A side bet is a wager that is not placed on the table directly between players, but instead bettors make on a variety of propositions. These propositions can be anything from who will hit the next blackjack, to whether or not a certain hand will result in an ace.
Side bets arise from the basic game of blackjack, in which two players compete against each other by drawing cards until one player has 21 points or less. The player with the fewest points (or “under”) loses the hand, and any side bets placed on that hand are paid out to the other player.
In some cases, side bets can also be placed on specific hands, such as a five-card hand that includes an ace. If the ace is drawn, the side bettor may wager that the ace will not be counted as one of the five cards.
Side bets are also common in poker, where they can be placed on any hand. This allows bettors to speculate on which hands will produce high-value hands (such as royal flush), or which opponents will be most susceptible to certain types of plays (such as bluffing).
While side bets are entertaining and may provide some extra excitement during a game of blackjack or poker, they are not really necessary and should not be relied upon as a key part of your betting strategy. In fact, many casinos prohibit players from placing side bets on specific hands in order to keep games more even and fair for all players.
