As fun as the game of blackjack can get, there are times when one wants to add an extra dash of excitement to the experience. Enter side bets, which are a great means to both spice up the game and an additional chance of getting a win. Side bets come in different shapes and sizes to suit all pockets, and one of these is known as the Split Aces. What does this involve, you might ask? Wonder no more, as that is exactly what we’re here to answer in this blog.
The Split Aces Side Bet
First off, if you’re not familiar with side bets the idea is simple - these are optional bets one can place in addition to their main wager. These side bets can cover different things that can happen during the round, such as the player getting a pair of cards of the same suit, a pair of cards of the same colour and value, or both player and dealer getting 2 sevens each. Depending on the casino and game provider you can place either one or multiple side bets at any one round of blackjack.
With this in mind, what’s the Split Aces side bet all about? As the name suggests, this one is all about the aces. Specifically it’s a bet on the player’s first card being an ace, and some games or casino can even have it bring a bigger win if both the players cards are aces. We’re not sure where this side bet first originated, but we’ve heard it first popped up at the Casino Café de Paris in Monaco sometime in the early 2020’s.
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The Rules of the Split Aces Side Bet
The rules of the Split Aces side bet, as with those of all other side bets, can differ between blackjack games and casinos. Some are simply based around the player getting 1 or 2 aces in their hands, while others boost the payout even further if the two aces are split and bring about a Blackjack. As such, always read the sidebet rules in your game’s Rules or About section. With this in mind here are the most common rules we’ve seen for the Split Aces side bet:
- Wins for the Split Aces side bet are on a “for one” basis, meaning the player doesn’t get their bet back even if they win.
- If the player gets 2 aces and splits then the wins will depend on whether those split aces will lead to blackjacks.
- If re-splitting the aces is allowed it will not affect the side bet, since the outcome depends on the first card dealt to each ace.
- If the player’s first card is an ace and the second isn’t then the payout is 2:1.
- If the player’s first two cards are aces and they either don’t split or split to bring about just one or no blackjacks then the Split Aces sidebet pays 25:1.
- Some games or casinos can offer a progressive prize if both the player’s first cards are aces, the player splits, and both aces improve to blackjacks (with exception of 2 ace/king blackjack).. This prize can start at 500:1 and grows by 24.7% of the money staked.
- If the player’s first 2 cards are aces, the player splits, and both aces improve to ace/king blackjack (other than 2 suited ace/king blackjack) then the progressive prize is even bigger. This one starts at 1000:1 and grows by 5.77% of the money bet.
- If the player’s first 2 cards are aces, the player splits, and the 2 aces improve to suited ace/king blackjack then there’s the final progressive prize that starts at 5000:1. This one grows by 1.14% of money bet.
Why Go for the Split Aces Side Bet
Why Go for the Split Aces Side Bet
Should you choose the Split Aces side bet next time you’re at the blackjack table? That obviously depends on your tastes as a player. This side bet is a particularly high risk, high reward proposition with admittedly low odds of winning. How low? Let’s say we’re playing blackjack with just 1 deck. In this case have a 1 in 221 chance of getting an ace as your first card. However casinos play blackjack using more than 1 deck - typically 5 or 6 - so your chances only get even lower. That said, this is a simple side bet to understand, and it can get pretty exciting, so maybe go for it if you enjoy your blackjack with a dash of risk as opposed to chances to build on your bankroll.
Will You Take a Chance on this Side Bet?
Side bets are ultimately optional additions to the core blackjack game - one that that more purist blackjack players say can prove distracting from their main strategy. As such, it’s all about how you approach this classic casino game. Are you playing for the pure excitement of it all or planning to truly beat the dealer at their own game? If you’re going for the former then sure, maybe place some extra cash on the side bet and dream of hitting it lucky, as remote as your chances might be.
That said, the one true winning strategy for blackjack is to play responsibly. Set a bankroll for playing blackjack, and stick to it. Remember that, like all casino games, blackjack is gambling and, as such, a game of chance. This means there are no such things as hot or cold streaks, and it’s never worth chasing your losses. Play to relax and have fun, and not to make a profit! With this in mind you’ll be all set to have a truly great time playing with peace of mind.
