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. By Masque Publishing. Bring the fun back to Blackjack! 21's always win, split 4 times, double after split, double down rescue, and bonus payouts! Chat about the game.
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Blackjack Variations > Spanish 21
Spanish 21 Blackjack is a tougher, more intense game, especially since the House’s advantage and edge increases by 2%. However, this is thankfully offset by several extra bonuses and some higher payouts in the game.
It is a game that has grown in popularity, and currently found in every offline casino, but not so much so for online casinos yet.
Spanish 21 Rules
As all other blackjack game variations, it follows some similar characteristics of blackjack, such as the point value, the goals, and terminology, but like all variations, it has its little differences and extra twists:
The first difference and most noticeable one is the fact that 10’s are not used, which is what gives the House the extra advantage. You still have the Jacks, Queens, and Kings, but no 10’s.
Doubling down is only allowed after getting a hit and/or a split – with any card and hand. If the player doubles down, however, he/she must double the same bet amount originally made at the beginning. Players can also split up to 4 hands
Players can surrender on any hand against the dealer, except if the dealer gets blackjack or 21. By surrendering, they will get half their bet amount back.
Players can also surrender after doubling-down, which will give them back the double down bet, but they will lose the initial bet.
Players will always win with a 21 – regardless of the dealer’s hand. Insurance can be purchased too, and it pays out 2:1.
Spanish 21 Game
Lastly, you can do two side bets: a Super Bonus bet where if you get three 7’s, and the dealer’s face-up card is also a 7, then you’ll get $1,000 on $5-$24 bets and $5,000 on $25 bets. The other side bet consists of betting that your hand will outrank that of the dealers, in which payouts could go up to 40:1.
How to Play Spanish 21
Clearly, Spanish 21 is quite similar to regular blackjack… all you have to remember is that you have ‘rescue’ or ‘surrender’ options. You also will have no 10’s, so remember the advantage on the House, and last major difference is the addition of bonuses and higher payouts, but let the dealers worry about that since they remember all those payouts – unless you wish to learn them by heart -.
Make your initial bets and side bets if desired. Get your cards, and either surrender, split, double, hit, or stand. Once you compare with the dealer’s hand, you’ll be able to see if you have lost, pushed, or won the hand. The dealer should let you know about the bonuses and payouts if you can’t remember.
Spanish 21 Hand Examples
The most important hand examples to remember would be the bonus hands, which are the only extra payouts compared to regular blackjack:
* Blackjack pays 3:2
* Insurance as seen above, pays 2:1
* 5-card 21 (getting up to 21 with a combination of 5 cards dealt) pays 3:2
* 6-card 21 pays 2:1
* 7 or more card 21 pays 3:1
* Insurance as seen above, pays 2:1
* 5-card 21 (getting up to 21 with a combination of 5 cards dealt) pays 3:2
* 6-card 21 pays 2:1
* 7 or more card 21 pays 3:1
* 21 made-out of a 6, 7, and 8 suited pays 2:1
* 21 made-out of a 6, 7, and 8 mixed-suit pays 3:2
* 21 made-out of a 6, 7, and 8 spades pays 3:1
* 21 made out of three 7’s mixed suit pays 3:2
* 21 made out of three 7’s suited pays 2:1
* 21 made out of three 7’s spades pays 3:1
* 21 made-out of a 6, 7, and 8 mixed-suit pays 3:2
* 21 made-out of a 6, 7, and 8 spades pays 3:1
* 21 made out of three 7’s mixed suit pays 3:2
* 21 made out of three 7’s suited pays 2:1
* 21 made out of three 7’s spades pays 3:1
If however, the player doubles down, then he/she will not be eligible for the bonus.
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May 2018
May 2011
Spanish 21, or as our friends down under like to call it – Pontoon; is a version of Blackjack that is not only fun to play, but one of the best bets in a casino. If you are lucky enough to find the game that is. Spanish Blackjack isn’t spread as often as other Blackjack games due to the low house edge. As a rule of thumb, if you have the option to play Spanish 21, play it!
