Guide to Playing Blackjack in Vegas: Lucky Lucky Side Bet

Blackjack

Blackjack has been a part of the casino scene since the beginning. Over the decades, players were content to play for simple even money and 3-2 (or 6-5 nowadays) payouts. Blackjack operators were forced to add other table games to keep their customers entertained over time. Place the Blackjack side bet… Casinos found a quick solution by adding an optional wager that was specially designed to maximize the benefits of both sides. Purists who want to play blackjack the way it was designed can continue to do so. Blackjack side bets are a blessing for gamblers who like to have a solitary lark on long-shot games of chance that offer juicy payout odds. The next installment of my ongoing series on blackjack side betting is “Lucky Lucky”. If you haven’t read the first two sections of the series, you should. I covered everything you need to know regarding the 21+ 3 side bet as well as the Lucky Ladies side betting. Introduction to the Lucky Lucky Side Bet It was 2001, and Franklin Daines began to search for innovative ways to get customers into his Jackpot Casino in Alberta. Daines and his wife ran the small gambling hall. Eventually, they got together to collaborate on a project that would forever change the blackjack game. The Lucky Lucky side bet was the result of their tinkering. Respected casino game analyst Michael Shackleford of The Wizard of Odds claims it to be the first blackjack side wager to include both the player’s starting hand as well as the dealer’s upcard. Here’s how it works… Players place a secondary bet on the Lucky Lucky side betting area. They hope to combine their starting cards with the dealer’s hole card to create qualifying hands. In the next section, I will detail the eight qualifying hands available to Lucky Lucky side betting. The goal of Lucky Lucky side betting, as in traditional blackjack, is to create a total of 21. Lucky Lucky pays table payouts range from 200 to 1 to double your money. Lucky Lucky was a hit with local Jackpot Casino gamblers. The invention was patentable by the Daines family and established Aces Up Gaming. Daines and his adult kids successfully promoted the Lucky Lucky side bet over the next 20 years and secured hundreds of installations in casinos around the world. Lucky Lucky Side Bets are available at more than 2,000 blackjack tables across Las Vegas and the world. Also Read: What Las Vegas Casinos Have the Best Blackjack Games? How to land a winner on the Lucky Lucky Side Bet Blackjack’s best scenario is to win 21 or more. This combination, also known as a natural, is the best for the base game’s premium payout of 3 to 2 (or 6 to 5 in corporate-owned casinos along the Las Vegas Strip). Players are aiming to reach a total of 21 without losing their bets. This makes it impossible to lose your bets and gives you a push. Blackjack enthusiasts consider 21 to be the ultimate number. This is where the Lucky Lucky side bet’s appeal lies… Lucky Lucky bets allow you to turn some of the worst starting hands in blackjack into big-time winners, even if you don’t connect with one. The perfect example is the 7-7 starting hand, which is a lowly 14. Post-deal play is very difficult when you have a 14 against any dealer up card. Simply put, a 7-7 is a good choice. However, when you wager on the Lucky Lucky side bet, getting a 7-7 is a treat for your eyes. Daines and Co. created their new addition to blackjack using the following structure: Lucky Lucky Side Bet: Qualifying Hands & Payouts HAND DESCRIPTION PAYOUT Suited 7-7-7 7-7-7 all in the same suit 200 to 1 Suited 6-7-8 6-7-8 all in the same suit 100 to 1 Unsuited 7-7-7 7-7-7 in different suits 50 to 1 Unsuited 6-7-8 6-7-8 in different suits 30 to 1 Suited Total of 21 Any 21-total using suited cards 15 to 1 Unsuited Total of 21 Any 21-total using suited cards 15 to 1 Total of 20 Any 20-total regardless of suits 2 to 1 Total of 19 Any 19-total regardless of suits 2 to 1 Any Other Total Loss Lucky Lucky side bettors will get the best outcome if they can make a 7-7-7 combination using their starting hand as well as the dealer’s up cards. This is obviously a tough prospect due to the probabilities. (More on that later). If you are able to beat the odds and pull off a 7-7-7 suit, the Lucky Lucky side bet will give you a 200-to-1 payoff. You can’t miss the hits, even if you have an unsuited 7-7-7. Your money is worth 50 to 1. The Lucky Lucky side bet pays 100 to 1 on any 6-7-8 combination, and 30 to 1 on the unsuited 6-7-8. Any combination of 21 you create using your starting hand, the dealer’s up cards, and your starting hand is eligible for either 15 to 1 or 1 (suited).), or 3 to 1, (unsuited).

