# In Between blackjack side bet: how spreads and payouts work

> Learn how the In Between blackjack side bet works: three cards, spreads, payouts and a 7.76% two-deck house edge when equal-rank matches lose.

- Source: https://toolsgambling.com/blog/blackjack-in-between-side-bet
- Author: Evgeniy Volkov (ToolsGambling)
- Published: 2026-10-30
- Updated: 2026-10-30
- Cite as: "In Between Blackjack Side Bet: Rules, Payouts and House Edge", ToolsGambling, https://toolsgambling.com/blog/blackjack-in-between-side-bet

In Between is a blackjack side bet that wins when the dealer's upcard falls strictly between your two first cards by rank. By our calculation at two decks and the Wizard of Odds paytable, the house edge is 7.76%, assuming equal-rank matches lose unless they form a triple match.

The posted table at your casino determines which calculation applies. The treatment of equal ranks is the biggest rule sensitivity here: replacing a loss with a push changes the sign of the two-deck result. A different payout for the narrowest winning spread also changes the house edge.

**Key takeaways**

- In Between uses your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard; later cards in the main blackjack hand do not determine the side bet.
- The spread counts ranks strictly between your cards. With 4 and 7, only a dealer upcard of 5 or 6 falls inside it.
- The Wizard of Odds paytable pays 30 to 1 for a triple match, then 10, 6, 4 or 1 to 1 for a winning spread, depending on its size.
- The 7.76% two-deck house edge assumes equal-rank matches lose without a triple match. A favourable individual hand does not make the whole side bet favourable.

## Which three cards take part

In Between uses your two initial cards and the dealer’s upcard. Your cards set the boundaries; the dealer’s upcard is checked against them.

The order in which you receive your cards does not matter. Identify the lower and higher ranks, then check whether the dealer’s rank sits strictly inside that range. Suits do not affect this comparison: the question is where each card falls in rank order, not whether the cards share a suit.

Rank is also different from blackjack point value. In our calculation the ace is the highest rank; this is an assumption, check the table rules. Do not replace the rank comparison with the point total you would use to play the main hand.

There is a separate winning outcome for three of a kind. If both player cards and the dealer’s upcard have the same rank, the hand qualifies for the triple-match payout. It does not need an open spread because the paytable rewards that combination separately.

The main hand does not change because of the side bet’s result. Use a [basic strategy chart](https://toolsgambling.com/casino/blackjack-strategy) to assess your blackjack decisions, rather than letting a wide spread or a side-bet win influence how you play the main hand. These are separate wagers with separate settlement rules.

## How the spread is counted

The spread is the number of ranks strictly between your two initial cards, excluding both endpoints. It is not the numerical distance between the cards and does not include either player card.

For 4 and 7, the ranks inside the boundaries are 5 and 6. That makes a two-card spread. A dealer upcard of 4 or 7 is an endpoint match, not a card inside the spread.

Use this sequence to read a hand:

- Put the player cards in rank order.
- List the ranks between them.
- Exclude the player cards themselves.
- Find the payout for that spread.
- Check triple matches and equal-rank matches separately.

![Educational diagram: expected value by spread for hand 4 and X at two decks; for hand 4 and 7, 16 of 102 cards win](https://toolsgambling.com/media/article/2026/10/e9f7216eef39c9e8513c2fe3bb599476.webp)

*Educational calculation by ToolsGambling: two decks, hand 4 and 7, 16 of 102 cards pay 6 to 1.*

The following examples use two decks and the Wizard of Odds paytable:

| Player cards | Spread | Winning cards | Payout | Expected value per unit staked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 and 6 | 1 rank | 8 of 102 | 10 to 1 | −0.137 |
| 4 and 7 | 2 ranks | 16 of 102 | 6 to 1 | +0.098 |
| 4 and 8 | 3 ranks | 24 of 102 | 4 to 1 | +0.176 |
| 4 and 9 | 4 ranks | 32 of 102 | 1 to 1 | −0.373 |
| 4 and Q | 7 ranks | 56 of 102 | 1 to 1 | +0.098 |
| 4 and 5 | Consecutive ranks | None | Loss | −1 |

These are conditional calculations for the listed player cards, assuming two decks, these payouts and no other known cards. The denominator of 102 accounts for the two player cards already being known. Expected values are rounded to the precision shown; they describe an average net result per unit staked, not the outcome of the next hand.

A wider spread does not necessarily produce a better expected value. The hand 4 and 9 has more winning cards than 4 and 8, but its payout falls from 4 to 1 to 1 to 1. The increased chance of a hit does not compensate for that payout reduction.

The narrower examples show the same trade-off from the other direction. A payout of 10 to 1 looks attractive, but 4 and 6 has relatively few winning cards. Neither the payout nor the number of winning cards is enough on its own; both determine the result.

