So, what is the 21+3 bet in blackjack? Let’s find out!
This is your clear and simple guide to everything you need to know about the 21+3 Blackjack side bet. We’ll cover where to place your chips on the blackjack table and how much winning 21+3 side bets pay out.
What is the 21+3 Blackjack Side Bet?
Side bets in blackjack are additional bets you can make as you play, other than betting on your hand in the standard way. They add a little extra spice to the game.
One of the most popular blackjack side bets you’ll find at blackjack tables online and in casinos is the 21+3 side bet. It’s essentially two games in one – a combination of blackjack and three-card poker.
You make a 21+3 Blackjack side bet by betting on whether or not your first two cards and the dealer’s up card will form either a flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, or another three-card poker hand.
We’ll explain the Blackjack 21+3 side bet in more detail below. But first, we’ll quickly cover how blackjack is played.
Understanding the Basics of Blackjack
In blackjack, each player is competing individually against the dealer to make a hand that totals as close to 21 as possible, without going over and going bust. If a player’s hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s at the end of the round, the player wins.
A round of blackjack begins with each player placing their bets. The dealer then deals two face-up cards to every player at the table. They then deal themselves two cards as well, one card face down (the hole card) and one card face up (the up card).
In a Blackjack 21+3 side bet, you place a bet on your own two first cards and the dealer’s up card making a three-card Poker hand.
Read more about how to play blackjack .
Explaining 21+3 in Blackjack
With the 21+3 Blackjack side bet, you place a bet on your first hand of two cards and the dealer’s up card (three cards in total) being either a:
- Flush: Any three cards of the same suit, such as three Diamond cards.
- Straight: Three consecutive cards of any suit, like a 5, 6 and a 7.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank and any suit, such as three 10s.
- Straight Flush: Three cards of the same suit, in consecutive order, like a Jack, Queen, and King of Hearts.
- Suited Three of a Kind (Suited Trips): Three cards of the same suit and the same rank, such as three 10s of Hearts.
Some tables only pay out on hands of a Flush, Straight, and a Three of a Kind. But other blackjack tables will also pay out on hands of a Straight Flush and a Suited Three of a Kind too.
How to Play 21+3 in Blackjack?
As with other bets in blackjack, you place a 21+3 side bet at the start of a new blackjack round before any cards are dealt.
If you’re playing at a Blackjack table in a casino, or are playing at a live casino online , the dealer will usually invite you to place your bets.
You place your 21+3 side bet by putting your chips into the box labelled 21+3. Blackjack table layouts can vary, but usually this box is found to the right of where you place your chips to make regular blackjack bets.
21+3 side bets are usually paid out immediately after the initial three cards are dealt. The dealer will check for winning combinations, collect the chips of unsuccessful 21+3 side bets, and pay out for successful bets.
Once the 21+3 side bets are settled, the round of blackjack will be played as usual.
What are the 21+3 Blackjack Payouts?
Payouts can vary by casino and by blackjack table. So can the probability of each hand happening (depending on how many decks of cards are used). But the payout and probability for Blackjack 21+3 side bets are usually:
Hand | Payout | Probability of Happening |
Flush | 5:1 | 5.9% |
Straight | 10:1 | 3.1% |
Three of a Kind | 30:1 | 0.5% |
Straight Flush | 40:1 | 0.2% |
Suited Three of a Kind | 100:1 | 0.02% |
Rather than offering different payouts for each hand, some blackjack tables at some casinos will pay out all side bets at 9:1, no matter if you have a three card hand of a Flush or a Suited Three of a Kind.
Analysing Blackjack 21+3 Odds and Probabilities
The probability of winning 21+3 hands occurring during play will depend on how many decks of cards are used at a table (usually between six to eight). But the probability is usually between 5.9% for a Flush, 0.5% for a Three of a Kind, and 0.02% for a Suited Three of a Kind.
The house edge (the advantage a casino has over its players at each table game) will depend upon the variant of 21+3 played and the table’s payout structure. It usually ranges from 3.7% to 10%, higher than the house edge on standard Blackjack bets of around 2%.
The higher house edge of 21+3 side bets means they’re very much a supplemental bet you can make whilst you focus on playing your blackjack hand. It’s a side bet with a lower chance of winning, but when you do win you’ll win much bigger payouts than with a standard blackjack bet.
Variations of 21+3 in Blackjack
Different tables can offer variations on 21+3 Blackjack side bets, including offering differing payout structures. Common variants of 21+3 side bets include:
● 21+3 Classic: With a standard payout structure, as shown in the table above.
● 21+3 Extreme: Offering higher payouts for Straight Flush and Suited Three of a Kind hands.
● 21+3 Xtreme: Adds payouts for even lower probability hands, like Three of a Kind Suited or Three-card Suited Straight Flush.
● Progressive 21+3: A progressive jackpot is introduced that players can win with rarer hands.
Play Blackjack Online with BoyleSports
By combining elements of poker with blackjack, 21+3 side bets add a whole new dimension to the game. They are a simple side bet to place. And whilst they’re harder to win than standard Blackjack, they can offer some impressive payouts.
However you want to play blackjack, and whatever the blackjack bets you want to place, we’ve got the online blackjack game for you. You’ll find a variety of online blackjack games available at BoyleSports Games , including live-streamed blackjack in our online live casino .
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