Perfect Pairs

[AussiePlayer]

I'm wondering if there is any mathematical advantage to be gained at all? I can't see one anywhere, but the people who play perfect pairs also play perfect BS, leading me to believe they at least understand probability/odds.

If they understand enough about probability and odds to go to all the trouble of learning BS, why are they playing what seems like a sucker bet?

Pays on any pairs dealt in your first 2 cards:

Perfect Pairs 25:1
Colored Pairs 12:1
Mixed Pairs 6:1

 

[Jonny]

For that pay table the HE is as follows:

4 Decks: 10%
6 Decks: 6%
8 Decks: 4%

From http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack/appendix8.html#perpairs

All of my local casinos have this side bet on their tables and if you search this forum there are a number of threads discussing it. From reading them I got the impression that it is theoretically beatable through card counting but would require specialised counts and team work.

 

[moo321]

Hmm, maybe count reds vs. blacks?

 

[UK-21]

Perfect pairs is a very common side bet on UK BJ tables. The payouts are better (perfect pairs pays 30-1). But if you look up the HE on this side bet it's pretty horrendous.

I did see a lady once casually toss a £5 chip into the box once and hit a perfect pair - got paid out £150 plus her stake. After that just about everyone played the side bet, and giggled when I hit a coloured paid not having done so shortly afterwards - not taking advantage of the hot table you see.

Overall it's a mugs bet. You could develop a counting system based on suits, colours and values (probably need three back counters working with you) but I would think the incidences of remaining cards being such as to cancel out the HE would be few and far between. As where I play the PP bet is limited to a £5 max, I can't see it would ever pay.

It you want to play BJ with an advantage I think you'll need to change continents.