All About Lucky Ladies Blackjack Side Bet: Odds & Payouts
Lucky Ladies is a popular side bet offered at many blackjack tables, adding an extra element to the main game. If you’re new to casino play, side bets like Lucky Ladies might seem interesting but can also feel a little confusing at first.
In this blog post, we’ll explain how the Lucky Ladies side bet works, how to place it, and the different outcomes you can expect. We’ll also take a look at the typical odds and paytables, as well as how often certain hands tend to appear—helping you get a clearer picture of where this side bet fits within a blackjack session.
Keep reading to find out more about what Lucky Ladies has to offer.
What Is the Lucky Ladies Blackjack Side Bet?
The Lucky Ladies side bet is an extra wager that sits alongside a player’s main blackjack hand. It focuses exclusively on a player’s first two cards, without involving the final result of the round itself.
Among the outcomes, one stands out for its higher return, involving a specific card pairing. Other results are structured in levels beneath it, depending on the combination of cards dealt at the beginning of the hand.
Because the side bet is decided based only on the first two cards, the outcome can unfold independently of the rest of the round. The wager is placed separately and is usually smaller in value than the player’s main stake, though that depends on table settings.
If you’re considering including this feature, it’s worth treating it as an additional element that sits outside the core approach of the game. But how exactly is it placed on the table?
How Do You Place a Lucky Ladies Side Bet?
If you choose to try the Lucky Ladies side bet, you’ll place your chips in a designated area marked for side bets at the start of the round, before any cards are dealt. This spot is usually right next to your main betting position. Once the cards are dealt, the dealer will settle the side bet based on your first two cards, and the rest of the round will continue as normal.
It’s worth noting that the limits for this side bet might be different from the main game, and potential payouts can vary depending on the table you’re playing at. Because of this, it’s a good idea to check the paytable—either printed on the felt or shown in digital games—before deciding whether to place the side bet.
After you’re comfortable with how to place the chips, the next step is to get familiar with the kinds of results the side bet rewards, and how frequently they tend to occur.
Lucky Ladies Blackjack Odds Explained
The possible returns depend on whether a player’s first two cards form certain combinations listed on the paytable. At the top is a very specific pairing—two cards of the same value and suit—which is less frequent than the other results and pays significantly more.
More common outcomes fall under broader categories, such as two-card combinations that add up to 20. These are a central part of how this side bet works and tend to appear more regularly, though the exact frequency depends on the number of decks used and any cards set aside before dealing.
For instance, in a single-deck game, a two-card 20 can appear roughly once in every ten hands. This rate remains relatively close in multi-deck formats, with only minor changes.
That rare pairing mentioned earlier—the one that pays most—involves two Queens of Hearts. In a game using six decks, this combination might show up only once in every few thousand rounds. Its rarity is what positions it at the top of the payout structure.
Lucky Ladies Side Bet Payouts
The payout structure is tiered, reflecting how frequently each hand combination is likely to occur. The most difficult result to land—two Queens of Hearts—is typically rewarded with the highest return. In some versions, the potential payout increases even further if another condition is met, such as the dealer’s hand starting a certain way.
Here’s a general idea of what some tables offer:
- Two Queens of Hearts: Often pays from 100 to 1 up to 200 to 1. In a few variants, this climbs even higher if combined with a dealer’s blackjack.
- Matched 20 (same value, and sometimes same suit): Usually pays around 19 to 1 or 25 to 1.
- Suited 20 (same suit, different value): Frequently pays 9 to 1 or 10 to 1.
- Any 20 (two cards that add up to 20 but don’t match the above categories): Often pays 4 to 1.
These figures can shift slightly depending on the house rules, so it’s wise to look at the version you’re playing before deciding whether to place the side bet. Because this bet resolves immediately after the first deal, it remains unaffected by further choices like hitting, standing, or doubling.
Understanding these potential payouts may be helpful, but knowing how frequently the different results land gives even more context.
What Are the Chances of Winning the Lucky Ladies Side Bet?
The majority of hands will not lead to a paying outcome on this side bet. That’s one of the reasons why the payouts are structured to be higher than many standard blackjack results.
Broadly speaking, any two-card 20 might occur in about one in every nine to eleven rounds, depending on how many decks are in use and whether the cards have been shuffled freshly. Only a smaller number of these will fall into the higher-paying categories, like suited or matched 20s.
As for that top-tier result—two Queens of Hearts—it appears very rarely. In six-deck games, it generally turns up around once in every 3,000 hands or so. While it might feel dramatic if it appears, it’s important to recognise how rare it is by design.
If you’re including the side bet in your session, keep this infrequency in mind. Always keep a clear idea of your limits and pace your bankroll accordingly.
Is the Lucky Ladies Side Bet Worth Playing?
Whether or not you choose to include the Lucky Ladies side bet depends on what you want to get out of the game. Adding this side bet introduces the possibility of bigger swings in your results, as the winning outcomes it rewards don’t occur in most rounds. This means that during several hands without a qualifying result, your chips may decrease more quickly than if you focused solely on the main game.
Some players enjoy the side bet as a small extra, finding that it adds a bit more excitement to the start of each hand. Others prefer to concentrate on the main blackjack decisions, where the outcomes tend to be more consistent. If you do decide to play the side bet, it can be helpful to keep your wager modest and view any wins as a bonus rather than something you expect to happen regularly.
As always, it’s important to stay within your personal limits and maintain a responsible approach to the game.
House Edge on Lucky Ladies Blackjack
The house edge refers to how the numbers play out over thousands of hands. With the Lucky Ladies side bet, that figure is usually higher than in the core game of blackjack. The reason lies in how seldom the best-paying combinations show up.
Depending on the version in use and how many decks are in play, the edge for this side bet is often around 24% and can climb higher under certain paytables.
For comparison, the main blackjack game—when played using optimal basic strategy—tends to have a much lower figure of around 0.5-1%. This is part of the reason why some players keep the side bet small or avoid it entirely. Having a rough sense of the maths behind the game can help you approach it with clear expectations and make choices that suit your preferred style of play.
If you choose to explore this side bet, do so as part of a well-balanced session. Take time to check the rules at your table, know the combinations being rewarded, and be mindful of how the payouts relate to their likelihood.
Play Blackjack Online
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We’ve designed our platform with your experience in mind, providing secure payment options, responsive player support, and practical account tools, such as deposit limits and time reminders. These features help you stay informed and manage your play comfortably.
If this sounds interesting to you, feel free to make an account with us at Mr Luck, deposit some funds to play with, and take your time browsing the different tables, comparing paytables, and finding the format that best suits your style.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**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.
