Blackjack Side Bets: 21+3 and Perfect Pairs Explained
What blackjack side bets are
A side bet is a separate, optional wager placed before the deal that wins or loses based on a defined card pattern in the opening cards, independent of your main blackjack hand. You can win your side bet and lose your hand in the same round, or vice versa. Side bets are resolved as soon as the qualifying cards appear, then the round continues as normal.
They exist because they are profitable for the casino: in exchange for the chance at a 25:1 or 100:1 payout, you accept a house edge several times larger than blackjack’s. Treat them as paid entertainment, not as a way to make money.
The 21+3 side bet
21+3 combines your two cards with the dealer’s up-card to make a three-card poker hand. If those three cards form one of the ranked combinations below, the bet pays. It has nothing to do with reaching 21 — the “21” is just branding, and the “3” is the three cards used.
| Combination (your 2 cards + dealer up-card) | Typical payout |
|---|---|
| Suited Three of a Kind (e.g. three Q♠) | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind (mixed suits) | 30:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Flush | 5:1 |
This common paytable gives a house edge of roughly 3.2% in a six-deck game. Some casinos pay a flat 9:1 for any winning combination, which is worse for the player. Always read the paytable on the felt or in the game rules.
The Perfect Pairs side bet
Perfect Pairs pays when your own first two cards form a pair. The dealer’s cards are irrelevant. There are three winning tiers, ranked by how closely the two cards match:
| Pair type | Example | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect Pair — same rank & same suit | 8♥ + 8♥ | 25:1 |
| Coloured Pair — same rank & colour, different suit | 8♥ + 8♦ | 12:1 |
| Mixed Pair — same rank, different colour | 8♥ + 8♠ | 6:1 |
With this 25/12/6 paytable, a six-deck Perfect Pairs bet has a house edge of about 4.1%. Fewer decks change the odds: a perfect pair is actually harder to hit with fewer decks, so single- and double-deck paytables differ.
Other side bets you may see
- Lucky Ladies — pays when your first two cards total 20, with bonuses for a suited or matched 20 (and a huge payout for a pair of Queen of Hearts with a dealer blackjack).
- Royal Match — pays when your first two cards are the same suit, with a jackpot for a suited King-Queen.
- Bust It — a bet that the dealer will bust, with the payout scaling to how many cards the dealer busts with.
- Insurance — technically a side bet offered when the dealer shows an Ace. It carries a high house edge and basic strategy declines it. See our insurance guide.
Should you play side bets?
The honest answer for a bankroll-minded player is no. Here is the math, side by side:
| Wager | Typical house edge |
|---|---|
| Main blackjack hand (basic strategy) | ~0.5% |
| 21+3 | ~3.2% |
| Perfect Pairs | ~4.1% |
| Lucky Ladies | ~17% (varies a lot) |
A side bet costs you several times more per dollar than the main game. If you enjoy the swings and treat it as the price of entertainment, a small side bet now and then is harmless fun. If your goal is to make your bankroll last, put every chip on the main hand and play accurate basic strategy instead.
Try it free — no money at risk
The best way to understand side bets is to watch how often they actually hit. Play our free blackjack games with virtual chips and you will quickly see why a 25:1 payout still loses money over a long session. No signup, no real money — just the cards.