## Paytable

The Wizard of Odds In Between paytable pays 30 to 1 for a triple match and 10, 6, 4 or 1 to 1 for a dealer upcard inside the spread. The [Wizard of Odds rules and paytable](https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/side-bets/in-between/) are the source for the paytable used here.

| Outcome | Payout |
|---|---|
| Triple match: all three cards have the same rank | 30 to 1 |
| Dealer upcard inside a one-card spread | 10 to 1 |
| Dealer upcard inside a two-card spread | 6 to 1 |
| Dealer upcard inside a three-card spread | 4 to 1 |
| Dealer upcard inside any wider spread | 1 to 1 |
| Consecutive player ranks | Loss |
| Player pair without a triple match | Loss |
| Dealer upcard matches a boundary without a triple match | Loss |
| Dealer upcard falls outside the spread | Loss |

Wizard of Odds does not describe equal ranks in words; its return table matches our calculation only when an equal-rank match loses.

A payout of 6 to 1 means six units of net winnings for each unit on the winning bet, with the original stake returned separately. It is a payout ratio, not a statement of the probability of winning.

If a table pays 12 to 1 instead of 10 to 1 for a one-card spread, the two-deck house edge is 5.70% (our calculation, other rules unchanged).

The triple match has the largest payout, but its probability at two decks is only 0.3998%. Under the standard rules, the overall loss probability is 72.80%. Those figures, from our calculations checked against Wizard of Odds, show why the top payout should not be read in isolation.

Read the settlement conditions as well as the winning rows. A short display may emphasise the largest payouts while leaving equal-rank matches to a separate rules panel. Two tables with identical headline payouts can therefore have different expected results.

## House edge by deck count

With the same paytable and settlement rules, In Between’s house edge decreases as the number of decks increases. The following ToolsGambling calculations use the Wizard of Odds payouts and treat equal-rank matches as losses unless they form a triple match.

| Decks | House edge |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10.46% |
| 2 | 7.76% |
| 4 | 6.04% |
| 6 | 5.42% |
| 8 | 5.10% |

*ToolsGambling calculation dated 29 October 2026, using the Wizard of Odds paytable. Results were checked against Wizard of Odds within 0.003 percentage points.*

Wizard of Odds’ summary rounds differently, showing 10.50%, 7.80%, 6.00%, 5.40% and 5.10%, respectively. That difference in displayed precision should not be mistaken for a change in the rules.

House edge expresses the expected loss as a proportion of the amount staked. At 7.76%, the [house edge calculator](https://toolsgambling.com/casino/house-edge-calculator) can translate that percentage into an expected monetary loss for your chosen stake. It does not mean each round takes a fixed fraction of your bet: an individual wager wins, loses or pushes according to the table’s rules.

To use the calculator for this figure, enter 7.76 in **“Enter a custom house edge”**, then enter your stake in **“Bet Size per Round”**. These fields describe the side bet overall, so the stake should be the amount placed on In Between, not a combined figure that includes the main blackjack wager.

The calculator converts an entered edge into expected loss. It does not identify the spread, count winning cards or calculate the expected value of a specific In Between hand. Those calculations need the hand’s own probabilities and payout.

More decks reduce the house edge in this table, but every listed value remains positive for the casino. Deck count tells you which row applies; it does not override a payout or matching rule that differs from the assumptions.

## Example: hand 4 and 7

With two decks, a hand of 4 and 7 has 16 winning cards among 102 remaining cards and an expected value of +0.098 per unit staked. This result applies only to that hand under the 6-to-1 payout and the standard loss rules.

The winning ranks are 5 and 6. A dealer upcard of either rank falls strictly between 4 and 7. Any other rank fails the inside-spread test, including an upcard matching either boundary.

The calculation assumes two decks, the player cards 4 and 7 already known, and no other known cards. The winning probability is 15.7% when rounded as shown. To obtain expected value, weight the net winning payout by the chance of winning, then subtract the stake lost on the remaining outcomes; the result rounds to +0.098 per unit.

A positive expected value does not mean a win is the most likely outcome. Here, losing remains more common than winning, but a winning hand pays enough to make the conditional average positive. The average is not an amount that the next hand is expected to deliver in practice.

For comparison, the same player ranks with one deck have 8 winning cards among 50, a 16% winning probability and an expected value of +0.12 per unit. The one-deck and two-deck figures are not interchangeable: the pool of remaining cards is different.

There is no contradiction between this example and the side bet’s overall house edge. The example starts with a particular pair of player ranks already specified. The overall calculation includes all possible starting hands, including pairs, consecutive ranks and spreads with less favourable combinations of probability and payout.

Nor does the calculation establish that you can wait for these cards before placing the wager. No such betting option follows from the arithmetic. The example explains a conditional result, not a method for selecting favourable hands after they appear.

## Where the bet loses: pairs, neighbours and equal ranks

Under the standard rules, In Between loses on consecutive player ranks, a player pair without a triple match, and a dealer upcard matching a boundary without a triple match. An upcard outside the spread also loses.

Consecutive ranks leave no room for an inside card. Between 4 and 5 there are no ranks at all, so the side bet loses. Counting the distance between the numbers rather than the ranks inside them creates an imaginary winning possibility.

