Blackjack is a very popular game around casinos, whether live or online. The game is not very hard to play and anyone can learn it. Even the beginners. The best part about Blackjack is that the house edge in this game is very low. For instance, on an average Blackjack game, the house edge for a good player is about 0.5%. Even for a beginner, it never crosses 2%.
To make the game more interesting or to raise the house edge – most casinos offer ‘side bets’ or ‘prop bets’. The best way to describe these bets would be to say that they have nothing to do with the actual game. These side bets have nothing to do with your skills as a Blackjack player. They are dependent on luck and guesswork. The player has to place the side bet at the beginning of the game. It is based on predictions about what cards the players and sometimes even the dealer will receive. Even though Blackjack side bets are based on luck and not skill, if you are adept at card counting, you might be able to increase your chances of winning significantly.
Best Side Bets at Most Casinos
There are a lot of side bets in use at casinos. And there are a lot more waiting to be implemented. So, here is a list of some of the best and most popular side bets in Blackjack to help you.
21+3
This side bet is based on the first two cards that the player has and the dealer’s upturned card. And if the player guesses the combination of these three cards, he wins money. Based on the rarity of the combinations, this bet has different payouts. For instance, if the cards form a flush, straight, straight flush, three of a kind, or a suited triple, the player wins. This is one of the most famous side bets at casinos.
Super Seven
As the name suggests, this side bet is dependent on whether the player’s hand contains any sevens. One seven, two unsuited sevens, or two suited sevens offer increasing payouts. If the third card of the player is also the seven, then the payout is incredible.
Lucky Ladies
The Lucky Ladies bet is placed on the sum of two cards of the player being 20. A matched or same value 20 will make you the most money. In the ideal scenario, the player will have two Queen of hearts, which will make the payout 500:1. If the player has a Blackjack and two queens of hearts, the payout will be 1000:1. Though that hand is extremely rare in a Blackjack game.
Over/Under 13
In this side bet, the player can wager whether the sum of his first two cards will be under or over 13. This bet gives the house a significant edge. For instance, over 13 wagers the house bet is about 6.5% and for under 13 wagers it can creep up to 10% in some cases. In most casinos, if the sum of the two cards is exactly 13, the player automatically loses. But some casinos offer a bet on the sum of 13.
Royal Match
This bet is a player-friendly side bet. If you place this wager and have a suited pair in your hands, you will receive a 5:2 payout. On the other hand, if the pair is a suited King and Queen, the payout is 25:1. The average house edge in this side bet is about 3.7%-3.8%.
Perfect Pairs
This bet is based on the player’s hand. And pays out if the player has two of a kind pairs. If the player has two cards of the same value but a different suit and different colour, same value, same colour, or two of the same cards, the payout increases. The last one offering a payout of 25:1.
Conclusion
These are some of the best side bets at any Blackjack games in casinos. Blackjack is easy to learn and play and offers a significantly less house edge. But the payout in most Blackjack games is nothing stunning. The side bets increase the house edge by a significant percentage but it also makes the game interesting. Side bets are based on guessing but if you are a skilled card counter, you can make money out of these bets. Side bets are a strategy that casinos implement to make money. But if you are skilled at both Blackjack and card counting, you can use these bets to your advantage and win big.
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