Perfect Pairs is one of the most common side bets in blackjack and its variants. It is popular across Australia, Macau and London, and is offered in the majority of online casinos. The side bet is also featured in other cards games, such as baccarat. The wager is very simple to understand and thoroughly entertaining, especially for players who enjoy spicing up their blackjack hand.
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- What Does Perfect Pair Mean In Blackjack
What is a Perfect Pair in blackjack? When playing the blackjack Perfect Pairs side bet, and your first two cards are a pair, there are three winning scenarios: Mixed pairs (e.g. King of Diamonds and King of Clubs) - 6:1; Colored pairs (e.g. King of Diamonds and King of Hearts) - 12:1; Perfect pairs (e.g. Two King of Diamonds) - 25:1; 21+3 blackjack rules. Playing Perfect Blackjack, or Perfect Pairs Blackjack, online is a great way to enjoy a game that feels instantly familiar but has enough exciting side bets and multi-hand potential to satisfy. Perfect Pairs is the Blackjack side-bet that's easy to play, offering players up to 30 to 1 on payouts, without effecting the flow or speed of the game. Easy to play, Perfect Pairs is played by making an extra wager in addition to the regular Blackjack bet on the Perfect Pairs table spot. Cards are then drawn in the traditional Blackjack fashion.
Best online casinos for Perfect Pairs
What is Perfect Pairs?
Perfect Pairs is a wager placed on whether your first two cards are going to be a pair and there are three types of pairs that warrant a payout: a perfect pair, a coloured pair and a mixed pair. Obviously, the odds off achieving any type of pair on the first two cards dealt are considerably lower than not being dealt a pair, but that is the essence of the majority of side bets; that the high risk offers a high reward.
Perfect Pair Blackjack online, free
Perfect Pairs is available in most standard games of online blackjack, with the most respected casinos boasting a strong range of 21 games. Most of these online casinos will also have an option to play for free.
Perfect Pairs rules and objective
In order to put forward a Perfect Pairs wager, we must bet prior to being dealt our cards in the appropriate box. In blackjack games which offer this side bet, there will be two betting areas on the table to separate the normal wagers from such side wagers. The Perfect Pairs bet needs to be placed in the side bet zone.
A Perfect Pairs bet does not have to match the amount of our regular bets, but it must be at least the minimum wager of the table. In Blackjack Plus at Melbourne's Crown Casino, the Perfect Pairs wager can be half of the table minimum, but this is rare. If playing with others, online or offline, the side bet is able to be placed on a hand that is not your own.
Blackjack games which implement this side bet are usually based on European blackjack rules and played with eight decks, though this can vary. In theory, the perfect pairs side bet can be added to any game of blackjack by altering the rules slightly.
Remember, a Perfect Pairs side wager is for the initial two cards dealt, and nothing else; the dealer's cards have no bearing on the outcome. Once all initial two cards are dealt, any Perfect Pair wagers are settled immediately, before we proceed to make any moves, according to the standard payout chart (below). The main game of blackjack continues on as normal thereafter.
The Perfect Pairs side bet will be paid out if any of the following three possibilities show up:
- A mixed pair or red/black pair: The two initial cards drawn are exactly alike in face value, except for suit and colour. An example of a mixed pair would be a Nine of Hearts and a Nine of Clubs.
- A coloured pair: The two initial cards drawn are exactly alike in face value and colour, except for suit. An example of a coloured pair would be an Ace of Clubs and an Ace of Spades.
- A perfect pair: The two initial cards drawn are exactly alike (face value, colour and suit). An example of a perfect pair would be two Queens of Diamonds. Obviously, games played with a single deck do not lend themselves to such an outcome, so the perfect pairs side bet would be unavailable.
Perfect Pairs payout, probability & house edge
Perfect Pairs is entirely based on chance, like all blackjack side bets, and those chances are slim. In a standard eight-deck game, where we have the best odds available, we have just a 1.7% chance of drawing a perfect pair and being paid out 25:1, with slightly better chances of drawing a coloured or mixed pair, at 1.9% and 3.9%, respectively. With a 92.5% chance of not drawing a pair, and significantly high house edges on each type of pair, don't expect to make a profit in the long run with such a bet (as with any side bet), but to play it for the thrill and excitement, in the hope of getting lucky every now and then, certainly provides some additional fun.
If you're here looking to learn what is perfect pairs in blackjack, then you are at the right page. Blackjack has several side-bets including Perfect Pairs, of which all are compelling to play.
If you're thorough with the standard format already, you may skip straight away to the Perfect Pairs overview. However, if you're new to Blackjack, stick around to peep into game rules, its origin, and of course some interesting trivia.
If you're feeling intrigued by Blackjack's origin, you aren't alone because It has always been shrouded in mystery owing to lack of evidence proving where it all began.
Hence, the belief that it originated in Spain. It wasn't soon before traders and immigrants brought it to Colonial America in the 1800s.
Today, variations like Perfect Pairs, Blackjack Switch, and Super Fun 21 are played across casinos for fun and it gets intense, as each game variant has unique bonus criteria.
Perfect Pairs in Blackjack
Perfect Pair is a side-bet where players get a shot at a bonus of 30 to 1 pay-out without deviating from the regular Blackjack. Moreover, Perfect Pairs can be played side-by-side with the regular Blackjack.
On the table is a box reserved for accepting Perfect Pair wagers. In any case, the dealer makes the move on behalf of players so there's not much of the game to figure out.
In the round, two initial cards are drawn from two or more decks and distributed facedown from left to right. The two cards forming a pair can be Mixed, Perfect, or Coloured. In all these cases, the winner is picked as per the pay table conditions.
Here is a complete definition of pairs in blackjack
1. Perfect Pair: Similar pairs that include two face cards
2. Coloured Pair: Pair that includes cards of any suit with matching colour
- Example: 7 of Hearts and 7 of Diamonds
3. Mixed Pair: Cards from any suit with an identical face value
The Perfect Pairs side bet will be paid out if any of the following three possibilities show up:
- A mixed pair or red/black pair: The two initial cards drawn are exactly alike in face value, except for suit and colour. An example of a mixed pair would be a Nine of Hearts and a Nine of Clubs.
- A coloured pair: The two initial cards drawn are exactly alike in face value and colour, except for suit. An example of a coloured pair would be an Ace of Clubs and an Ace of Spades.
- A perfect pair: The two initial cards drawn are exactly alike (face value, colour and suit). An example of a perfect pair would be two Queens of Diamonds. Obviously, games played with a single deck do not lend themselves to such an outcome, so the perfect pairs side bet would be unavailable.
Perfect Pairs payout, probability & house edge
Perfect Pairs is entirely based on chance, like all blackjack side bets, and those chances are slim. In a standard eight-deck game, where we have the best odds available, we have just a 1.7% chance of drawing a perfect pair and being paid out 25:1, with slightly better chances of drawing a coloured or mixed pair, at 1.9% and 3.9%, respectively. With a 92.5% chance of not drawing a pair, and significantly high house edges on each type of pair, don't expect to make a profit in the long run with such a bet (as with any side bet), but to play it for the thrill and excitement, in the hope of getting lucky every now and then, certainly provides some additional fun.
If you're here looking to learn what is perfect pairs in blackjack, then you are at the right page. Blackjack has several side-bets including Perfect Pairs, of which all are compelling to play.
If you're thorough with the standard format already, you may skip straight away to the Perfect Pairs overview. However, if you're new to Blackjack, stick around to peep into game rules, its origin, and of course some interesting trivia.
If you're feeling intrigued by Blackjack's origin, you aren't alone because It has always been shrouded in mystery owing to lack of evidence proving where it all began.
Hence, the belief that it originated in Spain. It wasn't soon before traders and immigrants brought it to Colonial America in the 1800s.
Today, variations like Perfect Pairs, Blackjack Switch, and Super Fun 21 are played across casinos for fun and it gets intense, as each game variant has unique bonus criteria.
Perfect Pairs in Blackjack
Perfect Pair is a side-bet where players get a shot at a bonus of 30 to 1 pay-out without deviating from the regular Blackjack. Moreover, Perfect Pairs can be played side-by-side with the regular Blackjack.
On the table is a box reserved for accepting Perfect Pair wagers. In any case, the dealer makes the move on behalf of players so there's not much of the game to figure out.
In the round, two initial cards are drawn from two or more decks and distributed facedown from left to right. The two cards forming a pair can be Mixed, Perfect, or Coloured. In all these cases, the winner is picked as per the pay table conditions.
Here is a complete definition of pairs in blackjack
1. Perfect Pair: Similar pairs that include two face cards
2. Coloured Pair: Pair that includes cards of any suit with matching colour
- Example: 7 of Hearts and 7 of Diamonds
3. Mixed Pair: Cards from any suit with an identical face value
GFL Bonusing
Perfect pairs in Blackjack are ideal for Game Floor Live (GFL) bonusing. So before finding out how, let's start by understanding what GFL bonusing is.
It facilitates a connected ecosystem through special modules so Casinos can track activities across the game floor in a single view.
GFL modules keep players riveted to games through special bonuses. Sort of like a neoteric experience that is bundled with side bets that can be modified then and there itself for specific events.
The GFL bonusing is leveraged by casinos to set up jackpot pools that are payer funded. Casinos add side bets into jackpot pools after the initial put-in. The goal is to self-fund the winning jackpots as well as to top up and enhance the next available jackpot value.
In doing so, players will be kept on the edge rather than packing early. By having a progressive jackpot, every bet increases the jackpot value and will ensure the continuity of the play.
