21 + 3 B/J

I've often seen this game on the floor, but have never bothered to pay much attention to the details. I understand that its traditional 21 with a side bet of some version of 3-card poker.

What is the most common variant of this side bet? Does anyone here play it?

I've never played the side bet, but I think it's pretty universal that any "winner" pays 9:1. So you get 9:1 if your first 2 cards and the dealer's upcard form a straight, flush, straight flush, or 3 of a kind.

Quote: ruascott

I've often seen this game on the floor, but have never bothered to pay much attention to the details. I understand that its traditional 21 with a side bet of some version of 3-card poker.

What is the most common variant of this side bet? Does anyone here play it?

The Wizard has a page where he explains all variants of side bets and calculates the HA for them. He lists several variants of 21+3. The house edge for these versions is as usual pretty bad (but hardly the worst in the world).

Ok, thanks. It looks like the traditional 9-1 payout has a HA of 3.24%. Not great, but not terrible either. I was thinking that they may have offered the traditional PP bet, but I guess that would make it too complicated for the most dealers.

What are the rules on this bet regarding limits traditionally? Say if its a $10 table, can I play the side-bet for $5? or $1?

Are there any other B/J side bets that are worth looking for? Or B/J variants that are fairly common that you enjoy playing?

21+3 is a really popular game in Missouri casinos, Tunica, and Indiana casinos. I would say that most casino tables are full most of the time, with most players playing hard on the 3-card bet.

I avoid side bets most of the time, but I have to say, 21+3 is the crack/cocaine of gambling. It hits enough to want to bet it, and it does seem to run in streaks (I know it's not the case, but it feels that way).

Usually, the side bet is a min. of 5 dollars (max, depends, sometimes it can be more than the main bet, sometimes it's stingy). However, some casinos do set it at 1 dollar.

21+3 is the only BJ side bet we offer in our casino. We used to offer the "Big 3" (Perfect Pairs, Royal Match, 21+3) but 21+3 was consistantly the most profitable so we converted to offering just 21+3.

our tables are £2-£1000 min/max with £1-£1000 on the 21+3.

The Rio is currently offering Xtreme 21+3 on single deck games with the following pay table: Flush 5-1, Straight 10-1, 3 of a kind 20-1, and a straight flush 30-1. I am not sure, but I think this an absolute terrible bet. I checked the Wizardofodds site and didn't see this pay table or any pay table for this game using a single deck.

A lot of people do like this bet, - to each his own, and own playing style.

The bet does come in two variations: the flat 9:1 pay on any hand better than a pair, flush or better. This is actually a well-paying bottom-heavy bet, and its house edge of 3.2% is VERY fair for a 9:1 payout side bet, and without affecting basic strategy play at all. Compared to most BJ side bets, its edge is miniscule. (I do understand the view that many feel that any house edge is a bad thing, but 21+3 is extremely competitive in the house edge department.) It wouldn't have the huge number of installs and action if people didn't like it, and the casinos feel it is a win-win bet for them to offer. I agree.

The Xtreme paytable is newer, and is promoted as an option for casinos, as its payscale is closer to standard Three Card Poker's pair plus.

I agree with Paigowdan that the original 21+3 bet paying all winners 9:1 is indeed a very appealing side bet for both players and operators. As a part-time dealer in Tunica (MS) for a brief period, I observed this phenomenon first-hand. Although the hit frequency is below 10%, I think players like it because they get overpaid on most of their wins (flushes), whether they realize it or not. The participation rate is very high, which is why operators like it. Net win is higher relative to other common offerings because of the bet's high participation rate.

Conversely, the Xtreme paytable corrects for this imbalance and thereby makes the bet less attractive in my opinion. The 'bottom-heavy' characteristic that Paigowdan referred to, along with the simplicity of the flat payout structure, sets the original version apart from other 'run of the mill' BJ side bets.

Quote: SONBP2

The Rio is currently offering Xtreme 21+3 on single deck games with the following pay table: Flush 5-1, Straight 10-1, 3 of a kind 20-1, and a straight flush 30-1. I am not sure, but I think this an absolute terrible bet. I checked the Wizardofodds site and didn't see this pay table or any pay table for this game using a single deck.

We have calculated this before for 6 deck and 8 deck, 13.39% and 12.89% respectively.

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/blackjack/12745-house-edge-on-new-21-3-table/2/

You are right it is horrible. The Wiz should probably add it on the WOO site though because that paytable is here to stay I am afraid. I also think it is a better idea to pay the bet this way, but not for a ~13% vs. the old ~3% edge. And unfortunately, it's worse for single deck. The math is the same as normal 3CP, but the payouts are much worse. The house edge is 22.73% for a single deck. CET should be ashamed to allow this side bet for a single deck game.

The difference between the two pay tables comes down to this: Are you willing to take 4 less units on a flush that occurs every 17 hands to have the possibility of a 20 or 30-1 top payout that occurs once every 137 hands? Well that and the horribly increased HE on the Extreme Pay Table.

My opinion is biased, but I think side bets with a lower maximum payout and frequent wins are the future of BJ side bets. Just look at what is hot in that space right now:

Any of the Bust Bets (most have lower frequent payouts & a 28% hit rate).
House Money (23% hit rate with 22.7% of that hit rate on 4/3/1 to 1 payouts, which double when on a winning BJ hand, and throw in the once in 300+ hand 24-1 payout & an HE of around 5% as I recall).
21+3 (just under a 10% hit rate, but that 9-1 payout every time makes up for the lower hit frequency).

I believe most players are burned out on the "dollar and a prayer" type side bets with the over 10%+ HE's and under 10% hit rates. And then most of the sub 10% hit rate has a 4-1 or under payout to boot!

Last time I played House Money it was a $5 min side bet (on a $10 min BJ table). The 21+3 with the 9-1 pay table is also normally a $5 min. That will be the shift in side bets....go for higher minimums on propositions that pay more often with lower max wins. You have to increase the player wager to give them the juice designed into these types of side bets.

I originally played House Money at a $1 min bet level......boring! You don't really care about winning $4/$3/$1 on a side bet when your main wager is a $5 or $10, even if you double it, you have still won more on your main $10 BJ wager than the side bet the vast majority of the time.

What gives House Money the juice is having $5 on HM with a $10 BJ main bet and hitting J/J against a dealer up card of 7 and having a pretty good chance of making an extra $35 (or 7-1). You hit a pair once every 13 hands and over half of those pairs are pretty good starting hands in BJ.

Same with 21+3, winning $45 every 10+ hands versus $9 every 10+ hands makes a big difference in the feel of the side bet. But that feel requires a $5 vs a $1 minimum.

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I know Wheeling Island Racetrack and Casino had Tables with this side bet, though I don't know whether or not they still do. I also don't remember what the Pay Table was because I didn't even remotely consider playing the side bet.