What are Live Blackjack Side Bets?

Ever since blackjack was invented back in the 18th century it has always caught the imagination of the public. 

It has always been deemed as a simple and fun game to play and that simplicity is what has made it one of the most popular live casino games around. 

Obviously blackjack has seen changes over time and the most impactful has been the different side bets that can be placed. 

Side bets bring a different and intriguing dimension to the game. Some view them as a vital. However, there are some players that don’t like to play them at all. If you are new to the world of live blackjack and want to know whether side bets are worth looking into, then you have come to the right place. 

What are the different side bets that you can place?

Before we delve into whether placing side bets are worth it, let’s examine what some of the side bets you can place in live blackjack actually are.

Double

Arguably the most famous of blackjack side bets is the double. A double is when the player decides to double their bet by betting on the value of one card.

A double is offered when the player and dealer has been dealt their cards. The most optimal time to place it is when the player has been dealt a hand that makes a total of eleven. Knowing that any card worth ten, will result in blackjack, it is a common strategy to follow. 

Other hands may be doubled if the dealer has a five or six. With these cards there is a good chance that the dealer may bust and a double is seen as a very good strategy in this instance. 

Only one card will be dealt if a double is acted upon, which makes it a risk no matter when it’s played. 

Perfect Pairs 

Ranking alongside the double in terms of blackjack side bet popularity is the Perfect Pair side bet.

The idea of the Perfect Pair is to try and predict that you will have a pair of cards that are the same, I.e two sevens, two fives or two kings. If a pair hits but they aren’t of the same suit this will see odds return at 5:1. If the pair is of the same value and same suit, the odds that will return are 25:1. As you can see, Perfect Pairs can potentially be more valuable than just a standard hand that pays at 1:1. A Perfect Pair side bet is placed before the cards are dealt.

21+3

The other pre hand side bet that can be placed is the 21+3 bet. 21+3 combines a poker element to blackjack and is often the most difficult side bet to understand.

A 21 +3 side bet uses the two cards of the player and the one overturned card from the dealer. Combining the three cards, the idea is to try and make a poker hand. The hands that can be made are;

• Suited Three of a Kind: three cards of the same rank and suit.
• Straight flush: three sequential cards of the same suit.
• Three of a Kind: three cards of the same rank and any suits.
• Straight: three sequential cards, e.g., 9-8-7, of any suits.
• Flush: three cards of the same suit in any order.

The odds are as follows.

• Flush: 5/1
• Straight: 10/1
• Three of a Kind: 30/1
• Straight Flush: 40/1
• Suited Three of a Kind: 100/1

Insurance 

An insurance bet is the side bet that occurs the least. Whereas the other three can be placed with every hand, an insurance bet only happens when a dealer has dealt themselves an ace. 

Insurance offers players the chance to win some money if the dealer reveals that they have blackjack. The player has to double their bet for insurance to be accepted and if the dealer reveals blackjack they will be paid at 2:1. If the dealer doesn’t have blackjack the insurance element of the bet will be lost and the hand will play out as normal with the original stake. 

Final thoughts on live blackjack side bets

The decision as to whether blackjack side bets are worth incorporating into a player’s game really comes down to player preference. 

The one main difference between blackjack and roulette is that on average blackjack hands have smaller odds than roulette. For many who play blackjack for bigger wins, they see doubling and Perfect Pairs as the perfect chance to try and boost some wins, but of course by placing these side bets, there is much more risk involved. Some love to play blackjack as it can be a great game to stay in control of betting limits, this can be jeopardised when getting involved in side bets. 

Some players want a side bet that offers plenty of chances to win and the side bet that will attract this kind of player is 21+3. 21+3 side bet it can be a little bit tricky to understand. This bet can add a layer of complexity to what is otherwise a simple game to understand and play.

The most debated side bet is often insurance. Some players will never pay it, however others will take up the chance if they can. 

It ultimately comes down to whether a player believes when the dealer has a chance to make blackjack they accept that the odds are in their favour. Or the player wants to cover their risk.