Lucky Ladies: a side bet on twenty
Lucky Ladies is a blackjack side bet that wins when your first two cards total 20. The pay grows if the cards are suited, matched, or a pair of queens of hearts, the top prize.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Any two-card 20 wins, about one hand in nine.
- 02A pair of queens of hearts pays the most, more with a dealer blackjack.
- 03The house edge is often 13% or more, among the highest at the table.
Key numbers
Lucky Ladies in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- Only your first two cards count.
- Hands like A-9 also total 20.
- Paytables vary a lot by casino.
- Do not change your blackjack play for the side bet.
On the felt
Lucky Ladies winners
Any 20
Pays about 4 to 1
Suited 20
Soft 20, same suit: about 9 to 1
Queen of hearts pair
Top tier
Only a total of exactly 20 wins.
Pay table
Common Lucky Ladies paytable
Glance before you bet
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Q♥ pair with dealer blackjack | 1,000 to 1 |
| Q♥ pair | 125 to 1 |
| Matched 20 (same rank and suit) | 19 to 1 |
| Suited 20 | 9 to 1 |
| Any 20 | 4 to 1 |
Many versions exist; read the felt.
How it works
You place the Lucky Ladies bet before the deal. If your first two cards total exactly 20, you win at the paytable. The bet is usually settled once the dealer checks for blackjack, because the top prize depends on it.
Your main hand plays on as normal. A 20 is a strong hand that you should stand on.
Rough chance of each hand (6 decks)
| Hand | About 1 in |
|---|---|
| Any 20 | 9 |
| Suited 20 | 40 |
| Matched 20 | 200 |
| Q♥ pair | 3,200 |
Approximate.
Why the edge is high
A 20 comes often enough to feel lucky, but the 4 to 1 pay on most 20s is well below the true odds of about 8.4 to 1. The rare big pays do not make up the gap.
That is why many paytables carry an edge of 13% to over 20%.
Sequence
If you play it
Step 01
Read the paytable
Tables vary.
Step 02
Bet the minimum
Edge is high.
Step 03
Stand on 20
Never split tens for it.
Step 04
Do not chase the top pay
It is very rare.
Step 05
Set a side-bet budget
Separate from main play.
Never split tens
Some players split a pair of tens hoping for more 20s. Basic strategy says always stand on 20, and the side bet is already settled, so splitting only costs you money.
Treat Lucky Ladies as a lottery ticket on the side.
Floor rules
Lucky Ladies terms
Know before you sit
- Any 20
- Two cards totaling 20.
- Suited 20
- Twenty with both cards one suit.
- Matched 20
- Same rank and same suit.
- Q♥ pair
- Two queens of hearts.
Comparing side bets
21+3 and Perfect Pairs usually carry edges of about 3% to 6%. Lucky Ladies is often two to four times more expensive. If you want a side bet, the cheaper ones last longer.
Your main blackjack bet with basic strategy is still the best value.
Cost per 100 hands at $5 (rough)
| Bet | Expected loss |
|---|---|
| Lucky Ladies at 15% | About $75 |
| 21+3 at 3.5% | About $18 |
| Main bet at 0.5% | About $2.50 |
Rough figures.
How the dealer blackjack tier works
The 1,000 to 1 top prize needs two things at once: your pair of queens of hearts and a dealer blackjack. That is why the bet is often held until the dealer peeks. If the dealer does have blackjack, your main hand of 20 loses, but the side bet pays its biggest prize.
A few casinos replace the top tier with a fixed jackpot or add a smaller pay for any 20 against a dealer blackjack. Read the paytable placard before you bet.
Common mistakes
- Splitting tens
- Always stand on 20.
- Betting big
- Edge is very high.
- Assuming one paytable
- Check the felt.
- Counting A-9 out
- It also totals 20.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
What is Lucky Ladies?
A side bet that your first two cards total exactly 20. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Does A-9 count?
Yes. An ace and a nine make soft 20, which wins. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What is the top prize?
A pair of queens of hearts, often 1,000 to 1 with a dealer blackjack. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
02Odds
How often do I get 20?
About one hand in nine with six decks. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What is the house edge?
Often 13% or more on common paytables. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Is it worse than other side bets?
Usually, yes. It is one of the costliest. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
03Play
Should I split tens for more 20s?
No. Always stand on 20. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Is it settled before I play?
Yes, after the dealer checks for blackjack. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Is it found online?
Some online and live dealer games offer it. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Lucky Ladies Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 15, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER