21+3 Blackjack vs Other Side Bets – What You Need To Know
There’s no disputing that blackjack is one of the most iconic casino games in the world, but there’s far more to it than simply trying to reach 21. Side bets offer players the chance to shake things up, adding new layers of excitement and more ways to win in this traditional table game.
Whether you’re a seasoned card shark or a casual player looking to spice up your next session, understanding side bets like 21+3, Perfect Pairs, and Lucky Ladies can give you the edge — or at least a more entertaining ride.
In this guide, we’ll explore blackjack side bets in detail, comparing the popular 21+3 with other side bets, explaining the odds, and revealing the pros and cons of each. You’ll also get to grips with where and how you can play these bets both in land-based and online casinos.
What Is A Side Bet In Blackjack?
A side bet in blackjack is an additional wager placed alongside your main hand, offering a chance to win based on outcomes beyond the standard rules of the game.
These side bets usually depend on combinations of the player’s and dealer’s cards or specific patterns and totals.
They’re typically optional and offer bigger payouts than the main game, but at a higher house edge. You’ll often see them advertised at the table, like “Perfect Pairs,” “21+3,” or “Royal Match.” These can be played for fun, strategy, or just to increase your chances of walking away with a win.
The History of Side Bets In Blackjack
Blackjack has been played for centuries, but side bets are a relatively modern addition. As casinos looked for new ways to enhance gameplay and boost excitement, side bets began appearing more regularly during the 1980s and 1990s, especially in Las Vegas.
Games like Perfect Pairs and 21+3 were among the earliest side bets to gain popularity, and their success encouraged game designers to create even more inventive variants. Today, blackjack side bets are a staple of both physical and online casinos, often built into the game interface or offered as optional features at the table.
Why Would You Place Side Bets?
There are a few reasons why players might choose to add side bets when playing at the table.
- Bigger Payouts: Most side bets offer fixed odds and can pay out much more than a standard win. For example, a suited three-of-a-kind in 21+3 can pay out 100:1.
- Extra Excitement: Side bets add an extra thrill to each hand, especially when the main hand isn’t looking promising.
- Low-Stake, High-Reward: They can offer big rewards for a relatively small wager. Even a winning £1 side bet can have a good return.
- Casual Fun: Some players enjoy side bets for the entertainment value, not necessarily the strategy. It brings a new dimension to an otherwise familiar game.
21+3 Blackjack Explained
21+3 is one of the most popular and widely played blackjack side bets, combining elements of blackjack and three-card poker. The side bet is based on the player’s initial two cards and the dealer’s upcard. If those three cards form a poker-style hand, such as a straight, flush, or three-of-a-kind, the player wins the side bet.
To place the 21+3 side bet, players must wager at the beginning of the hand, at the same time they place their main blackjack bet. The outcome of the side bet is resolved immediately after the cards are dealt, regardless of how the rest of the hand plays out.
Common winning combinations in 21+3:
| Hand Type | Description | Typical Payout |
| Suited Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank and suit | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | Three consecutive cards of the same suit | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank, mixed suits | 30:1 |
| Straight | Three consecutive cards, mixed suits | 10:1 |
| Flush | Three cards of the same suit | 5:1 |
Note: Exact payouts can vary by casino or software provider, so it’s worth checking the paytable before playing.
Pros of 21+3
- Exciting Poker Hybrid: The blend of blackjack and three-card poker makes this side bet entertaining for fans of both table games.
- Big Potential Payouts: With up to 100:1 available for rare combinations, the potential return is far higher than most standard blackjack hands.
- Simple to Learn: Unlike some side bets with complex rules, 21+3 is straightforward. You’re simply hoping for a poker-style match.
- Popular and Widely Available: 21+3 is available in most online blackjack games and is commonly offered in land-based casinos too.
- Quick Results: The side bet is settled instantly, so you don’t have to wait for the hand to finish to find out if you’ve won.
Cons of 21+3
- High House Edge: The house edge can range from 3.24% to over 7%, depending on the paytable. This is considerably higher than the main blackjack game which is usually under 1%.
- Low Hit Frequency: Winning hands are relatively rare, especially the highest-paying ones like suited trips or straight flushes.
- No Skill Element: Unlike regular blackjack where player decisions matter, side bets like 21+3 are purely luck-based.
- Can Be Distracting: Placing too much focus on side bets may take away from your core blackjack strategy, especially for new players.
Other Side Bets For Blackjack
While 21+3 is one of the most recognisable side bets, it’s far from the only option. Blackjack tables often feature a variety of side bets, each with its own rules, rewards, and risk profile.
What are the most common blackjack side bets?
