Blackjack side bets are almost as popular as the game itself. Funnily enough, most blackjack side bets have nothing to do with the ongoing game. But players place bets on different aspects of the game to win a little extra money outside of the game. Now Blackjack side bets may be fun to play, but the casinos place them strategically. So there is a big chance that they are more profitable for the casino. One of the main things to consider about a side bet is the house edge. Many popular side bets have high house edges and people lose money because of it. Here are some of the most popular side bets and their pros and cons for you.
Insurance
The Insurance side bet has some of the lowest house edge casinos have to offer. The house edge for Insurance is about 2.5%. This bet is pretty controversial. A lot of players avoid it. But players that are good at card counting think that Insurance is one of the best side bets. You can place this bet after the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. Then the players place the bet on the expected outcome that the dealer has a blackjack. If he does, then the Insurance pays out at 2:1. This way, the player gets back their overall stake. But you will need a very keen knowledge of the game and be good at card counting to win this bet.
Perfect Pairs
One of the most simple and most popular bets is the Perfect Pairs side bet. In this type of bet, the player places their bet on whether the first two cards that are dealt will be the same. They might or might not be the same suit. The payout is much higher if they are from the same suit. The bet is simple enough. But it has a house edge of almost 11%. A higher house edge means that the players do not win for the most part. But it also means that the payout is pretty high if they win because the stakes are high. This is a simple bet anyone can place, you do not need card counting techniques for this.
21+3
Another simple but profitable side bet is the 21+3. This also has a lower house edge of 3.24%. This is a popular side bet because you can bet on 5 possible outcomes with this. The first one being the Flush, where the first three cards are of the same suit. The payout for this is 5:1. The second one is the Straight and the bet is that the first three cards will make up a numerical sequence but will not be from the same suit. The payout is 10:1. The third one is called Three of a Kind, the bet is that the first three cards will be of the same value but not from the same suit. The payout is 30:1.
The fourth one is called Straight Flush where the bet is that the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up card make up a suited numerical sequence. The payout is 40:1. The last one is called the Suited Three of a Kind and the bet is that the player’s two cards and the dealer’s up card will be identical in suit, value, and color. The payout is 100:1 for this. 21+3 is a very popular type of bet and pretty profitable too.
Royal Match
This is another popular side bet in the blackjack table. The bet is that you have to get two suited cards. The ideal scenario is that you will get a pair of suited king and queen, thus the name. This works best in a multi-deck game. The payout is pretty good in this bet as well. For a suited pair it is 5:2 and for a pair of suited king and queen, it is 25:1.
Conclusion
There you have it. Some of the best side bets available in Blackjack. A high payout and a low house edge will be the most profitable to you if you are trying to find a good side bet. There are other side bets as well, like Super Sevens and Over/Under 13. These are pretty popular amongst the players as well. Remember that most of the time, side bets are based completely on luck. This can be a fun little side activity for you. But keep your focus on the main game, as that is where you can flex your real gambling skills. The main game is also a place where you will be able to make money.
Now that you know how to identify blackjack side bets. Come and head over to JeetWin. Play blackjack and be a winner!
