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What Are Blackjack Side Bets?Side bets are bonus bets placed on a round of Blackjack on outcomes beyond whether the player or dealer will win. The majority are staked at the start of the round before the cards have been dealt alongside regular bets and many have fixed odds that usually offer greater payouts than the simple 2:1 rewarded for beating the dealer.Play Blackjack at Pinnacle Casino

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Side bets provide an exciting way to make Blackjack games more interesting whilst offering you a greater number of ways to win. So what are side bets, what side bets are available and are they worth it? Read on to find out.

Blackjack Side Bets Explained

Finding a niche market in betting can often lead to value. This can be anything from specialist knowledge of handball betting to extensive experience in betting on Japanese baseball. Providing you know more than the bookmaker, there is money to be made.  &lt;Bet on soccer at Pinnacle&gt; They also make for interesting and potentially profitable bets, as they can be a little more reliable

Soccer odds

A corner is one of the most inexplicably exciting events in soccer. Only around three per cent of them lead to a goal, but you can guarantee that the attacking team’s fans will roar their approval and encouragement if their team are awarded one. Read on to find out how you can benefit from betting on corners.

Corners betting in soccer: Value in a lesser-known market

Poisson Distribution is a mathematical concept for translating mean averages into a probability for variable outcomes across a distribution. For example, if we know Manchester City average 1.7 goals per game, so by putting the Poisson Distribution formula tells us that this average equates to Manchester City&nbsp;scoring 0 goals 18.3% of the time, 1 goal 31% of the time, 2 goals 26.4% of the time and 3 goals 15% of the time.

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Poisson Distribution: Predict the score in soccer betting

What is Expected Value?The amount a player can expect to win or lose if they were to place a bet on the same odds many times over, calculated through a simple equation multiplying your probability of winning with the amount you could win per bet, and subtracting the probability of losing multiplied by the amount lost per bet.A simple example of Expected Value (EV) put into practice -&nbsp;if you were

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The Expected Value of a bet shows us how much we can expect to win (on average) per bet, and as such is the most valuable calculation a bettor can make when comparing bookmakers' odds. How can you calculate Expected Value in sports betting in order to predict your winnings? Read on to find out.

How to Calculate Expected Value

We have a team of editors and writers at Pinnacle, as well as a collection of external contributors, ranging from university lecturers and renowned authors, to ex-traders and esteemed sports experts. Collectively, the Pinnacle team and external contributors produce the educational content within Betting Resources.

<h3>What is handicap betting?&nbsp;</h3>

Handicap betting (sometimes referred to as ‘the spread’) is simply placing a bet on the outcome of a match that involves a virtual deficit determined by a bookmaker. While the bookmaker is trying to counter perceived bias in the abilities of two opposing teams, Handicap betting can provide informed bettors with more value than the traditional 1X2 in soccer betting.
<div class="articleV2 unordered-list">
<ul>
<li>Learn more about <a style="color: #f50;" id="articleLink" href="/betting-resources/en/betting-strategy/betting-on-soccer-asian-handicap-markets/x9h2kx3zfzndmtef">handicap betting</a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h3>What does previous handicap betting data tell us?</h3>

The below table looks at how well the current Premier League teams performed in the handicap market over the last seven seasons, pinpointing which teams did better than Pinnacle expected and which ones did worse.
<blockquote>Last season was the first time Liverpool have managed to cover the spread 50% of the time in the last seven years.</blockquote>
Analysing traditional markets such as 1X2 simply shows how often a team won, drew or lost and the odds for each result. Analysing a team's performance in terms of handicap betting, however, shows how they&nbsp;performed against the market’s expectation - using Pinnacle’s <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/educational/beating-closing-line-profit-expectation/Y3U2RWVK4HCW76XU">closing odds</a> provides the most accurate assessment of result probabilities as it benefits from <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/betting-strategy/why-information-is-more-important-than-betting-tips">valuable information</a> and the <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/Pinnacle-Puzzle/wisdom-of-the-crowd-in-betting/2QN2WAPK8L735KXB">Wisdom of the Crowd</a>.
If you bet on a team in the handicap market and that bet wins, the team you bet on have “covered the spread.” At a basic level, the teams that cover the spread more than 50% of the time have beaten the bookmakers in handicap betting.
<div class="table-holder-article-content">
<div class="table-modal">
<div class="table-modal-head">
<div class="table-modal-head-inner">
<h2>Premier League handicap performance 2010/11-2016/17</h2>
</div>
</div>
<div class="table-modal-content">
<div class="article-table-content">
<table class=" article-table">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Team
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
2010/11
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
2011/12
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
2012/13
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
2013/14
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
2014/15
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
2015/16
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
2016/17
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Average
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Arsenal
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
57.90%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
45.50%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Bournemouth AFC*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
34.20%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
43.40%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Brighton and Hove Albion*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Burnley*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
43.00%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Chelsea
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
34.20%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
28.90%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
57.90%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
28.90%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
54.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
43.40%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Crystal Palace*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
57.90%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
49.40%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Everton
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
45.10%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Huddersfield Town*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Leicester City*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
71.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Liverpool
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
31.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
40.60%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Newcastle United*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
60.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
31.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Manchester City
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
57.90%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
34.20%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
55.30%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
36.80%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
45.50%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Manchester United
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.00%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Southampton*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
48.40%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Stoke City
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
55.30%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
63.20%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
55.30%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
54.00%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Swansea City*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
39.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
45.90%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
46.30%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Tottenham Hotspur
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
55.30%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
53.80%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.90%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
Watford*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
41.00%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.90%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
W.B.A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
55.30%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
60.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
West Ham United*
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
44.70%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
47.40%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
52.60%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
60.50%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
42.10%
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
50.00%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
*Teams that haven't played in the last seven consecutive Premier League seasons.
<h3>Stoke City - Consistently outperforming expectation</h3>

