Spanish Blackjack, also known as Spanish 21, is among the casino games with the lowest house edge a player can possibly hope for. This exciting variant of the classic casino-banked game has made somewhat of a comeback in recent years. It is presently available at a huge number of online casinos, which gives players the opportunity to beat the dealer from the comfort of their surroundings, be it at home or on the go.

Spanish 21

Another big bonus is the ability to double down after any number of cards dealt in Spanish 21. You can only double down after your first two cards in blackjack – for example, when you are dealt 8 and 3 to. Spanish 21 is a blackjack variant owned by Masque Publishing Inc., a gaming publishing company based in Colorado. Unlicensed, but equivalent, versions may be called Spanish blackjack. Unlicensed, but.

• Most Spanish 21 rules are the same from casino to casino. The only big rule.
• Spanish Blackjack, also known as Spanish 21, is among the casino games with the lowest house edge a player can possibly hope for. This exciting variant of the classic casino-banked game has made.

How To Play Spanish Blackjack

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The game plays under slightly different rules, some of which may confuse you if you lack sufficient experience with blackjack. The optimal strategy is also different for this blackjack variation because certain cards have been removed from play.

In addition, Spanish Blackjack supports a cornucopia of bonus payouts awarded when you form certain special hands that total 21. You have never played Spanish Blackjack? If so, stick with us for further information on this game’s rules, house edge, payouts, and strategy.

The Rules of Spanish Blackjack

Those of you who are accustomed to playing standard blackjack may be puzzled by the rule discrepancies in Spanish 21. This game is played with six or eight decks containing 48 cards each. The 10s are removed but the court cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) remain in play. The removal of the 10s works to the players’ disadvantage but the variant compensates with very liberal rules.

The dealer must hit soft 17 in most versions of the game although it is possible to find Spanish Blackjack tables where the S17 rule applies. When the dealer and the player both have blackjacks, the player’s blackjack wins at the standard payout ratio of 3 to 2. The same applies when the player obtains a multi-card hand whose total adds up to 21. This is an automatic winner regardless of what hand total the dealer is holding (as long as it is not a blackjack).

The Rules of Spanish Blackjack Additional TipsThe dealer peeks for naturals when their upcard is an Ace or has a value of ten. Players can exercise the option of late surrender against any dealer upcard. When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, players can buy insurance which pays at the standard odds of 2 to 1.

The great thing about this blackjack variation is that it gives players unprecedented freedom when it comes to doubling down and splitting pairs. Here you can double down on any number of cards you like and have the option to surrender your hand after doubling (a rule known as the “double-down rescue). Re-doubling once is also a possibility.

If you think these rules are liberal, wait till you hear this – splitting is allowed three times so that each player forms up to four separate hands. You can split any pair you want, including unlike ten-value cards like J-Q, K-J, and K-Q, for instance. Doubling down after splitting a pair is also possible and so is re-splitting Aces. Not only are you allowed to hit split Aces but you can also double down on them after splitting, which is a rarity in the standard game of blackjack.

The Bonus Payouts in Spanish Blackjack

As we already told you, Spanish Blackjack offers the usual payouts for insurance (2 to 1) and blackjacks (3 to 2). Most of the other non-busted hands return even money but there are extra payouts for specific totals of 21 depending on the number and the type of cards they consist of.

If you succeed in drawing five cards for a total of 21, you earn a payout of 3 to 2 (1.5x your original stake). A hand that consists of six cards whose total is 21 awards a higher payout of 2 to 1. You can earn even more if you are lucky enough to draw seven or more cards for a total of 21, in which case you collect a payout of 3 to 1.

The Bonus Payouts in Spanish Blackjack Additional TipsAn off-suit hand that contains 6-8-7 or 7-7-7 for a total of 21 pays out 3 to 2 but if the cards are suited, the payout ratio increases to 2 to 1. When all cards in your 6-8-7 or 7-7-7 are spades, the payout jumps to 3 to 1. The highest payout of 50 to 1 is awarded for three suited 7s against a dealer upcard of 7. Keep in mind these bonus payouts are not honored if you have doubled down on your hand or split a pair.

Some online variants of the game give players the chance to experiment with the so-called “Match the Dealer” side bets. This is an option in Betsoft’s online take on the game that goes under the name of Pirate 21 Blackjack. When the rank of either of your first two cards coincides with the rank of the dealer’s upcard, the side bet wins. The payout depends on whether or not the cards are suited. Off-suit winning match bets pay 4 to 1. When the cards are suited, the payout increases to 9 to 1.

The House Edge of Spanish Blackjack

The house edge of this blackjack variation is affected by several factors starting with the removal of the 10s from the decks. The absence of these strong cards favors the dealer but the negative effect it has on the players’ odds is offset by the liberal doubling and splitting rules.

