Variants
21+3 and Perfect Pairs: Blackjack Side Bets Explained
Two small bets next to your main one: a pair in your first two cards, or a poker hand with the dealer's card. Here is what each pays, how often it wins and what it really costs.
What are 21+3 and Perfect Pairs?
They are the two most common blackjack side bets: small extra wagers you place next to your main bet before the cards are dealt. Each one is a separate bet with its own payouts, and both are settled on the first cards of the round:
- Perfect Pairs wins if your first two cards are a pair.
- 21+3 wins if your first two cards and the dealer's up-card make a three-card poker hand: a flush, a straight, three of a kind or better.
Neither bet changes how you play your hand. Win or lose, you then hit, stand, double or split exactly as you would without them. If you are new to the main game, start with how to play 21.
Perfect Pairs: how it works
Perfect Pairs looks only at your first two cards. If they are the same rank, you win, and the payout depends on how closely the two cards match:
| Hand | What it means | Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect pair | Same rank and same suit, e.g. two Queens of hearts | 25:1 |
| Coloured pair | Same rank and colour, different suits, e.g. Queen of hearts and Queen of diamonds | 12:1 |
| Mixed pair | Same rank, one red and one black, e.g. Queen of hearts and Queen of spades | 6:1 |
A pair means the same rank, not the same value. A King and a Queen are both worth 10 in blackjack, but they are not a pair for this bet, and neither is a 10 with a Jack. A perfect pair is possible because the game is dealt from several decks shuffled together.
21+3: how it works
21+3 takes your first two cards and adds the dealer's face-up card to make a three-card poker hand. The name says it: your blackjack hand plus three cards for poker. These hands win:
| Hand | What it means | Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Suited three of a kind | Three identical cards, e.g. three 7s of spades | 100:1 |
| Straight flush | Three cards in sequence, all one suit | 40:1 |
| Three of a kind | Three cards of the same rank, mixed suits | 30:1 |
| Straight | Three cards in sequence, mixed suits | 10:1 |
| Flush | Three cards of the same suit, not in sequence | 5:1 |
Each hand is paid once, at its highest rank: a straight flush is not also paid as a straight and a flush.
In a straight, an Ace can count high (Q-K-A) or low (A-2-3), but a sequence cannot wrap round from King to 2. Ranks matter here too: 10, Jack, Queen and King are four different ranks, so J-Q-K is a straight while 10-10-K is nothing.
These are the payouts used on 21Count. Casinos and game studios use other paytables for both bets — some pay less for a flush or a mixed pair, some add extra prizes — so check the table card before you play.
The odds and the house edge
These are the exact chances on a fresh six-deck shoe, worked out for the payouts above:
| Perfect Pairs | Chance | About once in |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect pair (25:1) | 1.61% | 62.2 deals |
| Coloured pair (12:1) | 1.93% | 51.8 deals |
| Mixed pair (6:1) | 3.86% | 25.9 deals |
| House edge | 6.11% (4.10% with eight decks) | |
| 21+3 | Chance | About once in |
|---|---|---|
| Suited three of a kind (100:1) | 0.02% | 4,820 deals |
| Straight flush (40:1) | 0.21% | 484 deals |
| Three of a kind (30:1) | 0.50% | 198 deals |
| Straight (10:1) | 3.10% | 32 deals |
| Flush (5:1) | 5.84% | 17 deals |
| House edge | 4.62% (3.70% with eight decks) | |
Perfect Pairs wins
About one deal in 13.5 — and most of those wins are the 6:1 mixed pair.
21+3 wins
Nearly one deal in ten, mostly flushes and straights.
The main game
About 0.5–0.65% here with basic strategy: seven to twelve times cheaper than either side bet.
The house edge is what you lose on average for every chip you bet. On 100 chips bet on Perfect Pairs you lose about 6, and on 21+3 about 4.6, against roughly half a chip on the main game played well. The big payouts are real, but they are priced in.
How to play them on 21Count
Both side bets are available in the standard games: American, European, European 6 Decks, Atlantic City, Vegas Strip and Single Deck blackjack. They are free, like everything on the site, and played with play-money chips.
- Place your main bet as usual in the betting area.
- Tap a side bet button. Next to your bet are two small buttons, Perfect Pairs and 21+3. Each tap moves the stake on: off, then 1, 5, 10 or 25 chips, but never more than your main bet.
- Deal. If you play more than one hand, the same side bet amounts go on each hand.
- See the result straight away. As soon as the cards are dealt, each side bet shows whether it won and what with.
- Play your hand as normal. Side bet winnings are paid together with the round.
Can card counting help?
Sometimes, yes. Like the main game, both bets are dealt from a shoe whose make-up changes as cards are used. Perfect Pairs, for example, depends on how many cards of each rank and suit are left, so a shoe that is rich in some ranks pays pairs more often than a fresh one. A counter who tracks the right cards can find moments when a side bet is better than its average, though it takes a different count from the Hi-Lo used for the main game.
For most players the simple rule holds: the side bets cost more than the main bet. If you want to learn counting for the main game, start with how to count cards in 21.
Play blackjack freeTry 21+3 and Perfect Pairs with free play-money chips.Frequently asked questions
What does 21+3 mean in blackjack?
It is a side bet on a three-card poker hand: your first two cards (the "21") plus the dealer's up-card (the "+3"). It wins on a flush, a straight, three of a kind, a straight flush or suited three of a kind, and is settled as soon as the cards are dealt.
What is a perfect pair in blackjack?
Your first two cards are the same rank and the same suit, such as two Queens of hearts — possible because the game uses several decks. On 21Count it pays 25:1. A pair of the same colour but different suits pays 12:1, and any other pair 6:1.
Is Perfect Pairs worth it?
Not as a way to win money. With six decks and these payouts it has a house edge of about 6.1%, roughly ten times what the main game costs you with basic strategy. Play it for fun, with a small stake.
Which is better, 21+3 or Perfect Pairs?
With the paytables used on 21Count and six decks, 21+3 costs less: a house edge of about 4.6% against about 6.1% for Perfect Pairs. 21+3 also wins more often, nearly one deal in ten. Both cost far more than the main bet.
Can I play 21+3 for free?
Yes. On 21Count both side bets are free to play with play-money chips in American, European, European 6 Decks, Atlantic City, Vegas Strip and Single Deck blackjack. No account or download is needed.
Sources
Rules and figures in this article are taken from Wikipedia:
- Blackjack — Side bets — Wikipedia
- List of poker hands — Wikipedia
Practise it on 21Count
Keep reading
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- How to Win at Blackjack Without Counting CardsYou do not need to count cards to play a near-even game. These eight habits get you most of the way — no memorised running count required.
- 21 Burn Blackjack: Rules, Strategy & How to PlayHate your second card? In 21 Burn Blackjack you can pay to throw it away. Here is how the burn works, what it costs, and why most hands should keep the card they were dealt.