21+3 Blackjack Side Bet Explained

What we’ve got on our hands in this EnergyCasino Blog post is a mixture of blackjack — the game we all know and love — and Three-card poker.

If you’re asking about what the latter has to do with blackjack, you’re in for a treat; as long as you’re no stranger to the exciting game of poker! If not, there’s no need to worry.

In this post, we’ll explain everything you need to know when placing the 21+3 side bet at blackjack tables, including its odds, payouts and strategy to make it work.

WHAT IS 21+3 IN BLACKJACK?

The 21+3 bet is a popular blackjack side bet offered at all the blackjack tables worth their salt, which is why it’s one of the most important bets to know about.

The 21+3 side bet looks to predict that your two cards and the dealer’s up-card combine to make any of these three-card poker hands. The possible three-card hand can only feature a flush, straight, three of a kind, straight flush or a suited three of a kind.

WHAT IS A BLACKJACK SIDE BET?

Blackjack side bets are additional, optional bets that players can place to add another layer of fun and complexity to the game. The way blackjack side bets work is this: before the cards are dealt, you will be given the option to add extra chips to the table. Of course, this comes with more risk since you can always lose your bet. If you’re lucky enough to win the round, you can enjoy even greater payouts, especially if you win a side bet as well. Some of the most common side bets include the 21+3 blackjack side bet and Perfect Pairs — the former being the basis of this very post.

Placing a blackjack side bet is an easy way to raise the stakes and make things fun if you’re looking to add an extra dimension to your gameplay. While the risk of denting your bankroll is much higher, they bring pretty good payouts to the table as well. At the end of the day, the 21+3 blackjack side bet, as well as any other side bet, is completely optional, so you won’t have to take this risk every round. You can even avoid side bets completely if they don’t really pique your interest, but we do recommend trying to raise your stake every now and then to keep things interesting.

HOW DOES 21+3 WORK IN BLACKJACK?

The 21+3 side bet involves the player’s two cards and the dealer’s upcard. Players can bet on these three cards with various combinations of suits and values. This bet pays based on the hand ranking of the three cards.

The potential three-card hand can take the form of the following poker hands:

• Flush — The flush is a hand where all three cards are of the same suit. The flush hand pays 5:1.
• Straight — The straight is a hand where all three cards are of consecutive values. The player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up-card must combine to make three consecutive cards, that is, a straight. An example of three consecutive values are 5, 6 and 7. The straight pays 10:1.
• Three of a Kind — The three of a kind is a hand where all three cards are of the same value but not of the same suit. The three of a kind pays 33:1.
• Straight Flush — The straight flush is a hand where all three cards are of the same suit and in sequential order. The straight flush pays 35:1.
• Suited Three of a Kind — The suited three of a kind is a hand where all three cards are of the same rank and the same suit. The suited three of a kind has the most attractive odds, since it pays 100:1.

21+3 BLACKJACK RULES

The rules for any blackjack tables that offer the 21+3 side bet are typically the same as the traditional game.

If you hit and your hand value soars above 21, you’ll bust and lose the round. If you hit and reach a hand value of, say, 20, a good idea would be to stand, since the chances are that an additional card will make you bust.

In this scenario, the dealer will draw additional cards to their hand depending on their value. The dealer will always draw on 16 or less and stand on 17 or more in a classic blackjack game.

If the dealer’s hand is closer to 21 than the player’s is, the dealer wins and the player loses. If the dealer hits a natural and the player’s hand isn’t a blackjack, the player will immediately lose as well. When the player wins, the dealer pays even money. If the player holds the winning hand, they will receive a payout of 3:2.

HOW TO PLAY 21+3 BLACKJACK

Playing a blackjack hand with the 21+3 side bet option isn’t too dissimilar to playing a regular blackjack game. If this side bet is available, the table will offer a small box on which the player can place a number of their chips that they would like to bet.

