too high otherwise.

Second, remember that mixed pairs occur the most often so don’t get too excited when you see a suited or colored pair. Third, if you do make the side bet, take insurance if the dealer shows an ace as their upcard.

The bottom line is that perfect pairs is a fun blackjack side bet but one that you should approach with caution. If you use basic strategy and only make the side bet when the payout is high, you can minimize your losses and maybe even come out ahead in the long run.