Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games mainly due to it being relatively easy to understand and play along with the fact that is has a very low house edge when played with optimum blackjack strategy.

As well as being able to bet on your hand against the dealers, many blackjack tables give you the option of betting on a range of side bets. There are a number of different side bets available depending on the casino you’re playing at and the individual table. Some of these side bets can return huge profits when hit for a relatively low stake on them which makes them attractive to many players. Especially when they see other players at the table winning on their side bets.

I’ve started playing blackjack. Are sidebars worth it?? I will add; however, most all of the tables with side bets that I see are paired with worse rules for. If the player is dealt an Ace and a ten-value card (called a 'blackjack' or ' natural '), and the dealer does not, the player wins and usually receives a bonus. If the player exceeds a sum of 21 ('busts'), the player loses, even if the dealer also exceeds 21.

However, are side bets worth it? Do they have value? What are the odds of a side bet on blackjack?

We’ll be answering all these questions in this article to ensure you get the most value from your bets.

We told ourselves the trip was so far, we might as well play the $25 DD game and spread 1-4. Before we knew it, we were down a mere 15-20 units, but destroying our entire $500 trip bankroll. That’s like within 1 standard deviation. Of a two hour trip. Blackjack Card Values in Play The goal of Blackjack is to beat the dealer, but so many people misunderstand this as trying to get as close to the sum of 21 as possible. It’s easy to make this mistake, because in order to beat the dealer, one must have a hand that surpasses the sum of the dealer’s hand without surpassing 21. Playing online blackjack is a fun way to pass time, develop your powers of strategic thinking, and test your ability to act under pressure. To get the most fun from your game, you need to know the rules of blackjack. Without these, you may make the wrong moves and lose games that you could have won.

What Are Blackjack Side Bets?

As mentioned, there are a number of different side bets available and the ones you’ll be able to bet on will depend on the casino and table you’re playing at and if they offer them. However, there are some more common blackjack side bets which are the ones we will be focusing on in this article. Those side bets are:

1. Perfect Pairs
2. 21+3
3. Insurance

We’ll be taking a look at these two side bets individually and showing you how they work along with a bit of math to determine whether or not they have value.

Perfect Pairs

First up we have Perfect Pairs which is perhaps the most popular blackjack side bet.

When betting on Perfect Pairs, you are betting on the two cards which you are initially dealt being the same. They don’t have to be of the same suit but the payouts are greater if they are.

For example, if you bet on Perfect Pairs and you were dealt two sixes, your side bet would win. If you were dealt two Jacks, your side bet would win, and so on.

It’s a simple side bet to understand which is why it is so popular.

What Are The Payouts For Perfect Pairs?

The payouts for perfect pairs vary depending on the number of decks of cards in the shoe along with the table you’re playing at. Some casinos offer different payouts on Perfect Pairs but in our example, we’ll be using the payouts which the majority of online casinos in the UK use. Typically, online casinos such as William Hill, 888Casino, Paddy Power and others use 8 decks in their shoes.

So, if you were to place a £1 Perfect Pair side bet and you were dealt 2 x 6 of hearts, your returns would be £26. This doesn’t include any potential winnings from your hand against the dealers. Regardless of whether your hand wins, you will still be paid for your winning side bet.

What Are The Odds For Perfect Pairs?

In order to decide whether or not the Perfect Pairs side bet has value, we must determine the probability of winning the side bet and compare it to the payouts. This will give us the house edge.

Perfect Pair Probability

A perfect pair, which is a pair of the same cards and the same suit, pays out at 25/1.

In a show which has 8 decks, there are a total of 416 cards. One of these cards will have already been dealt to you and so by using the number of remaining cards we can determine the probability of the same card being dealt next.

So, one card has been dealt which leaves 415 cards. Only 7 of these cards are the same as the one which you have been dealt and so the odds of you receiving a second card which is the same as your first card are 7/415 which is around a 1.69% chance.

Perfect Pair Probability = 1.69%

Coloured Pair Probability

If you receive a pair of the same cards which are of the same colour but have different suits, the payout on your perfect pair side bet is 12/1.

Again, as you have been dealt one card, there are 415 remaining cards and this time there are 8 cards remaining in the deck which could give you a coloured pair.

