Spanish 21 Odds

With such player-friendly circumstances, it is no wonder that a growing number of professional players are choosing Spanish blackjack. Namely, the house edge in Spanish 21 is always around 0.40%, which is not always the case with the standard variant. Not in Spanish 21. If you hit your way to 21, you win even if the dealer does the same. Another bonus players like is the 5, 6 and 7 card 21, which pay a bonus. Hit your way to 21 and you can score some serious cash. A five-card 21 pays 3 to 2. A six-card 21 pays 2 to 1 and the big seven-card 21 pays 3 to 1.

Spanish 21 is a variation of the standard game Blackjack with a few differences. This article concentrates on those differences and assumes you know the basic rules of Blackjack. This can be found in this separate article if you need a refresher.

Spanish 21 vs Blackjack

The main difference between Spanish 21 and most other forms of Blackjack is that it is played with a Spanish deck of cards that has 48 cards instead of the usual 52 – the deck is the same with all 10’s removed.

As a 10 is an important card in all forms of Blackjack, you would have thought that this gives a huge advantage to the House. You would be correct if that was the only change, however, a number of other features have been added in an attempt to offset this. Spanish 21 actually has a slightly better edge for the player than many forms of Blackjack.

Spanish 21 Rules

• Late Surrender is allowed, not just after your first 2 cards have been dealt

• You are able to Double after a Split

• You can re Split Aces

• A hand with 21 always wins even if the Dealer also gets 21

• Blackjack always wins even if the Dealer also gets Blackjack

• You can Double at any time after as many cards as you wish

• You can normally Hit and Double after Splitting Aces – this can vary so is worth checking

• You can Surrender after Doubling, known as Double Down rescue. You lose your initial stake which is effectively getting back half your total outlay for the initial stake and the Double

Variation of Rules

Spanish 21 does have some variables which differ depending on where you play so be sure you check these before you start playing.

• Either 6 decks or 8 decks of cards are used

• The dealer can sometimes Hit or Stand on soft 17 – a hand that includes an Ace meaning the Dealer has 7 or 17

• Some casinos will allow you to Double a hand up to 3 times

• Some casinos will not pay the bonus amounts after you Split a hand

Above is an example of the layout for a Spanish 21 table. This particular version sees the Dealer stand on all 17’s, other than this you will see it is very similar to a standard Blackjack table.

Spanish 21 Odds Card

Spanish 21 Odds & Payouts

Payouts and odds can be slightly different from regular Blackjack.

• A 5-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a 6-card 21 pays 2 to 1 and 7-card or higher 21 pays 3 to 1. This bonus doesn’t count if you have previously Doubled

• A hand consisting of 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3 to 2, if suited it pays 2 to 1. Either of these hands with all Spades pays 3 to 1. Again, this doesn’t count if you have previously Doubled

• A suited 7-7-7 when the Dealer has a 7 face up pay $1,000 if your bet is between $5 and $24 and a whopping $5,000 Super Bonus if your bet was $25 or more. If you are playing live with other players, they will each receive a $50 ‘Envy Bonus’ if this comes in.

Spanish 21 Strategy

There are several variable rules for Spanish 21, which affect some of the decisions for an optimal strategy. The below Spanish 21 basic strategy is based on casinos that use 6 decks and the Dealer stands on a soft 17, which is the most common variation of the game.

Hard Hands – No Ace

H = Hit D = Double D2 = Double except Hit with x or more cards
SR = Surrender S = Stand S2 = Stand except Hit with x or more cards

Due to the bonus if you get 21 with 4 or more cards, in some instances it is best to Hit and go for these, in the above chart the number next to an action denotes the minimum number of cards you need in order to Hit as opposed to Stand or Double

Soft Hands – With an Ace

H = Hit D = Double D2 = Double except Hit with x or more cards
S = Stand S2 = Stand except Hit with x or more cards

Due to the bonus if you get 21 with 4 or more cards, in some instances it is best to Hit and go for these, in the above chart the number next to an action denotes the minimum number of cards you need in order to Hit as opposed to Stand or Double.

