Introduction
Spanish 21 is a casino game that is based on the classic game of blackjack, but has several different rules and exciting twists. The game is played with only 48 cards and the removal of the tens provides the house with an increased edge. This fact is compensated with additional bonus advantages and alternative rules with which the player can gain back the advantage.
Spanish 21 is essentially a table game which has experienced a growth in popularity in the recent decade. It was formally introduced to Las Vegas casinos seven years ago and these days, most casinos will boast one or two Spanish 21 tables. The online version of the game is even newer, only having hit the scene a few years ago, and is yet to be completely standardized.
Spanish 21 vs. Blackjack
In order to fathom how Spanish 21 works, a player needs to have a basic understanding of blackjack rules. Spanish 21 is a spin-off of blackjack, following the same betting premises, but some alternative rules and bonus features make it an independent game in its own right.
Unlike blackjack, Spanish 21 does not use a full deck of 52 cards, but rather removes the Tens and forms a deck of 48 cards. While the removal of the Tens obviously creates a stronger edge for the house, Spanish 21 rules and bonus features compensate this fact and bring the edge back to the player’s field.
Rules
The main rule difference between blackjack and Spanish 21 is that a player’s 21 always beats a dealer’s 21.
Additional rules and bonuses are presented below:
Bonus 21
When a player’s card total equals 21, he may qualify for a Bonus 21. Different bonuses can be received for reaching a total of 21:
- If 5 cards from any suit form a 21, the payout is 3:2
- If 6 cards from any suit form a 21, the payout is 2:1
- If 7 cards from any suit form a 21, the payout is 3:1
- If a 6,7,8 from mixed suits form a 21, the payout is 3:2
- If a 6,7,8 from the same suit form a 21, the payout is 2:1
- If a 6,7,8 from only Spades form a 21, the payout is 3:1
- If a 7,7,7 from mixed suits form a 21, the payout is 3:2
- If a 7,7,7 from the same suit form a 21, the payout is 2:1
- If a 7,7,7 from only Spades form a 21, the payout is 3:1
Super Bonus:
In Spanish 21, a player will be awarded the Super Bonus when he holds a suited 7,7,7 and the dealer in turn draws a 7 in any suit. Bets from $5 to $24 can get paid a Super Bonus of $1000, while bets of $25 or more get paid $5000. If a player does get lucky and wins the Super Bonus, then other players at the table are not left out – they are awarded an Envy Bonus and are paid out $50. If a player chooses to split or double, then the Super Bonus will be voided. It should be noted that many casinos, especially those online, might have slightly different rules relating to the Super Bonus and these should be examined closely before the commencement of play.
Pair Splitting: Players are allowed to split any cards of equal value, including Aces and can thus create up to four hands. Players may hit and double on split hands and they are even awarded the Bonus 21 on a split hand. The Super Bonus, however, is not applicable to these hands.
Late Surrender: Late Surrender is a rule that increases the player’s odds against the house. If a player is dealt two cards and he doesn’t like them, he is given the option of surrendering and forfeiting half of his original bet and is removed from the hand. The Late Surrender rule is not allowed when a dealer is showing a blackjack.
Doubling Down: Players are given the option to double down one time on two or more cards, irrespective of their total, and even if they have split. When a player selects to double down, he can place any bet up to the value of his original bet. Bonus 21 is not applicable to a hand that is doubled down.
Double Down Rescue: Doubling Down Rescue refers to a rule in which a player has the option to rescue the doubled portion of his bet if he is not happy with his non-busted double down hand. When doing so, a player forgoes his original wager and is removed from the hand.
Other Rules
Some other rules include the following:
- A dealer can hit or stand on a soft 17
- 6-8 decks of Spanish cards are used
- Some casinos will allow redoubling up to three times
- Some casinos will allow a late surrender on the first two cards
Negative Aspects of Spanish 21 to the Player
The hype around Spanish 21 is that the removal of the Tens from the deck is compensated by the fact that there are extra bonuses and attractive rules for the player. However, there are some negative aspects to these rules:
- Spanish 21 is generally a game played with six decks of cards and the chances of the dealer hitting a soft-17 are not extra-ordinary. The down side is that the game uses Spanish decks with no Tens, only Jacks, Queens and Kings that are worth ten. If a player is dealt 11 and they wish to double down, they should remember that there are only 12 cards valued at 10 and not 16, in order to complete the 21 total.
- Due to the fact that there are fewer cards valued at ten, even though players are allowed to double down on any number of cards, in actual fact there are much less possibilities to do so. The presence of fewer high cards in the deck means that players hit on some hands that they would normally stand on in regular blackjack. Bonus hands also affect the way that people play out their hands – a play might risk to bust a hard total of four to six cards in order to go for the Bonus 21.
Spanish 21 Strategy
Hard Totals: A player should always stand with totals of 18 or more, and be hit with totals of 8 or less. The following table should be used in other cases: |
