A side bet in blackjack is a bonus game that you can play on top of your normal blackjack hand. There are many different types, and you are likely to see at least one in every major casino. Generally, you place a side bet by putting extra chips in an area next to your primary betting circle. Some games have strict limits on how much you can bet. Others permit you to bet the table maximum in your side circle. When you sit down at a table, the dealer may tell you how the bonus game works. Alternatively, you can always ask a dealer, pit boss, or player to explain the rules to you. The general idea is that you can risk a relatively small amount of money on your side bonus in the hopes that you will see a return several times what you wagered.
Casinos use side bets in their blackjack games for a number of reasons. One big reason is that side bets add variety to a game that is otherwise played almost the same way no matter where you go. Another obvious reason that casinos offer side bets is that they typically put players at a greater disadvantage. Playing most side bets is like playing the slots. Losing a few dollars on the side every few hands might not seem like much when you are betting $15 per hand, but those incremental losses make casinos a lot of money.
Even though you will lose more money over time when you play blackjack bonus games, they can still be quite fun and some professional players can actually beat some of the side bets. Because the payouts for some side bets are extremely high compared to the wagers, it is possible to make a great deal of money. However, if you are not a skilled player, you are best off saving your money and leaving bonus games alone.
Professionals that try and beat side bets often use very technical types of card tracking. For instance, if a game requires one to get multiple queens out at the same time, professionals might first determine how many queens there are in the deck(s), then play the side bet game only when there is a very high concentration of queens that have not been dealt yet. There is no guarantee of winning, but the idea is to win the side bets frequently enough that the massive payouts make up for losing more hands.
For the vast majority of players, it is inadvisable to even play side bets. If you don’t mind putting a dollar or two in the side bet slot during normal play with much larger primary bets, your relative losses will not be substantial. Just bear in mind that side bets are designed to give the house a higher edge.
Royal Match
Royal Match is the most common blackjack side bet. It is easy to play, the rules are easy to remember, and most large American casinos offer it. The goal is to get two initial cards of the same suit. There are a few other matches that pay well, but the primary objective is to get a suited king and queen. A combination with a suited king and queen pays out at a standard rate of 25 to 1, but there are also progressive variants. The disadvantage to the player is greater in multi-deck games than in single-deck games.
21+3
21+3 borrows some terminology and concepts from poker. You will not see it in most casinos, but some still offer it. The object of the game is to get some type of flush, a straight or a three of a kind when you combine your initial two cards and the dealer’s upcard. A win typically pays out at a rate of 9 to 1.
Lucky Ladies
Lucky Ladies is another of the most common side bets offered in casinos. You place your bet in a side slot, and any hand that you get with a value of exactly 20 points will win you at least four times your wager. The pay tables differ depending on where you play and how many decks there are, but you are paid progressively higher amounts the more similar your two cards are to each other. The best card combination that you can get is two queens of hearts. This typically pays out at between 125 to 1 and 200 to 1. However, if the dealer has a blackjack when you get two queens of hearts, you win 1,000 times your side bet.
Super Sevens
Super Sevens is a bonus side bet that pays out quite well. The object is to get various combinations of 7s as your first cards and any cards that you draw.
Bet the Set
Bet the Set is a lot like Super Sevens, except it counts for all of the cards. You place a bet in the hopes that you will get two of the same card. You win more if your cards are of the same suit.
Bonus Blackjack
Bonus Blackjack is a side bet that is strongly in the house’s favor. To play, you place a wager in the hopes that you or the dealer will get a blackjack.
Progressive Blackjack
Progressive Blackjack is a lot like the side bet you see in Caribbean stud poker. You place a small side bet of $1 whenever you want to, and there is a minute chance that you will hit a large progressive jackpot. Such jackpots can sometimes be tens of thousands of dollars. If you are already betting high amounts, it doesn’t hurt to put down a dollar for the side bet. But if you are betting small amounts, this is not worth your time or money.
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs is getting more popular every day, but still relatively limited. It is like a lot of other games in that you win more if your cards are more alike. The best combination that you can get is two of the exact same card and suit.
Hi/Low
Hi/Low is a game in which you bet on whether your first card will be higher or lower than the house’s upcard. While it sounds like this might be a fun game with odds similar to flipping a coin, there’s a catch. The dealer typically wins ties, so you will lose more hands over time.
Match the Dealer
In Match the Dealer, you bet that your card or cards will be the same as the dealer’s upcard. The more alike they are, the more you win.
Casino Surrender
While quite common, this is really a bad side bet to waste your money on. If you have a two-card 20 and the dealer has a 10-value up card, you can force the dealer to surrender by accepting a payment equal to half your primary bet. You are best off simply letting the hand play through.