Therefore, there is an 8/415 chance that you will be dealt a coloured pair which is around a 1.93% chance.

Coloured Pair Probability = 1.93%

Mixed Pair Probability

The final Perfect Pair side bet which you can win is a mixed pair (one red & one black) which pays out at 6/1.

When you are dealt your first card, there are 415 cards left in the shoe and there are 16 cards remaining which will result in a coloured pair.

This means that there is a 16/416 chance that you will be dealt a coloured pair which is around a 3.86% chance.

Mixed Pair Probability = 3.86%

Perfect Pair Expected Value

Now that we’ve determined the probability of each of the perfect pair possibilities occurring, we can use the payouts offered to determine the Expected Value of each.

To do this, we simply multiply the probability by the payout odds.

Perfect Pair Expected Value = 25 x 1.69% = 0.4225

Coloured Pair Expected Value = 12 x 1.93% = 0.2316

Mixed Pair Expected Value = 6 x 3.86% = 0.2316

Perfect Pair RTP (Return To Player)

Is Blackjack Worth Playing

To determine the RTP of a Perfect Pair side bet, we simply need to add the three possibilities listed above together.

Perfect Pair RTP = 0.4225 + 0.2316 + 0.2316 = 0.8857 = 89%

Perfect Pair House Edge

The house edge of a Perfect Pair side bet can be determined by subtracting the RTP from 100%.

Perfect Pair House Edge = 100% – 89% = 11%

Advantages of Perfect Pairs

A house edge of around 11% is extremely high. So, why do players bet on perfect pairs if they know that the odds are stacked heavily in favour of the casino?

The main appeal to betting on perfect pairs is the potential for very high returns. Hitting a perfect pair at 25/1 early on in a session can give your bankroll a big boost.

However, it’s important to look at the bigger picture when playing any casino game and you always want to do whatever you can to keep the house edge to a minimum if the aim is to make money.

Therefore, we would advise against placing Perfect Pair side bets.

Disadvantages of Perfect Pairs

The disadvantage of Perfect Pair side bets is that they have a high house edge. If the house edge is greater than that of playing a standard hand of blackjack, then your money is better spent on the hand rather than the side bet.

21+3

21+3 is another popular side bet when playing blackjack and unlike Perfect Pairs from which you can win in 3 ways, 21+3 has 5 different ways to win.

Is Online Blackjack Worth It

Another difference between 21+3 and Perfect Pairs is that instead of just using the two cards which you are dealt, with 21+3, you are using your two cards as well as the dealers up-turned card.

When placing a 21+3 side bet, you are betting on any of the following occurring.

1. Suited Three of a Kind: Your two cards and the dealer’s up-turned card are identical, including value, suit and colour.
2. Straight Flush: Your two cards and the dealer’s up-turned card are suited and make a numerical sequence eg 6 diamonds, 7 diamonds, 8 diamonds.
3. Three of a Kind: Three cards the same but not matching suits
4. Straight: Three cards which make a numerical sequence but not matching suits
5. Flush: Three cards of the same suit

What Are The Payouts For 21+3 Side Bets?

Just like with the Perfect Pairs side bet, payouts can vary depending on the online casino you’re playing at, the variation of the blackjack game and the number of decks being used.

The following payouts are most common for UK players playing on live dealer tables powered by providers such as Evolution Gaming.

For example, if you placed a £1 21+3 side bet and you were dealt 2 x 9 of hearts and the dealer was also dealt a 9 of hearts, you would receive £101 back along with any winnings from your hand.

21+3 Side Bets House Edge

The original 21+3 side bet paid out at 9/1 for a winning hand which resulted in a house edge of 3.24%. However, newer pay tables mean that there is greater volatility in house edges which depend on the card which you are dealt and the cards which remain in the shoe at the time of the hand being dealt.

There are different variations of 21+3 which have a house edge ranging from 2.78% all the way up to 13.39% but the theoretical RTP of a 21+3 side bet is 95.38% which gives a house edge of 4.62%.

Blackjack Insurance

The final blackjack side bet we will be covering in this article is Blackjack Insurance. Players are only offered this bet when the dealer is dealt an Ace.

Players are offered insurance after their cards have been dealt and only if the dealers up-card is an Ace.