Spanish 21 is kind of like taking the best parts of every Blackjack version and creating a new Blackjack version around them. Most Blackjack games will have some good and bad. All the bad things like not being able to re-split Aces, are designed to give the house a higher edge. However, you can find just about all of the “Good” that is found in other versions.
Content
Free Games
Rules
Bonus Payouts
Online Games House Edge Comparison
Spanish Blackjack Tips
Rules
Bonus Payouts
Online Games House Edge Comparison
Spanish Blackjack Tips
Free Spanish 21 Blackjack
Where to Play for Real Cash
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100% up to £/$/€ 100 | Best for UK, Canada and EU | Classic Blackjack – 0.21% house edge | |
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Spanish 21 Rules
The main difference with this version is absence of all the 10’s. There are still Jacks, Kings and Queens; but the literal 10 cards are removed from the deck. A standard shoe consists of 6 to 8 decks with 48 cards in each deck.
Double Down
As per standard Blackjack games, players can double down on their first 2 cards. However, Spanish 21 lets you double down on many occasions. You can double after a split. You can also double down after each hit if you prefer. Finally, there’s the option to double after splitting Aces. After doubling down you will receive only one additional card. Then you can either stand or surrender – double down rescue.
Free Online Spanish 21 Game
Splitting
You can split any two hands with similar value. You can also split and re-split Aces. The possible number of splits vary between the games, but usually it’s up to 3 hands.
Late Surrender
Spanish 21 also allows players to use the late surrender when a dealer shows a 10 or Ace.
21 and Blackjack
Spanish 21 has a unique way of rewarding 21’s and Blackjacks. The most lucrative is the fact that the dealer cannot tie when the player has 21 or Blackjack. All player 21’s and Blackjacks beat the dealers 21 and Blackjacks.
Not only do you always win with 21, it also pays off if you make 21 a certain way.
- 5 card 21 pays 3-2
- 6 cards pays 2-1
- 7 or more pays 3-1
Dealt Blackjacks pay the traditional 3-2. While all other 21’s are paid even money.
Bonuses
Spanish blackjack has a few other tricks up its sleeve. These tricks, or treats if you will, come in the form of bonus payouts for getting certain card combinations.
- 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of different suits pays 3-2
- 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of the same suit pays 2-1
- 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of all spades pays 3-1
- 7-7-7 of the same suit when the dealer shows a 7 pay 50:1.
Most of these bonuses do not pay if you have split or doubled.
Online Games Rules & House Edge Comparison
Spanish 21 Games
You will find deviations of Spanish Blackjacks that will alter the house edge, but most casinos will use the same rules. The edge using the standard rules is 0.40%
Microgaming:
8 decks
You can split 3 times.
You can re-double once and receive additional card.
No US players
Odds: 99.58%
Where to play: Jackpot City Casino
Games OS:
8 decks.
Standard rules
No US players
Odds: 99.24% Play games online and win real money.
Where to play: Guts Casino
BetSoft:
6 decks.
No Surrender available
Suited 7s with dealer’s 7 pay $1000 for $5 – $24 bets. $5000 for higher bets.
Additional Match the Dealer side bet.
USA friendly
Odds: 99.30%
Where to play: Ignition Casino
RTG:
The number of decks is not disclosed.
Standard Rules
Suited 7s with dealers 7 pay 40:1.
USA friendly
Odds: 99.22%
Free Spanish 21 Games
Where to play: Vegas Casino Online
Spanish Blackjack Tips
The main strategy is to utilize the choice to double down at any time. Use this always when you have a total of 11, regardless of what the dealer shows. You also want to take advantage of the option to split Aces.
Avoid trying to hit the bonus payouts, such as going for a 5 card 21 and so on. Doing so will deviate from an optimal strategy; and the payoff when you do win the bonus will not compensate for the loss of statistical advantages.
Spanish 21 Game Online
Overall, Spanish 21 is a fun game to play and has a low house edge. So, if you’re looking for a new way to play blackjack, Spanish 21 could be your answer.