Understanding Hi Lo 13 Blackjack Online

A large number of online blackjack variants offer side bets. The advantage of these bets is that they give players some change from the standard land casino based blackjack games. The disadvantage is that the side bets usually have a high house edge. One such game is Hi Lo 13 European Blackjack Gold Series which can be played at Microgaming online casinos like Spin Palace, Casino Mate and Gaming Club.

The Hi Lo side bets are optional. But you have to play the main game if you want to place any side bet. There are three side bets in Hi Lo 13. These are decided by the first two cards dealt to the player. In the Lo bet you play for the total of these cards being less than 13. In the Hi bet you play for the total being more than 13. In the 13 bet you play for the total being exactly 13. The game allows you to bet on all three options together. Since only one of them can win, it is bad strategy to bet on more than one of them at a time. There are some other features of the Hi Lo side bets that you should know. You can win a side bet even if you lose the main game. The minimum table limit for each side bet is AU$1 and the maximum is AU$25.

There is a minor difference in the valuation of the cards for the side bets. All cards are valued in the normal blackjack manner except the ace. Aces are always valued at 1 point for the side bet. You can have a situation when the ace is valued as 11 in the main game and 1 for the side bet. For example if you are dealt a blackjack, the ace will be 11 in the main game. But for the side bet the ace will be 1 and your total will be 11. The Hi and Lo bets pay out at even money. The Hi bet has a house edge of about 6.5% and the Lo bet has a house edge of about 8%. It is not worthwhile to wager with such a high house edge for an even money payout. The 13 bet pays out at 10 to 1 and has a house edge of about 10%. Even this bet is not recommended on a staple basis, but you can try it out off and on.