What Are Side Bets in Blackjack?
Side bets are optional wagers placed alongside your main Blackjack bet. They pay based on specific card combinations or outcomes, not on whether you win the main hand.
Side bets offer higher payouts and higher variance, making them ideal for players who want additional excitement during a standard Blackjack round.
How Side Bets Work
Side bets MUST be placed BEFORE cards are dealt. They are settled independently from your main hand — meaning:
You can win the side bet and lose the main hand.
You can lose the side bet and still win the main hand.
Common Blackjack Side Bets (Detailed Breakdown)
Any Pair
Any Pair
Your first two cards form a pair. Based on these combinations:
Mixed Pair (different suits).
Colored Pair (same color).
Perfect Pair (same rank + same suit).
21+3
21+3
Combines your two cards with the dealer’s upcard to form a 3-card poker hand. Winning hands include:
Straight Flush: A triplet in numerical sequence and same suit.
Example: 10♦ + J♦ + Q♦
Straight: A triplet in numerical sequence but different suits.
Example: 2♠ + 3♣ + 4♥
Flush: A triplet with non-sequential cards in the same suit.
Example: 2♣ + 6♣ + 10♣
Three of a Kind: A triplet sharing the same value but different suits.
Example: K♣ + K♥ + K♠
Suited Trips (Available only in some tables): An identical triplet.
Example: Q♥ + Q♥ + Q♥
Hot 3
Hot 3
Based on the total value of your first two cards + the dealer’s upcard. Common winning totals: 19, 20, 21, or specific combinations like 7-7-7.
If the total value of these three cards is 19, the player wins a 1:1 payout, for a total bet of 2:1
If the total value of the three cards is 20, the payout is 3:1
If the total is 21, the payout is 100:1
If 7-7-7, the payout is 100:1
Insurance
Insurance
A special defensive side bet offered only when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. It pays 2:1 if the dealer has Blackjack.
Blackjack Games Featuring Side Bets
Below, we have listed some tables on TrustDice that commonly include one or more side bets:
Blackjack A | Blackjack B | Blackjack C | First Person Blackjack | Infinite Blackjack | Infinite Free Bet Blackjack | Free Bet Blackjack | Power Blackjack
FAQs
Q: Are side bets mandatory?
A: No. Side bets are completely optional and do not affect your main Blackjack hand.
Q: Can I place a side bet without placing a main bet?
A: No. You must place a main Blackjack bet first. Side bets are additional to the primary wager.
Q: Are side bets available on every Blackjack table?
A: Not always. Each table includes its own set of side bets. Click on the Information Icon ℹ️ inside the game to check what’s available.
Q: Do payouts vary between Blackjack tables?
A: Yes. Different providers may use slightly different payout tables. Always check the side bet rules in the specific game you are playing.