The most common side bets include 21+3, Perfect Pairs, Insurance, Lucky Ladies, Super Sevens, Royal Match, and Top 3. Each one has different payout structures and house edges.
Insurance Side Bet
The insurance side bet is a traditional and widely available blackjack side wager. It’s offered whenever the dealer’s upcard is an Ace.
Players can place a separate bet (up to half of their original stake) to “insure” against the possibility of the dealer having a blackjack. If the dealer’s face-down card is a 10-value card, the insurance bet pays out at 2:1.
Key points:
- Insurance does not affect the main hand.
- It’s considered a poor bet statistically due to the high house edge (around 7.4%).
- Often regarded as a “sucker bet” by experienced players.
Royal Match Side Bet
The Royal Match is a side bet that pays if the player’s initial two cards are suited. A much higher payout is offered if the suited cards are a King and Queen of the same suit, known as the Royal Match.
Typical payouts:
- Suited cards (any): 5:2 or 2.5:1
- Royal Match (K+Q suited): 25:1 or higher
Royal Match was more common in older blackjack variants but still appears in some games today.
Perfect Pairs Side Bet
The Perfect Pairs side bet focuses entirely on whether the player’s first two cards form a pair, with escalating payouts depending on the type of pair.
“Pairs” side bets are a popular option for blackjack.
Types of pairs:
| Pair Type | Description | Typical Payout |
| Perfect Pair | Same rank and suit (e.g. 7♠ 7♠) | 25:1 |
| Coloured Pair | Same rank and colour, different suits | 12:1 |
| Mixed Pair | Same rank, different colour and suit | 6:1 |
It’s one of the most widely available side bets and works well in both online and live dealer blackjack games.
Mixed Pair Side Bet
The Mixed Pair bet pays out if the player’s first two cards are of the same rank but different suits and colours for example, 8♣ and 8♦.
Typical payout: 5:1
This is the lowest-paying version of the Perfect Pairs side bet family, with the highest probability of occurring.
Coloured Pair Side Bet
This variation of the pair side bet pays more for cards that are the same rank and the same colour (but not the same suit), such as 9♦ and 9♥.
Typical payout: 10:1
This is rarer than a mixed pair but more lucrative.
Top 3 Side Bet
The Top 3 side bet is an extension of the 21+3 concept. It combines the player’s two cards with the dealer’s upcard to form a poker-style hand, but includes more exclusive high-paying combinations.
Winning hands and payouts:
| Hand | Payout |
| Suited Three of a Kind | 270:1 |
| Straight Flush | 180:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 90:1 |
Top 3 is less common than 21+3 but offers significantly higher rewards if the rarest hands are hit.
Lucky Ladies Side Bet
The Lucky Ladies side bet pays if the player’s first two cards total 20. Higher payouts are awarded for suited cards and particularly for two Queen of Hearts cards.
Payout structure may include:
- Any 20: 4:1
- Suited 20: 10:1
- Matched 20 (same rank and suit): 25:1
- Queen of Hearts pair: 200:1
- Queen of Hearts pair + dealer blackjack: 1000:1 (rare)
This bet appeals to those looking for high variance and jackpot-style wins.
Super Sevens (777) Side Bet
The Super Sevens bet focuses on drawing one or more sevens in your hand. The more sevens, and the more suited they are, the higher the payout.
Typical payout structure:
| Hand | Payout |
| One 7 | 3:1 |
| Two unsuited 7s | 50:1 |
| Two suited 7s | 100:1 |
| Three unsuited 7s | 500:1 |
| Three suited 7s | 5000:1 |
Due to the rarity of the top-tier combinations, Super Sevens is high risk but offers enormous potential returns.
Understanding The Odds For Blackjack Side Bets
One of the most important things to understand before placing any side bet is the house edge (the built-in advantage the casino has over the player). While blackjack itself is known for having one of the lowest house edges of all casino games (often under 1% with optimal strategy), side bets generally tilt the odds back in the house’s favour.
Which side bet has the highest potential payout?
Super Sevens and Lucky Ladies offer some of the highest top-end payouts, with prizes reaching up to 5000:1 or more for rare combinations. However, these bets also come with high house edges and low hit rates.
Below is a comparison of typical side bets and their estimated house edge:
| Side Bet | Approximate House Edge |
| 21+3 | 3.24% – 7.14% (varies by paytable) |
| Perfect Pairs | 2% – 11% |
| Lucky Ladies | 17% – 25% |
| Insurance | 7.4% |
| Super Sevens | 12% – 13%+ |
| Royal Match | 3.7% – 4% |
| Top 3 | Often 13%+ |
These figures can fluctuate depending on the casino or software provider, so it’s essential to check the paytable before committing to any side wager. A more generous paytable means a lower house edge, which improves your overall chances slightly.