A player pair requires a separate triple-match check. If the dealer’s upcard has a different rank, there is no spread to hit and the bet loses. If all three cards share a rank, the triple-match payout applies instead.

For different player ranks, an equal dealer rank is still not inside the boundaries. With 4 and 7, an upcard of 4 or 7 does not satisfy the word “strictly” in the definition.

A push returns the stake rather than paying winnings. If the casino pushes when the dealer’s upcard matches a player card, instead of applying the standard loss rule, our two-deck calculation becomes a 5.03% player edge. That rule change reverses the sign, so read the posted table rather than assuming how a match will be settled.

A pair without a triple match still loses even if the casino pushes on equal-rank matches; the 5.03% figure applies only when an upcard equal to one of two different player ranks is pushed.

A display that lists only winning combinations may not answer this question. The absence of a loss row does not establish a push; the full settlement rules need to say what happens.

## How to check a casino's table

Check three things before applying a published In Between figure: the deck count, the payout for each spread and the treatment of matching ranks. Together, they establish whether this guide’s calculation fits the table.

**How many decks are used?** Find the deck count in the table rules and match it to the appropriate house-edge row. Do not use a two-deck result simply because the side bet has the same name.

**What does each spread pay?** Compare the payouts for one, two and three ranks between the cards, then the payout for wider spreads. Check the triple-match row separately. A familiar top payout does not guarantee that the rest of the table matches.

**What happens on a match?** Establish whether an upcard equal to a player card loses or pushes. Also check how the triple match is described so that an ordinary endpoint match is not confused with three of a kind.

The practical order is rules first, calculation second. Starting with a familiar percentage and assuming the casino must use the corresponding rules gives a precise-looking answer without a verified basis.

If a rule is unclear, leave the calculation unresolved until you can confirm it. A name, promotional description or partial payout display cannot supply a missing settlement condition.

The same approach applies to other card-based side bets: the [Buster Blackjack payouts](https://toolsgambling.com/blog/buster-blackjack-side-bet-payouts) guide is another example of reading the full payout structure. Its rules do not substitute for In Between’s, even when both are offered alongside blackjack.

## Common mistakes

The main mistake is judging In Between by a familiar side-bet name or a large payout instead of checking the cards, spread and complete settlement rules.

**Confusing it with [21+3](https://toolsgambling.com/blog/21-plus-3-blackjack-side-bet).** Do not assume another three-card side bet uses the same winning test. For In Between, start with the strict rank interval between the player cards and check the triple match separately.

**Importing the rules of [Match the Dealer](https://toolsgambling.com/blog/match-the-dealer-blackjack-side-bet).** A dealer upcard matching a player card is not automatically a win in In Between. An endpoint match and a card inside the spread are different outcomes.

**Assuming a one-card spread pays 10 to 1 without checking.** That is the Wizard of Odds payout used here, not a guarantee about every casino’s table. The narrowest spread is a particularly easy row to overlook when the other payouts look familiar.

**Treating more winning cards as an unconditional improvement.** A wider spread may come with a lower payout. Compare the chance of winning and the net payout together, rather than ranking hands by spread width alone.

**Applying a favourable hand to the whole side bet.** The positive result for 4 and 7 is conditional on those player cards. It does not remove the less favourable hands from the overall calculation.

**Using blackjack totals instead of ranks.** The main hand’s point total does not identify the spread. In Between asks where the upcard sits relative to two rank boundaries, not whether the player has a strong blackjack total.

## Conclusion

By our calculation, In Between has a 7.76% house edge at two decks with the Wizard of Odds paytable and equal-rank matches losing unless they form a triple match. Under these assumptions, the side bet has a negative expected value for the player overall.

To assess a table, identify the three relevant cards, count only the ranks strictly between the player cards and read the matching payout. Then verify the deck count and equal-rank rule before applying a published percentage.

The hand 4 and 7 illustrates the difference between a favourable conditional result and the overall cost of a wager. Its positive expected value is an explanation of that hand’s mathematics, not a promise of profit from the side bet.

## FAQ

### Can you explain how the In Between blackjack side bet works?

The side bet wins when the dealer’s upcard falls strictly between your first two cards by rank. Three cards of the same rank form a separate winning outcome, a triple match paying 30 to 1.

### What is the house edge for In Between with two decks?

ToolsGambling calculates 7.76% with the Wizard of Odds paytable and equal-rank matches losing unless they form a triple match. Paying 12 to 1 for a one-card spread changes the figure to 5.70%; pushing on equal-rank matches makes the edge a 5.03% player edge.

### Why does a hand of 4 and 7 have a positive expected value in In Between?

With two decks, 16 of the 102 remaining cards win at a payout of 6 to 1. The expected value is +0.098 per unit staked, but that result applies only to this hand, not to the side bet overall.

### Can I calculate a specific In Between hand with the ToolsGambling calculator?

The house edge calculator converts the entered house edge and bet size per round into an expected loss. It does not calculate the expected value of a specific In Between hand.