After the jackpot is claimed, the game isn't reset. Instead, other players can continue playing and winning until the last one standing. The perks of adopting GFL bonusing is that it can help casinos weave game experiences personalised to demographic tastes.
It makes jackpot events more lucrative and boosts table revenue by luring new players to the pit. We've seen something similar when the slot technology boomed, allowing players to find a new way to amuse themselves.
In a nutshell, GFL bonusing is a bus that shouldn't be missed because it has allowed room for newer elements like Perfect Pairs and event-based jackpots to make the game enticing.
Playing Perfect Pairs in Blackjack
Playing Perfect Pairs in blackjack may seem like a piece of cake if you understand the rules below:
- On a regular Blackjack table, there are dedicated boxes for playing Perfect Pairs. Your side bets should go into this box to become eligible for Perfect Pair Jackpot.
- Before any cards are dealt, the side-bet must go into the Perfect Pairs wager box
- If the first two cards dealt are a pair, the player wins the Perfect Pair jackpot
- If the first two cards dealt don't form a pair, the player forfeits the wager
- Each game will have a pay table and the Perfect Pairs pay-outs will be based on it
- Once the two cards are dealt, the losing wagers must be collected and paid to winning hand
- After the pay-out is sent, the round resets but the game doesn't
- The dealer resumes dealing cards and collecting wagers from the participating players
Winning Hacks in Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs is a game of skill so there's more than one way to read conditions at the table and call out playing decisions. Make sure to follow these methods for a better winning odds:
- Start by analysing the number of decks used in the Perfect Pairs Blackjack.
- In a typical Perfect Pairs game, the dealer starts with two decks. So the chance of getting two cards of similar value (perfect pair) is greater than Pay-out of 30 to 1.
- The side bets in Perfect Pairs can get interesting as it's full of surprises. You can go for a mixed pair wager if your risk appetite isn't higher than most players. This would increase your odds slightly as more cards land in the shoe.
- There isn't a hard and fast strategy to win, but whatever stakes you prefer, be prepared to hit or stand at well-timed moments.
- If you have high pairs it may be a good idea to split, but it's unlikely to bring better outcomes whilst having an open side bet whose outcome is dependent on your hand.
House Edge of the Perfect Pairs in Blackjack
With Perfect Pairs, the number of decks decides the hold percentage. It increases or decreases with the deck size. Often, the pay-out odds are adjusted for a better house edge. At any given instance, the pay table mustn't provide a hold percentage greater than 7%.
Casinos stand to gain from Perfect Pairs because players often get convinced that the wagers are fair while in reality, it's far from it. This is one of the main reasons behind a great turnover for Casinos.
In theory, the hold percentage can be as high or as low as the deck size. The chance of scoring Perfect Pairs are higher when played with more than eight decks and lower with four. However, with just a single deck, Perfect Pair becomes unachievable.
How Competitive are Perfect Pairs?
You could be wrong in assuming Perfect Pairs are just petty wagers like watered-down liquor because it's not a scheme that's played with a low limit.
Today, most major casinos world-wide are offering Perfect Pairs in Blackjack tables. In most cases, wagers are off the charts in VIP rooms where game rounds get intense as bet size jumps by hundreds of dollars.
Time and again Perfect Pairs have proven to be the biggest revenue sources for casinos and since its inception, not many have rolled back to the regular table action.
Side Bets in Live Blackjack
Did you know there are many variants of Blackjack with side bets? Sometimes, variations in the gameplay can occur too. Here are some of the popular variations:
1. Double attack blackjack
If you're looking for a variant with most side bets and most action, then 'Double Attack Blackjack' is worth a try. The pay-out is way higher when the dealer 'busts'. The winning criterion is that the dealer must bust with no more or no less than three cards.
It doesn't end there. You also get to wager on whether the dealer up card is a picture card. In this case, pay-outs are equal to 3 to 1. Additionally, you can also get a 6 to 1 and 10 to 1 if the dealer busts with nine and seven consequently.
The most interesting pay-out is the 50 to 1 which is handed to winners when the dealer busts with an 8-8-8 of the same colour.
2. Super Fun 21
Super Fun 21 is a must-try variant because it's a slight departure from the regular format but double the excitement.
In this format, players get additional pay-outs for hitting Blackjack. The pay-out is as follows:
Microsoft Blackjack Game
- 2 to 1 for hitting with two diamonds
- 2 to 1 for counting a total of 21 with fewer than five cards
- 1 to 1 for counting a total of 20 with six cards or less
3. Blackjack Switch
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The Blackjack Switch is a variation where additional pay-outs on side bets are offered to players. In this format, two hands are dealt with each player. If the player is dealt a Perfect Pair at the beginning, a 5 to 1 pay-out is rewarded by side bet.
In the European format of the same game, the players are eligible for Insurance and can double down.
What Does Perfect Pair Mean In Blackjack
Now that you have learn what is perfect pairs in blackjack, get playing.
