Blackjack Perfect Pairs
Blackjack offers Perfect Pairs as a side bet with 30:1 payout odds. It’s an optional wager available at the start of a game, and you can decide to make the wager on land-based or online blackjack tables. The bet involves landing a pair, meaning a hand with two cards of identical rank, suit or colour.
Perfect Pairs is a risky bet, but it comes with the upside of a significant payout. However, unlike some other aspects of blackjack requiring skill, this side bet is determined by the draw of the cards. The risk factor is evident because, unlike the main game’s house edge of 0.5%, a Perfect Pairs bet has an average house edge of 10.7%, which can vary depending on how many decks are used.
This guide will introduce you to the intricacies of Perfect Pairs, the available variations, and instructions on how to bet on Perfect Pairs. Let’s get started on how to play
What Is Meant by Blackjack Perfect Pairs?
The name reveals the concept behind this blackjack side bet, where the objective is to receive a hand composed of two identical cards, meaning both cards have the same numerical value. For example, a hand of two cards with a value of 5 each will qualify for a pair. However, this side bet adds another layer by offering different payout odds, depending on what type of pair a punter holds. A pair can have the same numerical value but can also share a colour or suit.
Each variation offers different payout odds, and the Perfect Pair bet does not affect wagering in the main blackjack game. In case of a hit, the extra card does not influence the Perfect Pair bet, which gets settled immediately after the two initial cards are dealt and is played only during the main game.
Playing the Perfect Pairs bet is not obligatory, as players can decide if and when they will wager on this blackjack side bet.
How Do You Bet on a Perfect Pairs?
As an optional side bet, Perfect Pairs is integral to the main blackjack game, and the standard blackjack rules apply. There is no substantial difference between a regular blackjack game and one with a side bet. Punters receive two cards and can choose to stand, hit, or double down in an attempt to hit 21. But betting on Perfect Pairs requires you to make this side bet before the hand gets dealt for that round. Abiding by the minimum and maximum table betting limits for the basic and the side bet is required. The necessary steps to play Perfect Pairs include:
- Make your main bet.
- Place a Perfect Pairs side bet by clicking the designated button on the table.
- Receive your two initial cards.
- If your cards are a pair, the payout for your wager is calculated based on the odds allocated for a mixed, coloured, or perfect pair.
- The main game continues until you or the croupier hits 21.
Blackjack rules can differ between games, and it's worth investing some time in learning the stipulations for playing a specific Blackjack title. Multiple variations of the blackjack are available, including games branded as Perfect Pairs Blackjack, making it imperative to overview the rules page before making a wager.
Strategies for Perfect Pairs
Unlike some other aspects of blackjack, there is no effective strategy to influence the outcome in a Perfect Pairs side bet. Despite the high payout odds, most season punters stay away from this bet because if luck is not on your side during the first few bets, you will not be able to recoup your losses down the road.
In most blackjack games, you cannot choose the type of Perfect Pairs you are betting on, reducing your options even further. Even card counting is not an effective approach to predict if the next card coming out of the deck will form a pair.
Another important consideration is that the house edge rises when betting on a Perfect Pairs side bet. The main game has a low house edge of 0.5%, but with this side bet, it will go up to nearly 11%, depending on the rules in the given blackjack game.
The point of having a strategic outlook when playing Perfect Pair is to reduce the risk factor. Several methods to consider are discussed below.
Timing of Perfect Pair Bets
Perfect Pairs should not be played parallel to the main game. It's a bet which is best used occasionally. One method is to keep track of a long pause between pairs appearing on the table. This applies not only to your hand but also to the croupier's hand.
If no pair has appeared in 60 hands, a pair might be on the horizon. This might be the opportune time to test your luck and make a side bet. Statistically, a perfect pair can arrive once every 60 hands played, but this is an average and should not be taken literally. Remember that cards get dealt randomly, and no guaranteed result can be expected.
Bankroll Management
Preparing a budget is crucial to formulating a strategy for playing Perfect Pair. In this side bet, the odds are stacked against the player by a large margin, which requires tight control of stake amounts and the frequency of bets made.
To play safe, a separate budget for wagering on Perfect Pair is necessary. Evaluate your financial situation and calculate how much you can afford to lose. Use that amount as a basis for your budget. This is an excellent method to avoid finding yourself in a situation where the side bet drains your entire bankroll.
Set Betting Limits
The table betting limits give you the freedom to set your own stakes, and in the case of a Perfect Pairs bet, gravitating toward the low side of the table limits is advisable. The best approach is to play with smaller amounts to limit losses on this side bet, and the outcomes in the side bet will not affect playing in the main game. The limit per bet and gaming session creates a buffer, slowing down the effect of a losing streak.
Different Versions of Perfect Pairs
The structure of a card deck includes cards marked with different colours and suites, resulting in three potential types of pairs, each offering different payout odds. The higher the probability of a specific pair to land, the higher payout odds will be available.
So, a pair is a two-card hand, each with an identical numerical value. Cards from 2 to 10 retain their intrinsic value, while jacks, queens, kings, and aces have the same face value. The three potential pairs are mixed, coloured, and perfect. It's important to note that in most games, you are not betting on the type of pair you will get but only that your initial hand will constitute a pair.
A standard eight-deck blackjack game contains 416 cards, and the math reveals that after the first card is dealt, 16 cards are available to make a mixed pair, and eight can complete a pair of the same colour, but only seven can make a Perfect Pair. In total, 31 cards are in play for a Perfect Pairs combination and a chance for a bigger payout than what's available in the main blackjack game.
However, some online blackjack games use only two decks. In such circumstances, the chances of landing a pair aren't diluted by the presence of other cards, increasing the probability of receiving a pair.
Below, we will elaborate on each pair you can bet on when playing blackjack Perfect Pairs, as well as the payout odds and probability that come with each:
Mixed Pair
The qualifying feature of a mixed pair is for both cards to have an identical numerical or face-card value but different colours and suits. One example of a mixed pair is two Jacks, one with spades and the other with diamonds. The payout odds are 5/1 and are the smallest of the three types of pairs because the probability of hitting a mixed pair is more considerable. The probability of receiving a mixed pair is 3.86%
Coloured Pair
The definition of a coloured pair is having two cards of identical rank and colour. For example, a pair of red fives, one in a suit of hearts and the other diamonds will be accepted as a coloured pair. A payout of 10/1 can be expected for a coloured pair, and this combination of cards comes with a probability of 1.93%
Perfect Pair
The highest attainable payout in a perfect pair side bet is at 30/1 odds and comes with a hand of two cards of the same rank, colour and suite. It’s the trickiest of the three pairs, so its probability is 1.69%. Two Jacks of Clubs is one example of a Perfect Pair.