Since winning promotion to the Premier League, Stoke City have finished no lower than 14th. Under Tony Pulis, The Potters were labelled as defensive and hard to beat, but since Mark Hughes took over in 2013 their style of play has dramatically changed.
<blockquote>Stoke City are the only side to cover the spread 50% or more over the course of the season in each of the last seven campaigns.</blockquote>
The change of manager may have brought about their highest percentage of covering the spread (63.2% in the 2013/14 season), but from 2010/11 onwards they have been remarkably consistent (averaging 54%). Stoke City are the only side to cover the spread 50% or more over the course of the season in each of the last seven campaigns.
If this trend continues, betting on Stoke City’s handicap odds (e.g. Stoke City +1 if they are playing against a stronger team or Stoke City 0 if they are playing against a side of similar perceived ability) throughout the season can lead to increased winnings; even if they fail to win those matches or only win by a narrow margin.
<div class="articleV2 unordered-list">
<ul>
<li>View <a style="color: #f50;" id="oddsLink" href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/odds/match/soccer/england/england-premier-league?sport=True">Stoke City's latest handicap odds</a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h3>Liverpool - Reputation outweighing performance</h3>

Liverpool is a prime example of a club’s reputation affecting their handicap odds. Since last winning the league in 1990 they have failed to live up to expectations. Liverpool’s 40.60% average of covering the spread in the last seven seasons is by far the lowest of any club who has been in the division throughout the same period.
In fact, last season was the first time Liverpool have managed to cover the spread 50% of the time in the last seven years. What this means for bettors is that betting on Liverpool’s opponents to cover the spread throughout the season could prove to be more profitable than betting on Liverpool at short 1X2 odds.

<h3>Tottenham Hotspur - Reliable but predictable</h3>

Tottenham Hotspur is one team that, over the past seven seasons, has performed almost exactly as Pinnacle expected. Despite a dip in 2010/11 (42.10%) they have covered the spread - on average - 50.90% of the time.
Although this average might not provide a handicap betting opportunity, bettors can use Tottenham’s consistency and reliability as a predictive tool for future performance - if Spurs find themselves on a run of failing to cover the spread, their previous record suggests a positive run will follow.
<div class="articleV2 unordered-list">
<ul>
<li><a style="color: #f50;" id="signupLink" href="https://www.pinnacle.com/signup/desktop/en-GB?ico=menuopen#signup_homepage">Join Pinnacle</a> and get the best handicap odds online.</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h3>Everton - Potential value in steady improvement</h3>

One team that has consistently improved in their ability to cover the spread since 2011/12 is Everton. The Toffees average for covering the spread hasn’t fallen since David Moyes’ final season in charge.
<blockquote>Analysing a team's performance in terms of handicap betting shows how they performed against the market’s expectation.</blockquote>
Although Everton unperformed in terms of the betting market’s expectation up until 2015/16, they averaged 50% in that year and 52.60% last year (an overall average of 45.10% in the last seven seasons).
The progression might be minimal in terms of how often they cover the spread but if Everton continue to improve and outperform market expectation, there could be value in betting on their handicap odds in the 2017/18 Premier League season.
Use Pinnacle's <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-resources/betting-tools/premier-league-handicap-table">Handicap Table</a> to keep up-to-date with Premier League teams' performance in the handicap betting market this season.

How Premier League teams perform in handicap betting

Find out why informed bettors will use a team's performance in Pinnacle's handicap betting as part of a predictive model. This article highlights teams that consistently outperform market expectation.

Article

Premier League handicap betting analysis

With an increasing number of bettors turning away from the 1X2 soccer markets and towards Handicap betting to get better odds, knowing how to profit from handicap betting can get you ahead of the curve. This article explains how to use past performance in Pinnacle's handicap betting market to your advantage in Premier League betting.