Final, if you and the dealer find any three-card total of 20, 19, or 21, you will receive a 2:1 payout.

But there’s more!

Depending on the house’s pay table configuration, you might find other payout structures. Aces Up Gaming and the Daines family are happy to assist you. The table below shows the various Lucky Lucky side bet payout tables. It starts with the “#1” standard payout scheme.

All pay tables below use the system

Lucky Lucky Side Bet Alternative Pay Tables

HAND	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	#8
Suited 7-7-7	200	0	200	200	200	200	100	500
Suited 6-7-8	100	100	100	100	100	100	50	200
Unsuited 7-7-7	50	50	50	50	50	50	30	100
Unsuited 6-7-8	30	30	30	25	30	30	10	25
Suited total of 21	15	10	10	15	15	10	3	15
Unsuited total of 21	3	3	3	3	3	3	2	3
Total of 20	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Total of 19	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1

You may have wondered why there is no topline payout for the 7-7-7 suited in column 2. If so, congratulations on your keen eye. Pay table #2 is a double-deck blackjack version that only allows you to use two decks at once. You can’t get three 7s from the same suit together in a double-deck blackjack game. This is why this payout was removed.

These alternative pay tables are mainly restricted to Las Vegas and areas such as tribal casinos or regional gambling halls. This means that most Sin City casino prefer to spread the standard paytable (shown in the grid below as “#1”) rather than messing with a good thing.

Before placing a bet, make sure you study the Lucky Lucky side betting layout at your blackjack table.

You’ll see in the final section, “Traps To Watch Out For”, that the extremely reasonable odds against and the house edge rates offered standard Lucky Lucky side betting soon become distorted by inferior pay tables.

For Lucky Lucky Side Bets, Probabilities and House Edge Rates

You’ll quickly see a “glass half-full” scenario when you examine the statistical probabilities of the Lucky Lucky side-bet.

You can see my point by looking at the table below. It highlights possible combinations of qualifying hands, probability of landing them, as well as their expected return rates.

*All data below refers only to Lucky Lucky side-bets that a) use the standard pay table “#1”, and b) use a 6-deck shoe

Lucky Lucky Side Bet Combos and Probabilities. Expected Return Rates

HAND	COMBOS	PROBABILITY	EXPECTED RETURN
Suited 7-7-7	80	0.0016 percent	0.003191
Suited 6-7-8	864	0.0172 percent	0.017234
Unsuited 7-7-7	1,944	0.0388 percent	0.019388
Unsuited 6-7-8	12,960	0.2585 percent	0.077553
Suited total of 21	26,568	0.5299 percent	0.079492
Unsuited total of 21	406,296	8.10 percent	0.243130
Total of 20	377,568	7.53 percent	0.150626
Total of 19	364,320	7.26 percent	0.145341
All other	3,822,720	76.25 percent	-0.762513
Total	5,013,320	1.0000	-0.026556

