Blackjack Perfect Pairs

Content Summary:

Perfect Pairs Blackjack is a side bet that’s based solely on the initial two cards dealt to you and the dealer. A Perfect Pair is considered to be two cards of the same number, colour and suit. Perfect Pairs Blackjack plays almost exactly like a regular game of 21. The big difference is the “Perfect Pairs” side bet, which gives you a chance to win one of the big payouts. As with most table games with side bets offering large payouts, the house edge is slightly higher than what you probably imagined.

As the name suggests, to win, you'll need to be dealt a pair of cards. This means that as a bare minimum, they must match in their number. Matching their suit alone does not qualify them as a pair.

If the first two cards you are dealt are not a pair, you lose the side bet of Perfect Pairs in Blackjack and will continue on with your main bet and any other side bets you may have placed.

If the first two cards you are dealt are a pair, the amount you win depends on the type of pair you have.

●    Mixed pair - matching numbers but a different colour and suit

●    Coloured pair - matching numbers and the same colour but a different suit

●    Perfect pair - matching numbers and the same colour and same suit

You must decide whether you want to take part in the Perfect Pairs side bet before any cards are dealt on the table. The side bet will then be settled before the main game of blackjack starts and is played out according to the house rules of the land-based or online casino where you’re playing.

1. You place a Perfect Pairs side bet alongside the main game bet.
2. The initial two cards are dealt to you and the dealer.
3. The Blackjack Perfect Pairs side bet is settled before the main game begins.
4. The main game of blackjack is played out like normal with the addition of the Perfect Pairs side bet.

Once the side bet of Blackjack Perfect Pairs is settled, the main game of blackjack plays out according to the specified house rules of the casino where you are playing. 

These rules can differ from casino to casino so it’s worth you taking time to familiarise yourself with them before you begin playing Blackjack.

The amount you will receive for a Perfect Pairs bet may vary slightly depending on the casino. The below are the Blackjack Perfect Pairs payout odds at Party Casino.

You’ll only see a Blackjack Perfect Pair come up once in about every 60 hands on average. Depending on how fortunate you are, you might see it come up a little more often or a lot less often. In fact, the house edge for the Perfect Pairs side bet hovers between 2% or and 11%.

Taking a blackjack game using 8 decks of cards for example, for the top payout of 30 to 1, you have to calculate the odds of being dealt a 2nd card that’s the same rank and suit as your first card (a Perfect Pair). With 8 decks in play, you have 416 cards total, but one of those cards has already been dealt. That leaves 415 cards, but only 7 of them will make your hand.

This equates to 7/415 or just over a 1 in 59 chance of the card you need coming up. When compared to the 30/1 payout odds, it’s clear why this is more of a fun bet than the kind of side bet that’s offered on any other table games.

Be advised that this Blackjack Perfect Pairs strategy does affect the house edge in anyway, meaning that it cannot eliminate or reduce the house edge. It’s purely just one of the ways to enjoy taking advantage of the Perfect Pairs side bet without losing too much money and still having a chance to hit one of the big payouts.

The idea is to set aside a separate amount of betting units as “fun money”, equal to the payout for a Perfect Pair.

If you’re playing in a casino that offers a 30 to 1 payout for a Perfect Pair, and you’re playing for £5 per hand, set aside £150 for the Perfect Pair Blackjack bet. (That’s £5 times 30.)

Use that £150 to bet £5 each hand on the Perfect Pair side bet until you run out of your “fun money” or until you hit a perfect pair and get your 30 to 1 payout.

There’s a chance that you will hit a Perfect Pair at some point between 1 and 60 hands. If you hit it during the first 30 hands, you’ll have generated a profit. If you don’t hit a Perfect Pair within the first 30 hands, you’ll only lose £150.

Play your dealt blackjack hand as normal, as if you didn’t have any “fun money” put on the Perfect Pair bet. You’ll use standard basic Blackjack strategy to play your normal hand. Depending on the other factors and rule variations, you’ll be facing a house edge of around 2%, or maybe less.

As we have said in the strategy section above, there’s no real reason to play Perfect Pairs if you are trying to keep your returns as high as possible. But if you’re feeling lucky and looking to have some fun, this might be a great play for you. For a tiny investment, you are given more options to make your blackjack plays and can increase the potential to win some reasonably big payouts on every hand.

Blackjack Perfect Pairs bet is probably one of the most exciting side bets you’ll find on any table games at a casino. The house edge is fairly reasonable, especially when you combine it with the available odds from the game itself. If you have the funds and like having extra bets in play, then this isn’t a bad one to give a go.

The Perfect Pairs bet can be found at a wide variety of sites such as PartyCasino. You are not required to take part in the side bet when you play at these tables, but the option is there for you to enjoy - allowing you to have extra bets in play whenever you feel lucky. If you're looking to spice things up, why not give our online blackjack games a try? This table game might just be the perfect choice.