What is 21+3 in Blackjack, Basic Rules, and How to Play

What is 21+3 in Blackjack

If you are asking what is 21+3 in blackjack, you are here for a treat, as long as you already know the exciting types of poker! Otherwise, there’s no reason to worry. In this article, we will explain everything you need to understand about 21+3 in blackjack. This will help you to increase your odds of winning. So, make sure you read until it finishes. 

Understanding What is 21+3 in Blackjack

To answer the question about what is 21+3 in blackjack, is a popular side bet offered at all tables worth their salt, which is why it is one of the most crucial bets to know about. This side bet looks to predict that your 2 cards and the dealer’s up-card will combine to make any of these 3-card poker hands. 

Moreover, the possible 3-card hand can only work for a flush, straight, three of a kind, straight flush or a suited three of a kind. 

Basic Rules of 21+3 Blackjack

The rules for what is 21+3 in blackjack are typically similar to the classic game. When you hit and your hand value rises above 21, you will bust and lose the round. When you hit and reach a hand value of 20, for example, a great idea will be to stand, since the opportunities are that an extra card will make you bust. 

In that case, the dealer will draw extra cards to their hand based on their value. Moreover, the dealer will always draw on 16 or less and stand on 17 or more in a traditional blackjack game. When the dealer’s hand is closer to 21 than the player’s is, then the dealer will win and the player loses. 

If the dealer hits a natural and the player’s hand is not a blackjack, the player will instantly lose as well. If the player wins, the dealer will pay even money. When the player holds the winning hand, they will get a payout of 3:2. Those are the rules of what is 21+3 in blackjack you should know.

How Does 21+3 Work in a Blackjack Game?

From what is 21+3 in blackjack, it involves the player’s two cards and the dealer’s up-card. Players can bet on these 3 cards with various combinations of suits and values. This bet will pay depending on the hand ranking of the 3 cards. The potential 3-card can take the form of the following poker card rankings:

• Flush – It is a hand where all 3 cards are of the similar suit. The flush hand will play 5:1
• Straight – It is a hand where all 3 cards are of consecutive values. The player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up-card require combining to make 3 consecutive cards (e.g. 5, 6, and 7). That is, a straight which will pay 10:1
• Three of a Kind – It is a hand where all 3 cards are of the similar value, however, not of the similar suit. This hand will pay 35:1
• Suited Three of a Kind – It is a hand where all 3 cards are of the similar rank and similar suit. This hand has the most attractive odds, since it will pay 100:1

How to Play 21+3 in Blackjack

After knowing what is 21+3 in blackjack, playing a hand with the side bet option is not too dissimilar to playing a standard blackjack game When this side bet is available, the table will provide a small box on which the player can place a number of their chips that they will like to bet. 

Remember that you need to bet the basic blackjack bet to be able to place the 21+3 side bet. You are not able to place a bet on this side bet without placing the basic bet first. Well, let’s dive into each of the winning hands better, beginning from the lowest-paying one to the highest.

1. Flush

As we have mentioned about what is 21+3 in blackjack, the flush needs 3 cards of the similar suit to pay. Allowed that a 6-deck game is being played, there are a total of 292,896 combinations to make a flush, whereas the probability of making one stands at 0.058424%. 

2. Straight

From what is 21+3 in blackjack, the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up-card must combine to create 3 consecutive cards. Yes, it is straight. It is important to remember that the player’s first two cards must “continue” with the dealer’s up card in sequential order to create a straight. 

Remember that even if the cards are not of the similar suit, straight hands can still be created. There are a good 155,520 possible combinations to make a straight, which probability will stand at 0.031021%. 

3. Three of a Kind

The three of a kind from what is 21+3 in blackjack, is a pretty simple hand to figure out, since it just means that all 3 cards must be the same value, not of the similar suit. For instance, three 7s will make a three of a kind. 

To make this hand in blackjack, every card doesn’t need to be of the similar suit. Suited three of a kind hands will be dealt with later on. There are a total of 25,272 combinations to create a three of a kind, which probability will stand at 0.005041%. 

4. Straight Flush

The straight flush from what is 21+3 in blackjack, is a hand where all 3 cards are of the similar suit and in sequential order. There is pretty a low chance of seeing a straight flush, specifically, 0.002068%. There are 10,368 combinations to create a straight flush. 

5. Suited Three of a Kind

Here is where the influence of poker game in the side bet blackjack doesn’t show, since there is no such hand in poker. To create a suited three of a kind, you will have to see the 3-card of the similar value. 

There are only 1,040 possible combinations of a suited three of a kind, whereas the probability of seeing one stands at 00000207%.

Final Words

From what is 21+3 in blackjack, it is quite a popular side bet, however, just like any other low-probability bet. It is also based on luck. Even though we are discussing the most popular side bets at blackjack tables, we will not advise to place a bet on it all too often, nevertheless the great payouts on offer.