Lucky Lucky side bet player can expect to make a winning hand on approximately one out of every four deals. This high win rate results inA house edge rate of 2.66% is offered for the Lucky Lucky side wager. This can be compared to single-zero Roulette, a similar gamble that is purely chance-based and offers a 2.70 percent house edge. The Lucky Lucky option, which has a ridiculous house edge of 24.71%, is an even better deal than the similar-named “Lucky Ladies” blackjack side wager. The bad news is that approximately 25% win rate, 23% comes from low-paying winners who will only pay out payouts of 2 to 1 and 3 to 1. Let’s take a look at the numbers to help you better understand what I mean. The most likely scenario for any Lucky Lucky side-bet is to have no qualifying hands, which occurs at a 76.25 per cent clip. The unsuited 21-total is the most likely winning hand. It will be available on 8.10% of deals and pay a 3:1 payout. The “any 20-total winner” will be next, and they will receive a 2:1 payout on 7.53 per cent of deals. You’ll also be able to score the “any 19 total” winner for 2 x 1 on 7.26% of deals. These probabilities are well-known to mathematically-minded readers. You’ll lose or win on 99.14 percent (or both) of Lucky Lucky side-bet play. The 200 to 1 topline payouts for making a suit 7-7-7 are highly regarded. However, it is a lightning strike that only drops at tiny fractions of a percentage point. The 200 to 1 and 15 to 1 payouts are only available on less than 1% of all occasions. Lucky Lucky side betting is ideal for conservative blackjack players who aren’t afraid to reap marginal rewards in return for marginal risks. People who want to go for the thrill and land “jackpot” blackjack side bets might prefer a more balanced offer like the 21 + 3. There are some things to be aware of when playing the Lucky Lucky Side Bet. Gamblers can place their money on side bets like Lucky Lucky, which offer a fair house edge rate. Lucky Lucky has a 2.66 house advantage on the #1 pay table. This is definitely true. Pay attention to your pay tables and be careful when placing Lucky Lucky against other options. *All rates for house edge shown in the table below are for a six-deck shoe. Pay table #2 is for a double-decker. Lucky Side Bet House Edge Rates (by Pay Table) | PAY TABLE | HOUSE EDGE | |———–|————| | #1 | 2.66 percent | | #2 | 5.39 percent | | #3 | 5.31 percent | | #4 | 3.95 percent | | #5 | 9.96 percent | | #6 | 12.60 percent | | #7 | 5.05 percent | | #8 | 7.07 percent | Last note: Lucky Lucky side bet players should pay attention to the deck layout of blackjack games at the casino. The table below shows that playing with less than six cards in a single hand increases your house’s inherent advantage. Lucky Lucky Side Bet House Edge Rates (by Number of Decks and Pay Table) | DECKS | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | |——-|—-|—-|—-|—-|—-|—-| | 1 | 2.61 percent | 5.95 percent | 6.66 percent | 6.41 percent | 7.31 percent | 8.67 percent | | 2 | 2.82 percent | 5.21 percent | 6.02 percent | 5.97 percent | 6.85 percent | 8.17 percent | | 3 | 2.77 percent | 4.65 percent | 5.5 percent | 5.52 percent | 6.39 percent | 7.70 percent | | 4 | 2.72 percent | 4.32 percent | 5.18 percent | 5.24 percent | 6.10 percent | 7.40 percent | | 5 | 2.68 percent | 4.10 percent | 4.98 percent | 5.05 percent | 5.92 percent | 7.21 percent | | 6 | 2.66 percent | 3.95 percent | 4.83 percent | 4.92 percent | 5.78 percent | 7.07 percent | Conclusion For many reasons, the Lucky Lucky side bet has become a classic among blackjack enthusiasts and casinos. For players who don’t like losing streaks or are afraid of losing, the Lucky Lucky side bet offers the chance to win even if you’re dealt a bad hand. The pay table and probabilities also make it possible to receive huge 200-to-1 winners. Lucky Lucky is a great option for blackjack players who enjoy side betting.

What types of hands result in a higher payout with the Lucky Lucky Side Bet?

Ah, Las Vegas – the home of thrill, chance, adventure, and of course, the classic Blackjack table. Whether you’re in the casinos for a night of fun or to test your luck and skill, Blackjack is a classic card game that will provide hours of entertainment. Now, what would really spice up your next Vegas Blackjack experience? The Lucky Lucky Side Bet is here to satisfy just that.

The Lucky Lucky Side Bet is an exciting addition to the traditional Blackjack game. In this side bet, two cards are shown face up. If the total amount is 19, 20, or 21, then the side bet wins. Uniquely to the Lucky Lucky Side Bet, your winnings payout will be much higher for certain hands such as suited 20 and three-of-a-kind.

Finally, the Lucky Lucky Side Bet is ideal for those players who prefer a more risky game. You must choose whether to hit or stay on your original Blackjack hand, and a successful side bet turn could bring in some extra money.

The Lucky Lucky Side Bet brings a new edge to the classic Blackjack game. Giving the player the opportunity to increase their odds in the long run, while also allowing them to interact in the game more frequently. Before your next trip to Vegas, brush up on the side bet rule, and see if the Lucky Lucky Side Bet is the perfect addition to your dream Blackjack table. You never know, Lady Luck might just be in your favor.