Blackjack is one of the easiest card games to master, and it is commonly recommended for beginner gamers who are considering playing at online casinos for the first time. Also known as the 21 game, this game involves betting on your hand against the dealer’s, guessing who will reach a combined value of 21 first without going over.

Blackjack is simple – we give you that, but it’s never dull. This is why at Unibet Casino, we’ve included over 300 video and live dealer blackjack tables for our players. Many of them follow the standard rules of the game, but they also give you the option to make blackjack side bets.

But what are side bets in blackjack, and why should you consider giving them a chance? Well, that’s what we are here to discuss. Stick around for the entire guide if you want to learn what do side bets do in blackjack!

Popular Blackjack Side Bets Explained

At their essence, side bets in blackjack are additional bets that you make besides your standard stake. You’ll need to make the bet before the round starts and before you can see the value of your hand or the face card of the dealer. Blackjack side bets each have their own rules and payouts, separate from the actual win you get on your main stake. So, it’s essential to learn how you can use these bets to your advantage. Let’s start by explaining the most popular blackjack side bets:

Insurance Bet

Insurance bets might be the most popular blackjack side bets, commonly included in all versions of blackjack, including classic, multi-hand, and VIP blackjack. You would make this side bet when you suspect that the dealer could have a hand that’s closer to 21, if not exactly 21, giving them an advantage over you. This bet is usually activated when you see that the dealer has an Ace as their face-up card, but you believe that the other card could help create a hand that’s higher in value than yours.

Perfect Pairs

Perfect pairs is one of the blackjack side bets where you bet on the hand that you will be dealt in the coming round. With this bet, you are telling the dealer that you expect the hand to have two cards that are either of the same suit or of the same value. There are three perfect pairs side bets in blackjack:

• Mixed Pair: These blackjack side bets predict that the coming hand will bring you two cards of the same value, but they don’t have to be of the same suit. For example, you bet that you will get an Ace of hearts and an Ace of spades.
• Coloured Pair: These blackjack side bets promise a bigger payout if you have two cards with the same value and the same coloured suit. For example, if you have one 10 of spades, you need the other card to be a 10 of clubs.
• Perfect Pair: These blackjack side bets have one of the highest payout potentials. In perfect pairs, you bet that the cards you will be dealt will have the same value and the same suit. This type of bet means you need, for example, two 10s of hearts to win.

21 + 3

In the 21 + 3 side bets in blackjack, you are betting on the combined value of the two cards you are dealt and the dealer’s card that’s face up. There can be five separate types of bets that are included in blackjack side bets:

• Flush: When you decide to activate the flush blackjack side bet, that means that you expect to have three cards that are of the same suit, but they don’t need to have the same value. You could have an 8 and a 9 of spades, and if the dealer has any card in spades, that’s enough to give you the win.
• Straight: In straight blackjack side bets, you bet that the three cards included in the bet will form a sequence. The cards don’t need to have the same suit, but they must have consecutive values. So, a 6 + 7 + 8 card will get you the win, regardless of the suits or colours.
• Three of a Kind: These blackjack side bets are self-explanatory: you need three cards of the same kind or value to win. So, three Aces, three Kings, or even three 2s will be enough to make the win happen. The cards don’t have to be of the same suit.
• Straight Flush: While the flush side bet requires three cards of the same suit, a straight flush requires that they be of the same suit and form a sequence. This is a combination of the flush and straight blackjack side bets.
• Suited Three of a Kind: Taking things up a notch from standard three of a kind blackjack side bets, you need three cards of the same value and the same suit to get a suited three of a kind. It’s rare to score this side bet, but when it does occur, the payout is quite high.

Other Blackjack Side Bets

There are also some lesser-known side bets in blackjack, including the easy match, royal match, and lucky ladies. The first one includes betting on getting dealt two cards that are of the same suit, while the second includes betting on a king and queen of the same suit being dealt directly to you. As for the third one, it promises a bigger payout if the two cards you are dealt have a combined value of 20, regardless of their separate value, suit, or colour.

Depending on the type of blackjack table you join, you can expect other side bets to be available as well, but ensure you read up on the details or ask the dealer on live casino blackjack tables for an explanation before you decide to activate them.

What Do Side Bets Do in Blackjack?

Blackjack side bets are the perfect option in an otherwise simple game to raise the excitement and the possible payouts. While exciting, what you need to understand about side bets is that they can also increase the house edge quite a bit, meaning you are actually turning the odds against you. This means that side bets can be interesting, but only when you’re playing for the thrill of it. 

You should always take into account both the risks and benefits of these options when playing at our live casino online. Don’t use them to try to beat the dealer or the casino, as that can only lead to larger wagers that will quickly drain your budget and bigger possible losses.