Players can choose to take insurance for a cost of half of their original bet. Should the dealer have Blackjack, the players insurance bet will pay out at 2/1.

For example, if you placed a £10 bet on your hand too insurance after the dealer showed an Ace, the cost for the insurance bet would be £5. Should the dealer have Blackjack, you would receive back £15 from your insurance bet as well as anything you win from your hand.

Many players see insurance as a good bet as they can receive their overall stake back from the hand should the dealer have blackjack. However, in the majority of cases, it is mathematically a bad bet.

Blackjack Insurance House Edge

To make the calculations a bit easier, in this example, we will be using one 52 card deck.

If you were dealt two cards, let’s say a 6 and a 7, and the dealer was dealt an Ace, there are 49 cards remaining in the deck. 16 of these remaining cards have a value of 10 which would give the dealer Blackjack.

To determine the odds of the dealer having blackjack, we simply need to divide the number of cards in the deck which wouldn’t result in Blackjack by the number of cards which would.

Blackjack Insurance Odds = 33 / 16 = 2.0625 to 1

However, when you place an insurance bet, you only get offered odds of 2/1.

This works out as a house edge of around 2% – 3% which may not seem too bad. However, the house edge of Blackjack Insurance can fluctuate and be a lot higher.

Should your hand contain a 10-value card, then there is a reduced chance that the dealer has blackjack as there are fewer cards to do so. This increases the house edge significantly and if you are holding two 10-value cards, it can be as high as 14%.

Is Insurance A Bad Bet In Blackjack?

Based on the house edge we’ve determined above, this would make taking insurance a bad bet. However, there may be exceptions.

If you know that a lot of 10-value cards remain in the shoe, then taking insurance could be a wise bet. You will only be able to determine this if you are card counting but it can reduce the house edge significantly and in some circumstances, actually give you the edge!

Online casinos have been offering blackjack for well over two decades. Most of them focus on the classic version and feature an atmosphere that’s designed to replicate land-based blackjack tables.

Standard online blackjack is fun if you enjoy the strategy and gameplay above all. However, you may sometimes yearn for more excitement from your internet blackjack experience.

Enter Blackjack Party. This game lives up to its name by creating a lively atmosphere and unique social experience.

Internet blackjack isn’t typically known for offering social elements. Blackjack Party changes this by bringing a gambling fiesta into your living room.

Assuming you’ve never heard of this game, then you can keep reading to find out more about Blackjack Party and if it’s worth playing.

Fun Version of Blackjack Available at Live Casinos

Many gaming sites now feature live dealer casinos. A live dealer outfit streams blackjack games from a land-based studio or even casino.

Of course, the average live table is still based on the classic version of blackjack—just like software-based online tables. It offers a single dealer, laidback atmosphere, and no theatrics.

Party blackjack serves as an alternative to standard live tables. It features a host, dealer, music, and unique studio backdrop.

But the house and dealer are key to the party experience. The host’ job is to spark up conversations with the croupier and also answer players’ chat questions and comments.

Oftentimes, the dealer and host get interesting conversations going. For example, they may discuss movies, video games, and vacations.

The music serves to further this excitement level. It livens up the atmosphere and keeps you in the mood to continue playing.

Pros of Blackjack Party

Blackjack

This version of blackjack is unlike any other in the online gaming world. It features some unique advantages over virtual and traditional live blackjack. You can read about these benefits below.

Banter Between Dealer & Host

If you’ve played live blackjack before, you’re probably used to a single dealer who doesn’t say much. They commonly work long shifts by themselves and aren’t always in the mood to chat with players.

The live version is still worth playing, because it offers some level of social element. However, you can’t always get interesting discussions going with the dealer.

Blackjack Party, in contrast, usually features interesting table banter. The dealer and host talk almost nonstop with each other.

They also respond to your questions and comments. In summary, the host adds much to the Blackjack Party experience.

Chat with Two Casino Employees

Again, live blackjack dealers don’t always have much to say. You may find yourself bored when the croupier isn’t talkative.

Blackjack Party solves this problem by featuring two casino employees at the tables. One of the employee’s entire job revolves around striking up entertaining discussions.

Assuming you’re not getting much conversation from the dealer, you can always direct your comments towards the host.

