What is Rummy in Blackjack? Breaking Down the Side Bet

Today’s article is about Rummy in Blackjack. I’ve never seen this side bet in a casino, although there may be regional and home variations that include this bet, which is based on the recreational card game of Rummy.

The bet is separate from the blackjack game, so the player can win or lose their side bet and still play the blackjack game.

Once you have read this guide, you will know what Rummy in Blackjack means, how to bet it, how the bet wins or loses, what the House Advantage is, and how much it pays if it does win. 

What is a Rummy in Blackjack?

The optional side bet is based on the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up card making a ‘meld’, the Rummy name for a defined combination of cards.

Those combinations include a three-of-a-kind, which is three cards of the same rank but different suits, (also called a set in Rummy terminology), for example, the player has the 6 of Diamonds and the 6 of Hearts, and the dealer’s up card is the 6 of Spades. 

The combinations also include a straight, which is three consecutive numbers that may be of differing suits (which may be called a run in the Rummy terminology), for example, the player’s hand is the 8 of Hearts and the 9 of Spades, and the dealer’s up card is the 10 of Clubs.

A meld can also include a flush, which is three cards of the same suit, such as the 3, the 7, and the 10 of Hearts.

How Do I Place the Rummy Side Bet?

To place this side bet, simply put the chips in the designated spot on the layout before the dealer pulls the first card of the hand.

As soon as all the players and the dealer have received their cards, the dealer will act upon the rummy side bets, taking the losing bets and paying the winners, and then continue playing out the regular blackjack hand as normal.

Payouts for Rummy

The pay table may vary depending on where you are playing, but the usual pay table is:

The Hand	The Payout
Fluish	4 to 1
Straight	4 to 1
3-Of-A-Kind	9 to 1

House Edge for the Rummy Bet

The House Edge for the Rummy side bet with the above pay table is slightly more than 4.25%. 

This is at least 4x the typical blackjack House Edge, and may be significantly greater than 4x the HE, based on the blackjack rules in place, and the skill of the player.

Is it Worth Betting on the Rummy Side Bet?

The short answer is always going to be no. 

A side bet on any casino game has one direct function, and one indirect function. 

The direct function is to increase the revenue of the game for the casino.

The indirect function is to increase the annual bonus of the VP of Table Games. Which is great if you’re the VP of Table Games.

Having said that, sometimes you may get a message from the blackjack gods, saying ‘bet the Rummy side bet now’, so you do, and you win!

But failing that, never bet the side bets on any casino game, including this Rummy side bet.

What is the Rummy Blackjack game?

In countries where gambling is strictly controlled, and perhaps even illegal, you may find a game called ‘Rummy Blackjack’. 

The rules are somewhat different to regular blackjack and include:

• The dealer always stands on a Soft 17, which is good for the players,
• Differing values for some cards,
• Aces are always worth 11,
• A blackjack pays even money (not the usual 3 to 2 or 6 to 5), and
• An early surrender option before the dealer checks their hole card for blackjack.  

The rules may also include a bonus payout if you make a three-card poker hand with your first three cards.

Additionally, the rules may allow you to split multiple times including Aces, and then double down on any hand, including after a split. 

Expert's Advice

Rummy and its variants are very well-known and popular games around the world. 

As for the side bet, apart from offering a bit of extra excitement and the possibility of winning quite a lot more than the usual amount on a blackjack game, I would steer well clear of the Rummy side bet.

With a House Advantage of 4%+, it’s not a great bet and is merely designed to separate you from your bankroll a bit faster.

Conclusion

So there you have it – Rummy on Blackjack isn’t a great bet and you should avoid betting it if you see it.

And as always, good luck.