Blackjack Side Bets: 21+3 – All You Need to Know
Blackjack is a card-comparing game where you try to beat the dealer to 21. The dealer follows set rules, though you get to decide what to do with your hand of cards. In some blackjack games, there are optional side bets, including the 21+3 bet.
An Overview of Blackjack Betting Options
What makes blackjack such a popular, widely-played casino game is the fact that it involves some decision-making. Many players enjoy playing blackjack because it’s not just about luck; some skill and strategy are involved too.
To take part in a game of blackjack, whether it’s at a real-life casino or at blackjack sites, you have to place the main bet. The amount you can spend on this varies from one game to the next.
In some blackjack games, there are one or more side bets you can place as well. These are optional, and don’t depend on the game’s outcome like the main bet.
In other words, you can win a side bet regardless of whether you win or lose the main bet. One of the most common side bets you’ll come across in blackjack games is the 21+3 side bet.
The 21+3 Side Bet
So, what is 21+3 in blackjack? It’s a side bet that looks at your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card. It pays out if these three cards form a three-card poker hand.
If you want to place the 21+3 side bet, you do so during the betting phase before the cards are dealt. When you and the dealer have received your cards, the 21+3 side bet’s outcome will be determined.
There are five three-card poker hands that your two cards and the dealer’s face-up card can form. The list below describes each of these hands in order from best to worst.
- Suited Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank and suit, e.g. 4, 4, 4, all of hearts.
- Straight Flush: Three cards of the same suit in a sequence, e.g. 6, 7, 8, all of diamonds.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank and any suits, e.g. 10 of diamonds, 10 of spades and 10 of clubs.
- Straight: Three cards of different suits in a sequence, e.g. 2 of clubs, 3 of spades and 4 of hearts.
- Flush: Three cards of the same suit and any ranks, e.g. 5 of spades, 7 of spades and 10 of spades
Most blackjack games use six or eight standard decks of cards. This is how you can end up with a suited three of a kind, which consists of three identical cards.
21+3 Side Bet Payouts
Blackjack’s main bet has a fixed payout rate of 1:1, which is the same for all hand totals. However, you earn a better payout of 3:2 if your first two cards are worth 21.
The 21+3 blackjack side bet is different. This is because its payout depends on the type of three-card poker hand you form with your two cards and the dealer’s face-up card.
These payouts are as follows:
- Suited Three of a Kind: 100/1.
- Straight Flush: 40/1.
- Three of a Kind: 25/1.
- Straight: 10/1.
- Flush: 5/1.
As you can see, the payouts vary greatly from 5:1 to 100:1. Naturally, the bigger a hand’s payout is, the harder it is to form that particular hand with your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card.
Is the 21+3 Side Bet Worth Placing?
It may seem tempting to place the 21+3 blackjack side bet since it can give much higher payouts than the main bet. However, you have to think about long-term payouts, or RTP.
Every casino game has an RTP (return to player), which indicates roughly how much of your money a game should pay you back in the long run. Blackjack’s main bet has an RTP of around 99.5%.
If you place the main bet many times, you will have some wins and losses. Over time, these should average so you get paid roughly 99.5% of your bet.
For the 21+3 side bet, the RTPs of the five individual hands you can form are lower than this. The suited three of a kind (100:1 payout) has the lowest long-term payout rate.
On the other hand, the flush (5:1) has the most favourable RTP, though it’s still noticeably lower than the main bet’s RTP. The payout rates vary depending on how many decks are used.
You can strike it lucky and make a quick profit from placing the 21+3 side bet. However, you’re much more likely not to win with the bet and make a short-term loss.
The 21+3 side bet isn’t worth placing simply because its average long-term payout is considerably lower than the main bets. You’re more likely to make money sticking with the main bet.
You might still want to try placing the bet yourself to see what it’s like. If you want to do this, play a free demo of a blackjack game that offers the 21+3 side bet.
Before you start to play a blackjack demo, check the game’s paytable to confirm it offers the 21+3 bet. Not all blackjack games do, but lots of well-rated ones have it as a betting option.
