Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Blackjack is a great game, and has become one of the most recognizable options in any casino. But if the game has one weakness, it is that unlike slots with progressives it doesn’t have a way for players to instantly win big prizes. Great odds and engaging gameplay are nice, but sometimes, you just want to get lucky and win a jackpot.
That’s why so many tables now include side bets that can be optionally played alongside the standard hands. One of the most popular of these is Perfect Pairs Blackjack, a bonus game that offers big payouts if players are lucky enough to be dealt identical cards to start the hand.
How to Play
Perfect Pairs is an optional side bet that can be played (or not) on every hand you take part in at a blackjack table that offers the wager. If you want to play this bet, just put down an appropriate amount of money before you begin the hand: often, this bet has a $1 minimum to play, which might be less than the minimum for the main game. However, keep in mind that you normally can only play the side bet if you also make a standard bet as well: it cannot be played as its own independent game.
Once you’ve made the bet, all that matters is the first two cards that are dealt to you in your hand. The object is to get two cards of the same rank, such as two kings. While any two of the same rank will pay out, having two cards of the same color pays even better, while a “perfect pair” of two identical cards, such as two jacks of diamonds, pays out the best.
The exact pay table will vary depending on the casino you play at. However, the following payouts are typical of what you’ll see at many online sites:
- Perfect Pair: 25-1
- Colored Pair: 12-1
- Non-Colored Pair: 6-1
No Strategy
Few side bets offer any chance to exercise strategy, and this one is no exception. Since your winnings are determined based on which cards you are dealt and nothing else, you will be at the mercy of luck on each and every hand.
If your main goal is to get the best odds possible on every hand, then this is a bet to avoid. Depending on the pay table being used, the house edge on this bet tends to be somewhere between 2% and 8%, which is much higher than in blackjack itself.
Why Play This Game?
As we said in the strategy section, there’s no reason to play Perfect Pairs if you are trying to keep your returns as high as possible. But if you’re looking to have some fun in the casino, this might be a great option. For a small investment, you can add a lot more action to your blackjack play and increase the potential to win some reasonably big payouts on every hand.
As side bets go, this one is also among the better ones you’ll find on any table game. The house edge isn’t entirely unreasonable, especially when you combine it with the excellent odds available from blackjack itself. It you like having extra bets in play, this isn’t a bad one to try.
Play Online
The Perfect Pairs bet can be found at a wide variety of sites such as Bovada Casino, usually on specially marked tables that include the side game. You aren’t required to take the side bet when you play at these tables, but the option is there, allowing you to place an extra bet whenever you feel like it. If you're looking to spice up your blackjack play, this game might just be the perfect choice.
