Blackjack 21 - Side Bets

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A side bet in Blackjack is a wager placed on the table alongside your main hand and the dealer’s up card. There are many different side bets, with some of them offering high payouts if they win. However, most of them offer far higher house edges than the regular game and should be considered only as a small addition to your playing time rather than a viable way of increasing your winnings over the long term.

Typically, there is a special box on the Blackjack table where you can place your side bet. Once you have done this, the dealer will deal you your cards and then reveal their own face up card. If your two cards and the dealer’s up card combine to form one of the following poker hands then you will win. Straight Flush, Three of a Kind (suited) and Suited Pair are the highest paying hands and each has a specific set of odds.

Other popular side bets include Perfect Pairs, which pays when your first two cards are the same value and same suit (e.g. KK) and Insurance, which is offered when the dealer shows an Ace and pays 2:1. However, most players should steer clear of Insurance bets as they come with a massive 7.4% house edge. If you want to reduce the house edge then simply stick to your own Blackjack strategy and avoid the Insurance bet altogether.