Interesting Backdrop

Most live dealer studios feature modest backgrounds. Blackjack Party tables, on the other hand, offer animated backdrops.

For example, you might see moving graphics on the wall behind the host and dealer. Or, you may play at a table with a Caribbean Beach-style background.

This novelty effect may not seem like it makes much of a difference. But it does present something different from the average live blackjack table.

Low House Edge

Live dealer studios weren’t the first ones to think of this type of blackjack. Party tables have existed in land-based casinos for a couple of decades.

The latter features blaring music, lightly clothed dealers, and even women dancing on nearby pools. Land-based party blackjack is as much about ogling women as it is the game.

If you’re a red-blooded male, you may think that these party tables sound enticing. However, you’ll also pay for this experience in the form of terrible rules.

Land-based Party Blackjack features 6:5 natural payouts, dealers hitting on soft 17, double-down restrictions, and other unfavorable rules. All told, you’ll be facing well over a 2% house advantage.

Live Party Blackjack is toned down compared to its brick-and-mortar counterpart. However, it does easily outdo land-based party tables in terms of the house advantage.

You’re normally face around a 0. 5% house edge with live dealer Party Blackjack. This house advantage is competitive with virtual online blackjack and much better than what you’ll find at the average land-based table.

Cons of Blackjack Party

For the most part, Blackjack Party adds innocent fun your gaming experience. Before you play, though, you should consider the following drawbacks.

Distracting Environment

Assuming you’re somebody who can think well amid distractions, you may have no problem with the vibrant atmosphere at Party Blackjack tables.

However, you should have second thoughts about playing this game in the midst of distractions. These tables feature a lot going on, from the background graphics to the host and dealer chatting.

You may lose concentration and begin making poor strategy decisions. If lowering the blackjack house edge is one of your main goals, you won’t appreciate the times where you make blunders due to the distractions.

Not Available at Most Live Casinos

So far, you may feel like jumping onto the first party table you see. Unfortunately, most live dealer casinos still don’t offer this game.

The party variation is only available via a limited number of studios. Therefore, it hasn’t had much chance to spread throughout the gaming world.

You might still find Party Blackjack at one of your favorite casinos. But you shouldn’t automatically assume that you’ll be able to play this game.

Seats Are Often Taken

Not surprisingly, Party Blackjack has proven popular among gamblers. This popularity, combined with limited availability, makes it difficult to find a seat.

Party tables are typically full during primetime European gambling hours. Therefore, you may need to wait until the morning or late-night hours to enjoy this game.

Of course, you can always use the bet behind option. The drawback to bet behind, though, is that it doesn’t let you actually play hands. You’re merely gambling on somebody else’s action.

Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons with Blackjack Party?

You can see that Party Blackjack features both highs and lows. I firmly believe that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks in this situation.

The main problems with this type of blackjack—including limited availability and a distracting atmosphere—may not bother you at all. Assuming you’re okay with these minor downsides, then you’ll likely enjoy this game.

This version takes what standard live blackjack hopes to be and magnifies the social elements. The host is critical in this enhanced experience.

They are key to starting discussions and making the games feel like a party. Meanwhile, you can interact with both them and the dealer through the chat box.

If you’ve ever felt that online blackjack is a lonely experience, then you should definitely try the party version. It’s by far the next-best thing to visiting a brick-and-mortar casino.

Conclusion

For years, all online blackjack games featured software-generated tables and dealers. This situation changed when live dealer casinos launched in the mid-2000s. For the first time, players could enjoy brick-and-mortar blackjack action from home.

Party Blackjack isn’t quite the revelation that live dealer gaming was. However, it does feel like its pushing the wheel further.

As explained before, regular live blackjack doesn’t always present the liveliest atmosphere. Your experience suffers if the single dealer working the table isn’t feeling sociable.

The party variation solves this dilemma by employing both a dealer and host. The latter facilitates many of the conversations and keeps the game interesting.

Assuming you’ve played at land-based tables, you may be expecting the live dealer version to feature bikini-clad women.

This scenario isn’t the case with live Party Blackjack. However, the live party game does feature much-better rules and more chatting than the land-based version.

In summary, Party Blackjack brings something new to live dealer gaming and the online gambling world in general. You should consider trying this game if you already play at live casinos anyways.