Perfect Pairs Blackjack is quite an exciting side bet you’ll find in all blackjack variations. This game is based on the rules of Classic blackjack, but there are several extra specifications that make the game more interesting. 

The goal of the game is to outclass a dealer. A player needs to collect more points than a dealer, but the overall value should not be over 21. If a player receives more than 21, he loses. Perfect Pairs is played with 6 decks (52 cards each). The main difference of this game is the possibility to make a side bet. With the help of Perfect Pairs, a player can win extra bonus. The goal of this side bet is to collect a pair from the first two cards a player receives. By the way, players have to make side bets before the next round begins and the dealer starts to deal cards. It should also be mentioned that Perfect Pairs winning does not depend on the dealer’s final hand.

Best casinos to play Perfect Pairs blackjack

Instructions on how to play Perfect Pairs blackjack

The Perfect Pairs side bet is played with real money at some online blackjack and live blackjack tables around the world. Once you have funded your account at your preferred casino, open any blackjack game with the Perfect Pairs bonus bet. Select your wager per round and also put a chip or multiple chips on the Perfect Pairs bet.

The game will then deal two cards face up to all players. The dealer is also dealt two cards (1 face up and 1 face down). If you end the round with a natural blackjack, you win a 3:2 payout. But if you finish the hand with a higher value other than a natural blackjack (without busting), you win an even-money payout. 

Coming to the subject matter of this review, if your cards make up a pair, you receive a payout according to the pair you have. An interesting fact is that you don’t need to win the main bet to win this side bet.  

The standard card value is used in Perfect Pairs blackjack:

Cards from 2 to 10 have got face value. Face cards have a value of 10 points. Aces can be either 1 or 11 points. The value of an ace depends on your hand. Extra winning can be taken by the player with his side bet. There are several criteria for perfect pair winnings. Your hand (first 2 cards) has to be:

  • Mixed pair
  • Coloured pair
  • Perfect pair

If we don’t take the Perfect pair bet, this modification of blackjack is absolutely similar to Classic Blackjack. For example, the “Blackjack” hand means automatic winning. In the case that a player and the dealer both have a blackjack, nobody wins.

Extra rules of Perfect Pair blackjack

In this modification you can double your bet. Doubling can be done only once per hand. You can also split your hand if you have the first two cards of the same value. In case of splitting you have to make additional bets. Thus, you continue to play with two different hands and two different bets. The insurance rule is applied in Perfect pair blackjack. It means that you can pay insurance thinking that the dealer has got Blackjack. Such situations occur when the dealer’s face-up card is Ace. The insurance costs the amount of ante, and it is paid as 2 to 1 if blackjack was held by the dealer. The insurance is collected by the casino if the dealer does not have a Blackjack hand.

Winning payouts (main wager)

  • Blackjack – 3:2
  • Other winning hand – Even
  • Tie – return of initial wager

Perfect Pairs winning payouts or possible outcomes

  • Mixed Pair – 5:1
  • Coloured Pair – 12:1
  • Perfect Pair – 25:1

Payout tables can differ, depending on the rules used by an online casino. Perfect pair blackjack can be found in almost every major casino. As mentioned, the game is extremely exciting, but the house edge is slightly higher than in Classic blackjack. Therefore, this game is, first of all, for fun, not for profit. 

Outcomes and payouts in Perfect Pairs

We have listed the possible outcomes with the Perfect Pair on the best live blackjack online. In this section, we explain each of those outcomes with examples.

  • Perfect Pair: We know it might sound a bit confusing that the main side bet is Perfect Pair, and one of the possible outcomes is also Perfect Pair. But this explanation makes it clearer. You get a Perfect Pair combination if you have two initial cards of the same suit. An example is when you’re dealt two Kings or two Aces.
  • Coloured Pair: A Coloured Pair is achieved if a player is dealt cards of different suits but the same colour. Examples are 1 Diamond card and 1 Heart card, or 1 Club card and 1 Spade card.
  • Mixed Pair: A Mixed Pair is an outcome that requires a player to be dealt two cards of different suits and different colours. An instance of this is Hearts and Spades. 

Combining Perfect Pairs and other side bets

Even though Perfect Pair is famous, it’s not the only side bet you’ll find when you try to play live blackjack for real money. You’ll find other side bets like 21+3, Bust It (or Bust Bonus in some games), Crazy 7 (or Lucky 7, Super 7 in some games), Hot 3, etc. You can combine the Perfect Pairs bet with other side bets if you have sufficient funds in your casino account. In fact, it’s allowed to wager on all side bets at the table on the same round. Doing this gives you a high chance of landing a possible win, so most tables allow it.

Additionally, you can combine Perfect Pairs side bet with the Bet Behind feature. Also known as back betting, the Bet Behind feature is primarily available in live blackjack games.

Online blackjack or live blackjack?

Since Perfect Pairs is available in online and live blackjack games, playing either version is entirely yours. If you’re typically into online blackjack, you might be better off playing at an online RNG-powered table. However, if you’re moved by the animated ambience of live casinos, online blackjack live is your best option. 

Even though the gameplay is the same, many live blackjack games have up to 5 side bets. On the other hand, it’s not common to find up to 5 side bets in many online blackjack titles. Thus, if you’d like to combine Perfect Pairs with other side bets (which normally make the gameplay more exciting), you should play live dealer blackjack titles more.

Summary to Perfect Pairs Blackjack

The Perfect Pairs side bet remains one of blackjack’s most popular bonus bets. This feature has three possible outcomes: Perfect Pair, Coloured Pair, and Mixed Pair. Each outcome has a distinct payout, with the Perfect Pair awarding 25:1. The feature is available at many online and live blackjack tables, so you can enjoy all the thrills accompanying it.

Numerous live blackjack games have several side bets besides Perfect Pairs. Consequently, you can wager on all such bonus bets at the table and have fun. Many live titles even have the Bet Behind feature, which you can explore alongside this bonus bet. The most important thing is to have a great time, and you can do that by playing Perfect Pairs blackjack with a solid strategy. All our recommended online casinos have many games with the Perfect Pairs feature.


Perfect Pairs