Blackjack is a popular game all over the world and due to its ease of gameplay, it is enjoyed all over the world. Decision-making while playing blackjack is not that tedious, as there are only a few things to decide on while playing. There are also some strategies that can be utilized, and once used correctly, increase your chances of winning.
There are side bets which are provided for you when you play blackjack varieties, as it is the same with other casino games. Side bets are mostly used by players who want to get extra wagers depending on how the hand will turn out. The extra wagers made while playing a regular game of blackjack are called side bets. They entail foreseeing the cards that the player, and occasionally the dealer, will be dealt.
Side bets increase the game’s complexity, but they also carry a significantly higher level of danger. One of the major reasons why blackjack is so popular and widely played is because of its low house edge. House Edge is the name given to the percentage that the casino will get over any bet you place. Players who are deemed good will have a house edge of around 0.5%, while new/inexperienced players will have one of around 2%. However, when using side bets in blackjack, the house edge can rise up to 10% and above.
The variations of blackjack that offer side bets are numerous, and it can be a burden to find a suitable one. Players can visit 32Red blackjack live page, where they will find a variety of live blackjack games that utilize side bets. Some of them are: One Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack, Speed Blackjack Live, Power Blackjack, Lightning Blackjack Live, and a lot more others. Here are some of the popular side bets in blackjack.
21+3
The 21+3 side bet involves wagering on whether your first two cards and the dealer’s card that is face up can make a combination of 3 cards that will get you one of the following hands:
- Suited three of a kind: 3 cards with the same suit and number.
- Straight flush: 3 cards of consecutive value and the same suit.
- Three of a kind: 3 cards with the same number, any suit.
- Straight: 3 cards of consecutive value, any suit.
- Flush: 3 cards of the same suit.
The better your hand is when using 21+3, the higher your payout. Even when you lose the main game, you can still win using 21+3.
Insurance
This side bet enables you to protect yourself in the event that the dealer has a blackjack, which will beat your hands unless you also have a blackjack yourself. Insurance is only used when the dealer’s card that is face up is an Ace. In the event that the dealer has a blackjack, and a player did not use the insurance side bet, he will lose his wager. Meanwhile, if you are used, you will receive a 2:1 payout. The insurance side bet involves staking half of your original wager to protect your bankroll.
Double down
This is when a player doubles his wager in the middle of a hand and can only receive one card after that. It is really risky to use this side bet because if you get dealt a low card, you can lose twice your original wager. They can only be used when your first two cards have been dealt, and they require a strategy to be used, as inexperienced players will end up losing twice their stake. You can double down when:
- Your cards are up to 11.
- You have a soft 16, 17 or 18(an ace and another card).
- You have a hard 9 or 10(cards without an ace)
Doubling down is about getting the balance right. It is important to know when to do so.
Perfect Pairs
This type of side bet is concerned with the player’s first two cards only. Once a perfect pair side bet has been used, the player must get two cards of the same number/value once the hand has been dealt. Payouts on perfect pairs depend on the type of pair the player gets.
- Mixed pair: two varying colors(lesser payout).
- Colored: same color but different suits(higher payout).
- Perfect pair: same color and same suit(highest payout).
Perfect Pairs payouts vary and depend on the casino you are playing at.
Over/Under 13
This is one of the easiest side bets to use. After the player uses this side bet and the hands are dealt, if he wagers on getting cards with a value of over 13, and he does, he wins the payout. It is also the same thing if he wagers on getting cards of value under 13.
Super Sevens
This is a side bet used to wager on the first two cards you will be dealt, along with the dealer’s card facing up. You will win the payout if your first card is a 7, and you can get more if your second and the dealer’s cards are all 7s too.
Conclusion
Using side bets in blackjack carries high risks because they are based solely on luck. While it is important to know how the various side bets are played, it is also important to know the amount you will lose if you use them.