What is 21+3 Blackjack? A Guide

So, what is 21+3? Besides 24, of course… In short, 21+3 Blackjack is simply a side bet that you can place alongside your main bet in Blackjack games. Based on three-card poker hand rankings, 21+3 Blackjack bets can add an extra layer of enjoyment to the game.

About the 21+3 Side Bet

You will find 21+3 Blackjack offered at a variety of online casino Blackjack tables, but most commonly in a game of standard Blackjack with six to eight decks.

With the 21+3 side bet, you will still play your main Blackjack hand and aim to reach 21, but you will also look to make a Three Card Poker hand from your hole cards and the dealer’s up card. This is from where we derive the name of the bet: 21 plus three Blackjack.

How to Play 21+3 Blackjack

Before the game begins, you have two decisions that must be made. First, you need to decide on how much your blackjack bet will be. This is a necessary decision if you wish to make your Three Card Poker side bet. Only once you have made your blackjack wager (which can be the minimum amount), can you decide whether or not you wish to place your 21+3 wager.

If the 21+3 Blackjack side bet is available at your table, you will place your bet in a separate area of the box next to each of the hands you are being dealt. You’ll usually be able to see the 21+3 symbol or logo indicating the bet.

Once all bets have been placed, the hand is dealt as normal. Your hole cards and the dealer’s up card (their one visible card) will combine to make a Three Card Poker hand. If no hand is made then your bet is lost, but if you are successful in making a poker hand from these three cards then you will win the side bet. Winning combinations are a straight flush, three-of-a-kind, a straight, or a flush. The payout for any side bet depends on the hand you get. The blackjack game will resume as normal once all side wagers have been settled.

21+3 Blackjack Hand Rankings

The Three Card Poker hand rankings in 21+3 Blackjack are, from best to worst:

• Suited Three of a Kind: three cards of the same rank and suit.
• Straight flush: three sequential cards of the same suit.
• Three of a Kind: three cards of the same rank and any suits.
• Straight: three sequential cards, e.g., 9-8-7, of any suits.
• Flush: three cards of the same suit in any order.

21+3 Blackjack Payouts

As with most casino games, blackjack side bets have potential stakes that are higher than a normal blackjack wager. While in an ordinary Blackjack game, the best return you can hope for is 3/2 on your bet for a natural Blackjack, the 21+3 Blackjack side bet can offer payouts of up to 100 times your stake. This is also dependent on what variation of the 21+3 bet you are playing.

As you might expect, the better your 21+3 Blackjack hand, the higher the payout. The 21+3 Blackjack hands pay out the following winnings:

• Flush: 5/1
• Straight: 10/1
• Three of a Kind: 20/1
• Straight Flush: 30/1
• Suited Three of a Kind: 100/1

Odds and Combinations for 21+3

For those players who appreciate statistics, and also for players who want to delve deeper into the game, here are the combinations and odds you can expect from winning hands:

• Flush: the odds are 73:117 and this hand has 292,896 combinations
• Straight: the odds are 31:969 with 1555520 combinations.
• Three of a Kind: depending on the variation, the odds are 1:199 and there are 26,312 combinations.
• Straight Flush: the odds are 1:499 and this hand has 10,368 different combinations.

21+3 Side Bet Variations

Different casinos may offer variations of the game. In a standard game, there is a 9-1 payout, whether it’s a simple or straight flush. A more complex game where hands are rewarded depending on their strength can be found in the 21+3 Extreme version.

Depending on casino rules and the number of decks used, the house edge for 21+3 hovers around 13.39%, although it can vary significantly- anywhere from 1.6% to 33.44%. Despite the large variance on the house edge, there is an RTP (Return to Player) of around 95%. Of course, this also depends on what game is played at your chosen casino. It is important to note that the range of the house edge means this type of side bet should be played as a by-the-way type of game rather than your primary focus.

Top 3 with 21+3 Blackjack

The “Top 3” is a prop bet that may also be available at certain blackjack tables that also offer the 21+3 side bet. To play this wager, a main blackjack and 21+3 bet must be placed. Similar to the 21+3 bet, a Top 3 wager uses a player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up card to create a three-poker hand.

The winning combinations and odds in the Top 3 are:

• Three of a Kind: 270:1
• Straight Flush: 180:1
• Three of a Kind Suited: 270:1

Top 3 is offered in blackjack games where there are multiple card decks, usually 4, 6, or 8. As with most side bets in blackjack, the house edge is higher than that of a normal blackjack game.

Tips For Playing Blackjack 21+3

As mentioned before, having a mind that enjoys statistics and mathematical equations may help when it comes to side bets in blackjack. That way, you can look at the odds, combinations, and payout table and understand it better before sitting down to play.

In a 21+3 wager, it’s advisable to try and aim for a flush. A standard deck has 10 cards of each suit, so the estimated odds are 1:480. However, players should also take into account how the cards are being dealt, what combinations are in play and how many decks are being used, as that will affect the odds.

As with all casino games, there’s no surefire method that can be applied, but these tips may help decrease the house edge.

Conclusion

Blackjack has been around for almost 300 years, and it’s a table game that is going nowhere soon. It’s relatively easy to understand once you grasp it, as not everyone takes statistics like odds and combinations into account when playing side bets like 21+3.

What’s interesting about games that require some mathematical thinking is that, once you have played it a few times, your mind automatically starts to understand how it works, so you don’t have to worry that blackjack and its side bets may be too complicated for you. Real-life play and practice will have you trying out different types of wagers in no time.