The number of decks in play also affects the house edge of the game, which slightly increases when you play against eight decks instead of six. The advantage the casino holds here is comparable to that of standard blackjack variations with decent rules. Microgaming’s online version of Spanish Blackjack, for example, yields a house edge of around 0.49%.

It is important to mention that the above-specified edge is correct only when the player uses the optimal Spanish Blackjack strategy. The cornucopia of extra payouts and loose doubling/splitting rules increase the game’s variance as well, rendering it unsuitable for players with small bankrolls.

Strategy for Spanish Blackjack

Spanish Blackjack is a fun game to play but if you insist on protecting your bankroll, you should stick to the optimal strategy that corresponds to this blackjack variation. And just to warn you in advance, it is far more complex than the strategy for regular blackjack because of the liberal doubling and splitting conditions.

The main trouble here is that some of your standing and doubling decisions are affected by the number of cards you hold in your hand. This makes memorizing the correct plays more difficult so you might have to consult with the chart the first few hundred hands before the optimal strategy sinks in.

Despite this, learning the strategy is well-worth your time and efforts because it leads to a house-edge reduction in the long term. Here are several key strategy plays to get you started. It should be noted these are accurate for Spanish Blackjack variants where the dealer hits soft 17.

• Hit all hard totals of 4 through 8 regardless of the dealer’s exposed card
• Hit all soft totals of 12 through 14 against any dealer upcard
• Stand on all hard totals of 18 and above
• Always split paired Aces
• Split pairs of 8s against dealer upcards 2 through 10 and surrender against an Ace
• Never split pairs of 4s, 5s, and 10s
• Double down on a 9 against a dealer’s 6
• Suited 7s should be hit instead of split against a dealer 7

As previously explained, certain doubling and standing decisions are affected by the number of cards in your hand. Here is how you should approach hand totals of 11:

• Double against a dealer’s ten-value card and Ace unless your 11 consists of three or more cards (if so you hit)
• Double against a dealer’s 2, 7, 8, and 9 unless your 11 consists of four or more cards (otherwise hit)
• Double against dealer upcards 3 through 6 unless your 11 consists of five cards, if so you hit

Another tricky hand is hard 16 as you again have to take into account the number of cards it consists of. Here is how you play it correctly in Spanish Blackjack:

• Surrender hard 16 against a dealer’s Ace
• Hit hard 16 against dealers with 7 through 10
• Stand on hard 16 against dealers showing a 6 or a 5
• Hit six-card hard 16 against dealer upcards 2 through 4, otherwise stand

Strategy for Spanish Blackjack Additional TipsThese are only some of the optimal plays for this enticing variation of 21. Surely you can see that Spanish Blackjack is not a game you can afford to play intuitively. There are way too many non-intuitive situations you can find yourself in and this is rather overwhelming to novice players. If you are not familiar with the game but are interested in playing it, we suggest you start by practicing on the web.

Many Microgaming and Betsoft-powered casinos provide players with the opportunity to bet with demo credits in fun mode. Take advantage of this option so you can play at your own pace and consult with the strategy chart when necessary until you gradually take in all the correct moves.

Spanish 21, a popular variant of blackjack, is played at casinos around the world.

While it’s new compared to the historic table game it’s based on, it has some intriguing rule changes that affect the house odds of the game.

1 – What Are the Rules of Spanish 21?

Spanish 21 is still played on the same casino tables as the game it’s based on, but it uses a custom layout and a different ruleset.

The recreation is played with six or eight decks, which are drawn from a shoe. The dealer will receive a hole card in Spanish 21. A hole card is a card that’s dealt face down, meaning neither the dealer nor player can see the card’s value.

If a player gets a blackjack, consisting of one ace and one card with a value of 10, then they automatically win the game and receive a 3:2 payout, regardless of whether the dealer has blackjack.

Insurance and late surrenders are available in Spanish 21.

Even though there are four fewer 10-value cards in Spanish 21 than in blackjack, insurance is still paid out at 2:1. House edge on insurance in Spanish 21 is 24.7%, making the house edge one of the worst of casino wagers.

Late surrender is when the player surrenders after seeing the dealer’s hand but still has the chance to get half of their stake back after waiving the right to play on.

The dealer is able to peek under the hole card after his original two cards are dealt if the face-up card is an ace. If the dealer peeks and finds out that he has blackjack, all players automatically lose unless one of them has blackjack.

Anytime the player ends up with blackjack, they automatically win, regardless of whether or not the dealer has blackjack. Players will get paid out differently depending on how many cards they draw before hitting 21. A five-card 21 pays out 3:2, a six-card 21 pays out 2:1, and a 21 with seven or more cards pays out 3:1.

2 – How’s It Different From Blackjack?

