# Blackjack side bets, priced from the published rules

> How side bets such as Perfect Pairs and 21+3 work at a live table, where the pay table and edge are published, and the sum for expected loss on £10.

Source: https://seatcheck.uk/blackjack-side-bets/
Updated: 2026-11-13

A blackjack side bet is an extra wager, such as Perfect Pairs or 21+3, settled on the cards dealt rather than on your hand beating the dealer. Each has its own pay table and house edge, published by the studio. This page explains how to price one as of 13 November 2026; we have not yet recorded the studio's figures.

## How a side bet works

You place it before the cards are dealt, next to your main bet. It wins or loses on a feature of the first cards, as set out in the pay table.

Perfect Pairs and 21+3 are two names from our entity list. What each one pays, and on which card patterns, is in the studio's rules panel. We have not saved those tables with a version and a date, so we do not copy them.

**Seat note:** a side bet is a separate product with its own pay table and its own edge.

## What to confirm for each side bet

**Side bet facts · source: studio rules page and table panel · checked 13 November 2026**

| Side bet | Pay table | Published house edge or RTP |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect Pairs | We could not confirm this | We could not confirm this |
| 21+3 | We could not confirm this | We could not confirm this |

Where a studio gives the edge, we cite the page and its date. Where it only gives payouts, we will say that we could not confirm an edge.

## The sum for £10

Expected loss equals stake times house edge. Every percentage point of edge costs 10p per £10 bet.

**Expected loss on a £10 side bet · derived by us for illustration · not published edges**

| Assumed edge | Per bet | Over 50 bets (£500 staked) |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | £0.10 | £5.00 |
| 2% | £0.20 | £10.00 |
| 5% | £0.50 | £25.00 |
| 10% | £1.00 | £50.00 |

The edges in the first column are inputs to the arithmetic, not values for any real bet. Put the studio's published figure in their place. The [house edge calculator](https://seatcheck.uk/house-edge-calculator/) does the same sum.

## Keep it in proportion

An edge is an average over a large number of bets. One bet either wins or loses in full. See [house edge](https://seatcheck.uk/house-edge/) and [RTP in blackjack](https://seatcheck.uk/rtp-in-blackjack/).

Side bets add to what you stake each round, so they add to what you can lose. Set your limit first: [staying in control at a live table](https://seatcheck.uk/safer-live-play/). For another variant with changed rules, see [Free Bet Blackjack](https://seatcheck.uk/free-bet-blackjack/).

## FAQ

**What is a side bet in blackjack?**

An extra wager placed alongside your main bet, settled on the cards dealt rather than on whether you beat the dealer. Each side bet has its own pay table.

**Do side bets cost more than the main bet?**

We could not confirm a published figure, so we have not quoted one. Where the studio publishes the edge, compare it with the edge on the main bet and do the sum.

**Where is the pay table?**

In the rules panel at the table and on the studio's rules page for that game. Read the version and date shown there.

**Do you recommend side bets?**

No. This page explains the cost. It does not encourage extra bets, and skipping them is a valid choice.