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Perfect Pairs is a blackjack side bet you can play at many online and casino blackjack tables.
Side bets are small bets that you put down as well as the usual main blackjack wager.
Perfect Pairs is a side bet on whether or not you (or sometimes the dealer) will pull a pair in your two initial cards. Two of the exact same cards – the “perfect pair” – makes the top payout. But, usually, you also get paid for any pair.
The odds of hitting are lower than a standard bet, but Perfect Pair payouts can be up to 30:1 or even more in some cases. So, essentially, you risk a little bet on the side for a potentially hefty payout.
In my experience, the Perfect Pairs side bet is probably not for the math-minded advantage player using perfect blackjack strategy. But it does add some interesting variance to the game, as a small bet can pay out more than you’d normally find on an online blackjack table.
- Perfect Pairs is a side bet that pays out if you have a matching pair of cards in your opening hand.
- It can pay out from 5:1 for any pair, up to 30:1 for a “Perfect Pair”.
- Lowers your edge compared to the main game, but a lucky hit can pay out more than usual.
- Perfect Pair variant can pay 200:1 if you and the dealer match four of the same card.
Perfect Pairs Payouts & Rules
This side bet is simple to play, but has some depth to it. Here we explain mechanically how it works and what you’ll get paid out if you win it.
Rules
Playing Perfect Pairs or any blackjack side bet is easy, you just select your stake and click the button next to your main wager button. At a physical casino, you put your chips down on the side bet area which will be marked on the felt.
You will then be paid out if your cards make a pair. The highest payout – 30:1 – is for two of the same card. Different suits but of the same color, for example Six of Hearts and Six of Diamonds, are the next highest. An unsuited pair is (usually) also a winner.
Some variants also pay out if the dealers’ cards, or a combo of yours and the dealers’, makes a pair.
At many tables, you can play blackjack side bets like perfect pairs without the main wager. But we really wouldn’t recommend that.
As explained later, the odds are much lower on side bets compared to the normal blackjack house edge, and more often than not you’ll lose. They should be seen as a fun chance extra to the main game that could pay big.
Payouts
However, if you do hit it, a top Perfect Pairs blackjack side bet will pay you either 25:1 or 30:1. The exact rate varies between games by different developers. 25:1 is more common, but you’ll find 30:1 at many of our recommended casinos.
These are the two standard payout tables:
Pay Table A
| Mixed Pair | 5/1 |
|---|---|
| Colored Pair | 10/1 |
| Perfect Pair | 30:1 |
Pay Table B
| Mixed Pair | 6/1 |
|---|---|
| Colored Pair | 12/1 |
| Perfect Pair | 25/1 |
Obviously, you want to play 30:1 tables if you can. This follows similar reasoning as to why you would want 3:2 blackjack over 6:5 – the payouts are just better. You may get slightly more for a mixed and a colored pair on 25:1 tables, but the cut to the top payout improves it to stick to the 30:1.
Other than the top payout, you’ll usually find 12:1 or 10:1 for hitting a pair of the same color suits – clubs and spades or hearts and diamonds. Then the lowest payout is 6:1 or 5:1 for making a pair of different colored suits.
The Odds and House Edge
The house has between 9% and 11% edge on Perfect Pairs side bets. That’s an 89% to 91% return to player on average, meaning – barring a lucky or unlucky streak – you’ll lose $0.11 for every $1 you bet.
To see why this is usually a losing bet unless you get lucky, we can look at the payouts compared to the odds of it being drawn.
- In a standard eight-deck blackjack shoe, there are 415 cards left after you are dealt your first card.
- For a Perfect Pairs bet 31 cards will result in a pair for at least a 5:1 win.
- Meaning around every 1 in 14 draws will be a winner.
- But you only get paid 5:1. See where this is going?
The odds of drawing a perfect pair with your first card are 7 out of 415 or around one in every 60. But the payout is 30:1.
So – assuming regular bet sizing – if you hit a winner on your first 30 hands of the session you’ve made a profit on the bet. But any later than that, and you’re still in the red.
And, amazingly, it worked out. I remember winning three different high payout side bets in the first 10-15 minutes. I made 100x my starting bankroll, and I thought I was a gambling wizard. Needless to say, I didn’t hit any more big side bets and two hours later I’d lost it all back to the casino.
The moral of the story? Blackjack is a game of chance. You could just as easily go on a heater and hit the side bet several times in one session as not hit any at all for 60 hands. It’s up to you how much variance you want to add to your game for the chance of a bigger win.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack Variants
Aside from the two slightly different pay tables for the side bet, there is only one variant of Perfect Pairs you’ll find regularly.
And, somewhat confusingly, it’s called Perfect Pair. But it’s actually simpler than the main variant. Allow us to explain.
✅ Perfect Pair
This main variant is found at some online live dealer casinos. It pays out whether you, the dealer or a combination of you both, make a perfect pair from your opening hands.