Spanish 21 wasn’t introduced until 1995, so the blackjack variant has far less history than the game it’s based on. Blackjack’s predecessor is 21. A short story by Miguel de Cervantes indicates 21 has been played since the 17^th century or earlier in Spain.

The history of blackjack began in Spain but spread to other European countries by the 18^th century. In Britain, there’s evidence of the game dating back to the 1770s. After making its round through Europe, 21 finally came to America sometime in the 19^th century. 21 was given its American name of blackjack by gold prospectors.

Prospectors called one of the minerals that indicated a gold or silver deposit “blackjack.” Top bonuses in casinos playing the game at the time were then named after the mineral. Eventually, the game itself was named blackjack.

A big rule change that gives a big boost to the player’s chances has to do with blackjacks. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the dealer drawing a blackjack on the same turn you do, then this rule will put your mind at ease.

In Spanish 21, the player’s blackjack always beats the dealer’s blackjack. Anytime you draw a blackjack in the game, you’ll receive a 3:2 payout, regardless of the dealer’s hand.

Late surrender is another key difference between Spanish 21 and other blackjack variants.

If the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, you can surrender the game and get half your stake back. If you feel like the deck’s not in your favor, late surrender gives you a chance to minimize risk.

Doubling down also works differently in Spanish 21 than it does in blackjack. Blackjack only allows you to double down on the original two cards dealt, meaning you can only double your wager based on the first two cards you’re dealt.

Spanish 21 lets you double down on any cards you’re dealt in the game. Anytime you double down, you’ll receive another card. You can repeat this process twice, multiplying your bet by a maximum factor of eight, giving you the chance to receive a huge payout.

The lax double down rules of Spanish 21 work in conjunction with its laid-back late surrender rules. Even though doubling down increases the risk of your wager significantly, you can always late surrender and get half your stake back.

3 – Does Spanish 21 Have a House Edge?

The house edge for Spanish 21 will vary based on the dealer’s instructions for hitting or standing when their hand is a soft or hard 17.

Soft 17 is when the dealer’s hand has a sum of 17 and includes an ace.

For example, if the dealer’s hand had a six and an ace, it would be a soft 17. Soft 17 means the dealer could draw a 10 and the hand wouldn’t bust. The ace’s value would change to one and the dealer would have 18 in their hand.

Hard 17 is when the dealer’s hand doesn’t have an ace but has a value of 17.

For example, the dealer may have a six, another six, and a five. Hard 17 has the same rules at casinos but dealers may hit or stand on soft 17, depending on the casino’s rules.

The house edge will also change depending on whether or not you choose to double throughout the game.

With redoubling, the house edge will change to .42% for six decks and .45% for eight decks. The “Match the Dealer” side bet will have different house edges depending on how many decks are in play. The more decks that are in play, the lower the house edge will be for the side bet.

With two decks in play, the house edge is at 3.63% and suited matches have odds of 19:1. However, with eight decks in play, the house edge is at 2.99% and suited matches have odds of 12:1.

4 – What Side Bets Does Spanish 21 Offer?

A popular side bet on Spanish 21 is the super bonus. If a player has a 7-7-7 hand against a dealer seven, they’ll get the super bonus. The super bonus is $1000 on bets under $25 and $5000 on bets over $25. Splitting or doubling down will negate the super bonus.

All players at the table will receive a $50 envy bonus if another player at the table wins a super bonus. Another common side bet offered on this table game is Match the Dealer.

If the rank of one or both of your original two cards matches the rank of the dealer’s face-up card, you can win this side bet. This is a pretty simple side bet to understand, but it can increase the fun of your hand and lets you try to predict which face-up card the dealer will give himself.

You can also make a second Match the Dealer side bet at some casinos. The second bet works the same as the first one, except you’re trying to match the dealer’s hole card this time.

5 – Where Can I Play Spanish 21?

Many casinos throughout the country offer this exciting blackjack variant. Rivers Casino Des Plaines, located in Des Plaines, IL, has Spanish 21 available to play in addition to other table games like baccarat, craps, and roulette.

The casino offers insurance at their Spanish 21 table letting players bet up to half the original bet on any hand. While you can double down on your hand at the casino, bonuses will not be paid out after you’ve doubled down on a hand.

Pair splitting is also available here. Players can split cards of equal value to create up to four hands. The casino also allows hitting and doubling of split hands.

Unlike doubled hands, bonuses can be paid on split hands, however, you will be ineligible for a super bonus after splitting your hand there.

Hawks Prairie Casino, located in Lacey, WA, also offers Spanish 21. House rules at this casino forbid the players from touching their cards at any time while playing and the casino also disallows side bets, so you won’t be able to make Match the Dealer bets there.

Conclusion

Do you have any strategies for Spanish 21? Let us know in the comments section below.