Why Do Side Bets Have Higher Edges?
Side bets are designed to offer big rewards for low-probability outcomes. While this makes them exciting, it also means most hands will lose. The more enticing the payout, the rarer the result, and the more money the casino makes over time.
Players should treat side bets as a high-variance, fun feature. You won’t win them often, but when you do, the payout can be impressive.
Side Bets in Single-Deck vs Multi-Deck Blackjack
When it comes to blackjack, the number of decks used in the game can have a noticeable impact, not just on the base game odds, but also on side bets.
While casual players might not give this much thought, understanding the difference between single-deck and multi-deck games can help you make more informed decisions when you play blackjack and place side bets like 21+3 or Perfect Pairs.
In single-deck blackjack, there’s a far smaller pool of cards, which slightly reduces the likelihood of hitting specific combinations.
In contrast, multi-deck blackjack increases the frequency of repeated cards in the shoe. With more copies of each card in circulation, the odds of being dealt a pair, flush, or three-of-a-kind in your side bet improve marginally. This is one reason why many online and live-dealer games offering side bets might use six or eight decks. Not only is the gameplay is smoother, but the likelihood of triggering more frequent side bet wins is slightly higher. This makes for an exciting table experience.
Of course, these changes are subtle. The impact of deck count on side bets is not dramatic, but for players chasing combinations like suited trips or straights in 21+3, it’s another factor worth considering. Always check the number of decks in use and review the paytable to decide whether the risk-to-reward ratio suits your playstyle.
Rules For Placing Blackjack Side Bets
Understanding when and how to place side bets is crucial to using them properly. Thankfully, most side bets follow consistent rules, whether you’re playing in a traditional casino or online.
Land Based Casinos
In physical casinos, side bets are typically marked clearly on the table layout. You’ll see a small circle or box next to the main betting area, often labelled with the side bet’s name, such as “21+3” or “Perfect Pairs.”
Key rules for side betting in land-based casinos:
- Timing: You must place the side bet at the same time as your main blackjack bet – before any cards are dealt.
- Minimums and Maximums: These often differ from the main game. You might be able to bet as little as £1 or up to a set maximum like £25 on a side bet.
- Payouts: If your side bet wins, it’s usually paid out immediately after the initial cards are revealed.
- Multiple Bets: Some casinos allow side bets on multiple hands, particularly at tables offering multi-hand play.
It’s always worth checking with the dealer or reading posted rules at the table before you begin.
Online Casinos
Online blackjack makes side betting even easier. Most digital blackjack tables include integrated side bet areas, usually displayed as extra buttons or icons next to your main betting zone.
Key rules for online side bets:
- Automatic Prompts: The interface will often prompt you to place a side bet before each hand, alongside your main wager.
- Clear Payouts and Info: Most online games include pop-up information boxes explaining payouts, house edge, and hand examples.
- Faster Gameplay: Because online games are quicker, side bets resolve rapidly, which can be exciting.
- Mobile Play: Side bets are available on mobile and app versions of blackjack too, with tap-to-place functionality.
Some online platforms even offer progressive side bets, where a small portion of each wager contributes to a jackpot pool, an option rarely found in land-based venues.
Conclusion: 21+3 Blackjack vs. Other Side Bets
Blackjack side bets are a fun and fast-paced way to add extra thrill to each hand.
Among the various options available, 21+3 stands out as one of the most balanced and widely enjoyed. It combines the simplicity of blackjack with the poker-style excitement of chasing big hands like straights and suited trips.
Compared with other side bets, 21+3 generally offers a mid-range house edge, making it more favourable in the long term than high-risk wagers like Lucky Ladies or Super Sevens. The rules are clear and consistent across most platforms, so it’s easy to understand, even for beginners. However, it’s worth noting that it doesn’t offer the kind of enormous jackpot-style payouts found in some of the more volatile side bets.
If you’re looking for steady excitement, reasonable odds, and a feeling that you’re playing a game within a game, 21+3 is a strong contender. It adds entertainment value without being overly complicated or risky. On the other hand, if you’re someone who enjoys chasing big wins and doesn’t mind a lower chance of success, you may prefer options like Top 3 or Lucky Ladies.
As with any form of gambling, side bets should be treated as entertainment rather than strategy. They are designed to be engaging and unpredictable — and when used in moderation, they can enhance your blackjack experience without putting your bankroll under too much pressure.
FAQ
Do 5 cards beat 21 in blackjack?
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