Pairs

H = Hit D = Double
S = Stand SP = Split SP* = Split except for Suited 7’s in which case Hit

Double Down Surrender when you have 12-16 Vs 8-A, 17 Vs A

Never Split 4’s, 5’s or 10’s

Spanish 21 Tips

Spanish 21 Odds

There are many extra things to remember in Spanish 21 compared to standard Blackjack, remember the extra bonus payouts for getting 21 with 4 or more cards and getting 7-7-7 or 7-8-9. These don’t count if you were to Double though, so in situations where you feel you have a chance to hit these, ensure you follow the table above for the optimal chance of winning.

Don’t be afraid to Surrender – It is better to admit defeat and get some of your bet back in certain circumstances than continuing and losing it all when the odds are against you. Spanish 21 gives you the chance to Surrender at any time, ensure you make the most of it to stay ahead of the game.

Play for fun first if you want to learn the game properly – This is especially important when playing Spanish 21 as there are different features and rules than in standard Blackjack. We, therefore, recommend you play with free chips until you get the hang of this version when you have a better chance of finishing up.

Always play only with money you can afford to lose – this is the same for all casino games which should be fun – if you don’t enjoy it or are gambling with money you cannot afford to lose your mindset will not help the situation giving you a bigger chance of losing.

Blackjack References:

How to Count Cards
Blackjack For Real Money

Featured Gambling Guides

How to Play Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is a blackjack variant, so the object of the game is the same as its predecessor. The player must collect two or more cards in an effort to get a score of 21 (or as close as possible). The dealer will be trying to reach this goal, as well, so the player must also beat the dealer’s score without busting (going over 21). All card values are the same as regular blackjack.

If a player or dealer’s first two cards equal 21, they are said to have a “natural blackjack.” This instant winner pays out at 3:2, which means you’ll win $3 for every $2 that you wagered.

Six or eight decks are most commonly used, but all 10-cards are removed from each 52-card deck. The absence of these cards give a distinct advantage to the house, but there are a series of variant rules and bonuses that help the players and actually make Spanish 21 one of the best bets in the casino. These include the following:

– If the player reaches a total of 21, they always win. This is unlike some versions of blackjack, in which a matching dealer 21 will result in a push.

– The dealer is required to hit on 16 and stand on 17, although some casinos require the dealer to hit on a soft 17 (a hand equaling 17 but containing an ace). In most cases, however, the dealer will also stand on a soft 17, as hitting increases the edge for the house.

– A natural blackjack is always a winner and always pays 3:2, regardless of the value of the dealer’s first two cards.

– Players are allowed to split cards until they have a total of four hands. This rule also applies to pairs of aces.

– Once cards have been dealt, the dealer always checks his hole card for a blackjack if he’s showing an ace or face card. A dealer blackjack results in an immediate loss for all players who don’t have the same (in which case they automatically win).

– The player may always choose to double down, regardless of the number of cards or the total.

– Late surrender is offered in most games of Spanish 21. This means that if the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, players can choose to stop playing their hand and get back half of their initial wager.

– Players can also choose to surrender after doubling down. If this occurs, the player keeps the doubled portion of the bet, but the dealer gets the original wager. This is known as “concede,” “double-down rescue” or “forfeit.”

– Some casinos allow the player to double down twice after initially doubling down. When done correctly, this can give the player a major advantage over the house.

– Players can purchase insurance against a dealer blackjack, and it pays out at 2:1.

– Getting 21 with 5 cards pay 3:2, while 6 cards pay 2:1, and 7 or more cards pay 3:1. Splitting or doubling down cancels out these potential bonuses.

– Getting 7-7-7 or 6-7-8 of a mixed suit pays 3:2, while cards of the same suit pay 2:1. If the cards are all spades, the payout is 3:1. These bonuses are canceled if a player splits or doubles down.

– If the dealer has a 7 card face-up and the player gets a suited 7-7-7, a bonus of $1000 is paid on bets under $25 and $5000 on wagers over $25. Other players at the table also receive a $50 “envy bonus.” This bonus is eliminated if the player doubles down or splits.

Spanish 21 Odds

– Some casinos offer a “match the dealer” side bet. If one or both of the player’s first two cards match the dealer’s up card, the payout is 3:1 for a non-suited match in an 8-deck game and 12:1 for a suited match.