The odds are worse than the usual Perfect Pairs side bet, as you only get paid for a true perfect pair. But, there’s a 0.00285% chance that both you and the dealer pull perfect pairs – and if that happens you get paid 200:1.
This variant feels like playing blackjack with a jackpot element. That 200:1 payout is roughly the same as winning 134 3:2 payout hands in a row.
Perfect Pairs Versus Other Blackjack Side Bets
- Hot or Super 7s – This side bet pays out if your or the dealer’s initial cards have one more 7s. Payouts start at 5:1 for one 7. Some of our recommended casinos feature tables with up to 5000:1 for three suited 7s.
- 21+3 – This side bet pays out for hitting four card combinations between you and the dealer, based on poker hands. They are:
- A Flush – all cards the same suit – 5:1
- Straight – all consecutive cards – 10:1
- Three of a Kind – Unsuited – 30:1
- Straight Flush – Consecutive cards, same suit – 40:1
- Suited Triple – three of the same card – 100:1
- Insurance – This bet pays out 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack, or sometimes for pulling an ace, after revealing their opening cards. Either way – it is widely considered the worst blackjack side bet, and one most regular players know to avoid.
Where to Find Perfect Pairs Blackjack?
All of our top rated blackjack casinos will have Perfect Pairs blackjack. It is now a standard 21 variant that any good online casino should have.
You’ll find Perfect Pairs on live casino blackjack tables and RNG blackjack games. In virtual blackjack, some games will focus purely on side bets with a wider range of options, including variants of the perfect pairs bet.
You can check our casino reviews for more details on which exact blackjack games each site offers. This will let you know if it offers Perfect Pair tables and especially those with the higher 30:1 payouts.
They have the best stream quality and user experience, and offer the widest variety of tables with side bets like Perfect Pairs.
Expert Tips for Playing Perfect Pairs
I may be more of a poker fan today, but I’ve played thousands of hands of blackjack since my student days. Over that time I’ve spoken to people who’ve played far more than me, and the consensus among regular players is not to play side bets at all.
Following blackjack strategy, to minimize the house edge as far as possible, unlikely side bets are basically throwing money away.
But we’re not all advantage players. You can maximize your chances of winning in blackjack fairly easily, with a bit of practice. So what’s the harm in playing a side bet that might pay out big to spice up your game?
If you are going to play Perfect Pair side bets, there are two main tips. Make sure you play 30:1 payout tables, and keep the bets low.
Typically, you should play around 10% to 25% of your main bet. This ensures you have enough bankroll to last through the likely long streak without a winner. But it’s still a big enough bet to be a decent payout if you hit the 30:1.
In my experience, withdrawing the exact amount you won if you hit the top Perfect Pair while you have a healthy bankroll is a good idea. That will secure the lucky profit rather than putting it back into the risky side bet.
Can You Card Count the Perfect Pairs Side Bet?
You could, theoretically and with enough practice, learn to game the Perfect Pairs side bet by counting cards. But it is actually even harder than normal card counting, as you have to track specific card ranks.
It may be possible to notice if a particular card or rank hasn’t come up in a while, meaning several copies could be clustered later in the shoe.
This would be a better time to up your side bet. But, the odds are still against you and any shuffling of the shoe would throw off your already slim advantage.
FAQ
Is Perfect Pairs a Good Blackjack Side Bet?
This depends on what you mean by “good”. If you’re looking to maximize your return to a player with a perfect blackjack strategy, then no. If you enjoy the excitement of added risk but a potential higher payout, then it could be the bet online blackjack bet for you.
Is There a Strategy to Perfect Pairs in Blackjack?
Not really. Strategically, the best play is to avoid side bets as they are a risky bet compared to playing optimum main bet blackjack. But if you are to play them, keep the bet low. You’re not as likely to win but the high payout will still make it worth it. Also, make sure to play at the 30:1 payout tables for the higher payout.
What Are the Odds of Winning a Perfect Pairs Side Bet?
On a standard blackjack table with an eight-deck shoe your odds are approximately 1 in 14 of hitting any pair, for a 5:1 to 15:1 payout. However, for the top 30:1 Perfect Pair payout your odds of hitting it are around one in 60.
What Is the Minimum Wager on This Side Bet?
The minimum Perfect Pairs bet varies between game developers and table limits. Most of the time side bet minimums start at 10% of the main bet. So for a $1 table the minimum Perfect Pairs wager would be $0.10 and for a $10 table it would be $1.
What Is the Best Perfect Pairs Blackjack Game Available?
Personally, I recommend Evolution’s Infinite Blackjack, as you can play at most of our recommended casinos. The stream quality is top-tier, the studio looks great and the dealers are fun but professional. All the side bets, including Perfect Pairs are available, and the game is infinite – meaning you never have to wait for a seat, or watch a slow player hold up play.
