Perfect pairs
Lesson description
Is the Perfect Pairs side bet a winning wager or a drain on your bankroll? Mr Blackjack covers what this side bet is, how much it pays and whether it’s worth your time.
- The perfect pairs side bet is the simplest wager a player can learn in 21. Lesson 2, perfect pairs. It involves you betting on your first two cards and has nothing to do with the outcome of the blackjack hand or the dealer's card. Essentially, you're wagering that the first two cards you dealt make a pair.
In blackjack, a pair is defined as two cards of the same numerical value between 2 and 10, and the same face value for Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces. Some pairs are better than others, which we will cover more in detail later. If you want to make a perfect pairs bet, you must place your bet in the corresponding area at the same time you place your blackjack bet. After the cards are dealt and before the player action starts, the dealer will verify to see if your first two cards are a pair or not and pay you or take your wager accordingly.
If they are a pair, for example a five of hearts and a five of spades, you will get a 5 to 1 payout on your wager. This is known as a mixed pair as the cards have the same number value but are different suit and color. However, let's say your second card was actually a five of diamonds, this gives you a 10 to 1 payout because they are the same color. When a pair have the same number in color but different suits, they're called a colored pair.
Finally, you may find yourself in a situation where your second card is a five of hearts, giving you a perfect pair. You will win 30 to 1 on your initial wager. Keep in mind the payouts vary at any given casino and will increase or lower the house advantage immediately by adjusting the payout structure. So if you see a casino that's paying 8 to 1 on a colored pair and 20 to 1 on a perfect pair, you know that these odds don't make any sense and you should stay away.
So to recap perfect pair side bet offers three different payouts depending on what combination of cards you have. Mixed pairs, different colors, and different suits, 5 to 1. Colored pairs, same color but different suits pays 10 to 1 perfect pairs. Same color and same suit pays 30 to 1. Check out more side bet action you can add to your blackjack games with our next video in the series.
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What this lesson covers
- What a Perfect Pairs bet is
- How to make this wager
- What Perfect Pairs pays
- Whether you should bet on Perfect Pairs
Meet Mr Blackjack
With a career spanning two decades, Mathieu Blake knows his way around a blackjack table. He's taught and entertained over 100,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel NeverSplit10's . In this series he'll take you through basic strategy, card counting, and bankroll management. Take a seat with Mr Blackjack and become a winning player.
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FAQs
- What are Perfect Pairs in blackjack?
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Perfect Pairs is a side bet you can make in blackjack where the first two cards you’re dealt will make a pair. There are three levels where this wager pays out, with the best being a pair with the same color and suit, called a Perfect Pair.
- How does Perfect Pairs work?
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The dealer will ask for all wagers before they deal any cards, as per blackjack rules. This is when you must add your Perfect Pairs bet and your minimum bet to the table. Once the cards are dealt, the dealer will immediately pay out any winning side bets.
- How much does Perfect Pairs pay out?
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A Perfect Pair pays out at 30:1, a Colored Pair (same color, different suit) 10:1 and a Mixed Pair (different color and suit) 5:1.
- Should I play Perfect Pairs?
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The odds of you hitting a Perfect Pair is far greater than the payout this side bet offers. Perfect Pairs is a good bet for adding excitement to your game, but it’s not guaranteed to give you a huge payout.
- What are the odds of getting a Perfect Pair?
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In a typical eight-deck shoe you have a one-in-59 chance of getting a Perfect Pair. That’s because out of the 415 cards in the shoe, blackjack odds show only seven cards are capable of giving you a Perfect Pair.
- Do many casinos offer Perfect Pairs side bet?
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Perfect Pairs is one of the most popular side bets in blackjack. Almost every casino will offer this wager to players.
- Can I make Perfect Pairs side bet in online blackjack?
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Yes, most online casinos will offer Perfect Pairs side bet in its live dealer blackjack games and other blackjack titles.