Blackjack 21+3 Strategy

Posted on
  1. Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Definition
  2. Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Tactics
21+3 Blackjack is a very popular side bets blackjack variation, invented and patented by Derek J. Webb in 2000
  • First 3 deposits Blackjack 21+3 Strategy only, Min deposit £10, Max total bonus £500 & 150 spins, Spin value varies, 30x wagering (dep + bonus), 30x on spins, 5x conversion, selected slots only, full T&Cs apply.
  • One blackjack strategy that’s been discussed a lot in the online gaming circles is the no-bust blackjack strategy. What makes this tactic stand out from others is that it’s very simple. How it works is that even if you have an awful hand, you’re supposed to Stand and hope that the dealer would Bust (go over 21).

Blackjack strategy lets you know the right play to make to maximize your winnings. It tells you what to do based on your hand and the card that the dealer is showing. If you perfectly follow the strategies outlined in this guide, you can reduce the casino’s advantage to less than.5%, making blackjack the most advantageous game to the player. Strategy for 21+3 Blackjack. It goes without saying that knowing the correct basic strategy of the base game is a prerequisite here. Without this you are just handing money to the house. Your main ‘strategy’ decision over the long run with the 21+3 side-bet is whether to play or not. The house edge is bigger than in most base games. 21+3 Blackjack House Edge and RTP Values. Something to always consider is the house edge and return-to-player percentage of any casino game. As it happens, blackjack has some of the best odds in the whole industry in general. But how does 21+3 Blackjack stack up against other variations?

. The game is a combination of blackjack and three card poker, where your first 2 cards and the dealer’s face up card are used to combine a three card hand. If you are familiar with Perfect Pairs, then you can look at 21+3 as its further development.

It is considered one of the latest additions and therefore it is not offered by most blackjack sites. Nevertheless, there are 3 versions of 21+3 Blackjack available online and we are sure that more to come.

ContentBlackjack 21+3 Strategy

1. Game reviews
2. 21+3 payout variations
3. Where to Play
4. 21+3 rules
5. Online games comparison
6. Summary

Unfortunately, non of the online versions of 21+3 are available at USA friendly blackjack casinos.

Game Reviews & Free Play

21+3 Payouts

21 plus 3 Blackjack has two common payout tables which you can find below, however some casinos offer their own rule sets. If you encounter any discrepancies, we recommend that you check the appropriate house edge before you proceed.

*We’ve also added option #3 since it’s the one used in IGT online casinos. The odds are calculated based on 6 deck games.

Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Definition

Option #1

Flush – 5:1

Straight – 10 to 1

Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Tactics

3 of a kind – 30 to 1

Straight flush – 40 to 1

Suited three of a kind – 100 to 1

Odds: 95.38%

Option #2

Flush – 9 to 1

Straight – 9 to 1

Three of a kind – 9 to 1

Straight Flush – 9 to 1

Odds: 96.76%

Option #3

Flush – 5:1,

Straight – 10 to 1,

3 of a kind – 33 to 1,

Straight flush – 35 to 1

Suited three of a kind – 100 to 1.

Odds: 95.86%

Where to Play

Casino BonusWhy it’s hereBest Game
100% up to $1000Best for USA and AUS casinoSingle Deck – 0.08% house edge
100% up to £/$/€ 100Best for UK, Canada and EUClassic Blackjack – 0.21% house edge
150% up to $1500Highest USA Blackjack BonusN/A


21+3 Blackjack Rules

21+3 is based on European blackjack rules, meaning that the dealer doesn’t check for blackjack. Therefore in case the dealer has a natural, your doubles and splits will be lost as well. Other rules:

  • Usually played with 6 standard decks.
  • Dealer stands on all 17s.
  • Double down rules vary, but usually you can double on 9,10, 11 value.
  • Doubled down hands receive one card.
  • Split up to 2 hands, including Aces.
  • You can hit or double split hands, including Aces.
  • Blackjack pays 3:2
  • Similar value hands are push.

The house edge under these rules is 0.48%.

Blackjack 21+3 Online Games Comparison

There are three 21+3 games available online. The first can be found in Wagerworks (IGT) casinos. The second one was developed by Felt Gaming and can be found only in Unibet casino. The third one is a live dealer game by Evolution Gaming.

Basic Game Rules

We will mention only the rules that differ from the common ones listed above.

IGT (Wagerworks): You can split two 3 hands and re-split Aces. Double down on any 2 cards.

Felt Gaming: Standard rules

Evolution: Played with 8 decks. Also offers Perfect Pairs side bet. Double down on any 2 cards. Single card to split Aces.

21+3 Bonus Comparison

Evolution: Standard Option #1, but played with 8 decks which lowers the side bets house edge by roughly 1%.

Felt: Standard Option #1.

IGT (Wagerworks): Option #3.

Bottom Line

Strategy

Wagerworks (IGT)


Base Game: 99.70%

Side Bets: 95.86%

Evolution Gaming

Base Game: 99.41%

Side Bets: 96.38%

Update: Realistic Games also offer 21+3 blackjack. The special rules are: based on American Blackjack (dealer checks for blackjack). Double down on any 2 cards. Split Aces receive only 1 card. Bonus payouts are as on Option #1, except the 3 of a Kind which pays 25:1. Under these rules basic odds are 99.59%. The side bet odds are extremely low, just 92%.

21+3 Blackjack Review

  • Number of decks: 6
  • Blackjack payout: 3:2
  • Dealer’s forced move: Stands on all 17
  • Dealer’s first card: One up
  • Split: Yes
  • Re-Split: Yes
  • Split Aces: Yes – can draw
  • Double Down: Any
  • Surrender: No
  • Insurance: Yes

Dealer stands on all 17s in wagerworks 21 + 3 Blackjack. You may double down, even after a split or re-split. Re-splitting is allowed once per split card. Split aces are treated like any other split card, but Blackjack is not possible on Split cards. Any eight-card player hand that is not Bust will beat all dealer hands except for dealer blackjack. Additional rules apply to the 3 Card Side Bet – the two player up cards and the one dealer up card can produce extra wins if they form a special hand, as outlined below under Wagers and Payouts.

In 21 + 3 Blackjack, wagers are made using a combination of five different chips, ranging in denomination from 1 to 500. The minimum bet amount per hand is €/£1, and the maximum is €/£1000. This same limit applies to the 3 Card Side Bet. Payouts are as follows: blackjack pays 3:2, insurance pays 2:1, other wins pay 1:1, and all ties push. Additional payouts for winning 3 Card Side Bet hands are as follows:

  • Flush 5:1
  • Straight 10:1
  • 3 of a Kind 33:1
  • Straight Flush 35:1
  • Suited 3 of a Kind 100:1

This game plays as smooth as can be. The buttons are easy to find and out of the way, leaving the whole playing area clear so that you can focus on your game. The cards are bold and very readable. The graphics are descent, though the table is blue instead of the traditional green. Subtle animations add a nice touch to card movements, chip actions, and other parts of the game. Overall, it looks quite good, and plays very well.

The 3 Card Side Bet is what makes this game unique, turning the first 3 up cards of a hand into a 3 card poker hand that can help you win big. But remember, while the proper clackjack portion of this game involves a mix of luck and skill, this side bet is based purely on luck. You’ll lose more often than you win, but when you win, the payouts are great!

We all love a good game of Classic Blackjack. Many of us are poker fans too. So when this game first came out, many of us were excited to try it. 21 + 3 Blackjack definitely does not disappoint! It adds a little thrill to the deal, and a chance to win some extra cash, but then once you’ve won or lost you can focus on blackjack – it’s the ideal side bet scheme that doesn’t get in the way of the game!