Ever wondered what gives blackjack an extra edge of excitement? The 21+3 side bet adds a poker-style twist to the opening cards, creating new ways to win without altering the main game.
The term suited trips appears often when players talk about this side bet because it represents the rarest—and most highly paid—three-card combination. Read on to learn how the side bet works, what suited trips are, and how payouts compare across common outcomes.
What Is the 21+3 Side Bet in Blackjack?
The 21+3 side bet is an optional wager placed alongside the main blackjack stake. It uses a different scoring idea from standard blackjack: instead of comparing totals to the dealer, the wager is settled by the poker-style strength of three cards — the player’s first two cards plus the dealer’s face-up card.
You place the 21+3 bet before cards are dealt, and the outcome is decided immediately after the initial deal. Typical qualifying hands include flushes, straights, three-of-a-kind, straight flushes and, at the top, suited trips. Because only the two player cards and the dealer’s exposed card count, the side bet is resolved before the rest of the hand continues.
This alternate way of winning adds an extra layer of interest to each round and creates moments where a single reveal can produce a big payout. Next, we’ll look closely at what suited trips actually means and why it’s so rare.
How Does Suited Trips Work in Blackjack?
Suited trips is the name for the specific 21+3 outcome in which the player’s two initial cards and the dealer’s up card are all identical in both rank and suit. In other words, all three cards must be the same value and come from the same suit.
Consider a typical example: the player receives two 7s of clubs and the dealer’s up card is also a 7 of clubs. That is suited trips of 7s. The suit and rank must match exactly — having three sevens of mixed suits or three cards of the same suit but different ranks does not qualify. Only the player’s two starting cards and the dealer’s visible card are used to form this combination.
Because the occurrence requires three specific cards to line up perfectly, suited trips is the rarest 21+3 result and therefore the most rewarding. This rarity is reflected in higher payouts, which we’ll detail next and show how they compare with other three-card hands.
What Are the Payouts for Suited Trips?
Payouts vary by table and provider, but suited trips sits at the top of most 21+3 paytables because of its scarcity. A common payout structure you will see offers significantly larger returns for stronger three-card hands.
Typical payouts for 21+3 outcomes often look like this:
Hand Type — Typical Payout
Suited Trips — 100 to 1
Straight Flush — 40 to 1
Three of a Kind — 30 to 1
Straight — 10 to 1
Flush — 5 to 1
For example, a £1 21+3 wager that hits suited trips would typically return £100 in winnings plus the stake. Straight flushes and three-of-a-kind pay less because they occur more frequently. These figures are representative averages; individual tables may use different ratios, so check the table’s paytable before placing the side bet.
Because side bets generally carry a higher house edge than the main game, it is sensible to consider them as an occasional extra rather than a routine part of every round.
How Are Suited Trips Different from Other Side Bets?
Suited trips differs from many other blackjack side bets because it combines information from both the player’s and dealer’s cards and requires an exact match of rank and suit across three cards. Other side bets tend to rely only on the player’s two cards or on broader combinations that are easier to achieve.
For example, a Perfect Pairs-style bet pays when the player’s first two cards match in rank or suit but ignores the dealer’s cards. Lucky-style bets might reward particular numeric combinations across three cards but not demand identical suits and ranks. Suited trips sits at the intersection of poker and blackjack, creating a high-reward result that is more restrictive than most alternatives.
Its exclusivity explains both the high payout and the lower probability of hitting it, which in turn affects the expected return compared with simpler side bets. With that in mind, the next section explains where this feature is commonly available for those who want to try it.
Where Can You Play Blackjack with the 21+3 Side Bet?
The 21+3 side bet appears on many live-dealer and RNG blackjack tables. Live tables let players enjoy the social aspect of a hosted game while still offering the optional side wager; RNG tables replicate the same side-bet mechanics in a virtual format using certified software.
On our site, certain live and virtual blackjack games include the 21+3 option — details are shown in the game lobby and in each table’s paytable. Availability will vary by table limits and provider, so checking the game description before joining ensures you know whether the side bet is offered and at what payouts.
If you choose to play, consider treating the side bet as an occasional add-on rather than a baseline strategy, and keep stake sizes aligned with your personal limits. That approach lets you enjoy the added excitement of suited trips without changing how you play the main blackjack hand.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.