Keep in mind that you must bet the basic blackjack wager to be able to place the 21+3 side bet. You cannot place a wager on this side bet without placing the basic bet first.

Once the cards are revealed; that is, the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up card, the bet will be settled with either a win or a loss.

Let’s dive into each of the winning hands better, starting from the lowest-paying one to the highest.

FLUSH

As we’ve mentioned previously, the flush requires three cards of the same suit to pay. Granted that a six-deck game is being played, there are a total of 292,896 combinations to make a flush, whereas the probability of making one stands at 0.058424%.

STRAIGHT

The player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up-card must combine to make three consecutive cards, that is, a straight. It’s important to know that the player’s first two cards must ‘continue’ with the dealer’s up card in sequential order to make a straight. Keep in mind that even if the cards aren’t of the same suit, straight hands can still be made. There are a good 155,520 possible combinations to make a straight, whose probability stands at 0.031021%.

THREE OF A KIND

The three of a kind is a pretty simple hand to understand, since it just means that all three cards have to be of the same value — not of the same suit. For example, three 7s will make a three of a kind. Do know that, to make a three of a kind, each card doesn’t have to be of the same suit. Suited three of a kind hands will be tackled later on.

There are a total of 25,272 combinations to make a three of a kind, whose probability stands at 0.005041%.

STRAIGHT FLUSH

The straight flush is a hand where all three cards are of the same suit and in sequential order. There is quite a low chance of seeing a straight flush, specifically, 0.002068%. There are a 10,368 combinations to make a straight flush.

SUITED THREE OF A KIND

Here is where the influence of poker in the 21+3 blackjack side bet doesn’t show, since there is no such hand in poker. To make a suited three of a kind, you’ll have to see three cards of the same value (the player’s two cards and the dealer’s up-card). There are only 1,040 possible combinations of a suited three of a kind, whereas the probability of seeing one stands at 0.000207%.

21+3 BLACKJACK ODDS AND PAYOUTS

When playing online blackjack with the 21+3 side bet available, it’s a good idea to learn about the odds of this side bet beforehand — this isn’t a must, but it’s good to know how much you’ll get paid if you win.

21+3 BLACKJACK STRATEGY AND TIPS

Let’s say that you’ve stumbled upon some blackjack tables that offer the 21+3 side bet while touring the biggest casinos of Las Vegas. What should you keep in mind when sitting at said table? Here are three tips that are well-worth keeping in mind.

IMPROVE YOUR BLACKJACK GAME FIRST. CONSIDER THE 21+3 BET LATER

Before looking to find success with the 21+3 side bet, you should be looking to find success when playing traditional blackjack. Refining your decision-making process is the best way blackjack is played, and most players try to learn simple strategies to achieve that.

Focus on whether yours is the winning hand will help you greatly when playing blackjack. Pay attention to the rest of the side bets only after you’ve nailed down a good blackjack strategy.

DON’T BET TOO MUCH MONEY ON THIS SIDE BET CONSIDER THE 21+3 BET LATER

Having a look at the payouts of the 21+3 side bet might tempt you into placing a wager, but you must really consider the amount of luck involved in this kind of bet. You’ll have to be exceptionally lucky to be able to win any side bet with such a low chance of paying, so we wouldn’t advise betting too much money on the 21+3 bet.

DON’T PLACE THIS BET EVERY TIME

If there’s anything that will blow your bankroll quickly, it is betting on the 21+3 side bet a number of times in one seating. Doing such a thing would be similar to just throwing your money away, since the odds of this side bet paying out are very slim. Even the world’s greatest gamblers know that the low probability of a bet paying means that it is generally not worth placing all too often.

SUMMARY

The 21+3 side bet is quite a popular side bet, but just like any other low-probability wager, it is based on sheer luck. Although we’re talking about one of the most popular side bets found at blackjack tables, we wouldn’t advise to place a wager on it all too often, notwithstanding the great payouts on offer.