Author: Olivia Brown | Edited By: Joe Clark
Last Updated: December 10, 2024
Basic Rules of Spanish 21 Blackjack
Objective
The main objective in Spanish 21 is the same as in traditional blackjack – to have a hand closer to 21 than the dealer without exceeding 21 or “busting.”
Spanish 21 showcases its unique characteristics in gameplay and betting structure. In this version, all ’10’ cards are excluded from the deck, leaving only 48 cards in the game, significantly altering the game’s dynamics.
Key Features
- Spanish 21 uses six or eight decks, with all 10s removed.
- Late surrender is allowed.
- If your hand totals 21, you always win, even if the dealer also holds a 21.
- Special combinations of cards result in higher payouts.
- You also have a ‘double down’ option after observing your first two cards. This option remains available even after you split a pair.
Game Details
- RTP: 99.58%
- House Edge: 0.42%
- Payout: 3:2
- Developer: SG Digital
- Best Casino to Play: BetMGM
Appropriate Betting Strategies
- To best adapt your strategy for Spanish 21, consider the number of cards in your hand, their total value, and the specific rules.
Deck composition
In Spanish 21, the standard 52-card deck is altered, and all the 10-point value cards are removed, leaving 48 cards in each deck. This game is typically played with six or eight decks shuffled together, making the cards count 288 or 384, respectively.
Despite the missing cards, the deck still maintains the convenience of pocket cards, such as picture cards, which carry a value of 10.
Number of Players
The game is played between 5 to 7 players and a dealer.
Card values
The card values in Spanish 21 are similar to those in traditional blackjack.
- Aces are considered either 1 or 11 points
- Face cards (kings, queens, and jacks) hold a 10-point value
- The remaining cards are worth their face value.
There are no 10-point value cards in this game, so you’ll only find the nine, eight, seven, and so forth.
Player’s Actions in Spanish 21
Hit
It means drawing an additional card to add to your hand. You can hit as many times as you like, but if your hand total exceeds 21, you automatically lose, resulting in a “bust.”
Stand
It signifies that you are satisfied with your current hand and do not wish to draw additional cards. Standing involves no further action and allows the game to progress to the dealer’s turn.
Players usually stand when they believe their current hand total is strong enough to beat the dealer’s hand potentially.
Double down
It is a strategic move that allows a player to increase their bet by up to 100% meanwhile agreeing to stand after receiving only one additional card.
Split
You can “split” a pair of cards, creating two separate hands with equal bets on each hand. This action is only available to players dealt an initial pair, and each new hand will receive an additional card. Depending on the casino’s rules, you can split your hands several times, up to a maximum of four hands.
Surrender
It allows you to forfeit half of your bet in exchange for ending your participation in the game. Players may surrender if they view their current hand as unlikely to beat the dealer’s hand.
Insurance
Spanish 21 allows you to purchase “insurance” if the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. Insurance is a side bet that can be made for up to half of the player’s original wager. If the dealer’s down card is 10-value, resulting in blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2-to-1.
How to Play?
- Initial Bet: Every player at the table places an initial bet in the betting circle. The amount of the bet varies depending on the table limits.
- Initial Deal: Each player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer has one card face down (hold card) and one face up (up card).
- Check for Blackjack: If a player is dealt an Ace and a 10-point card (face card or 10), they have a blackjack.
- Player Options: According to your cards, you can hit, stand, double down, split, or surrender.
- Dealer’s Actions: The dealer reveals their whole card and must follow a fixed set of rules. In most versions of Spanish 21,
- The dealer must hit on a soft 17 (a card with an Ace that totals either 7 or 17) and stand on a hard 17 (a hand totaling 17 without an Ace or with an Ace counted as 1).
- Comparing Hands:
- If your hand total is closer to 21 than the dealer’s without exceeding 21, you win.
- If your hand goes above 21, you bust and lose your bet.
- If the dealer busts, all remaining players win.
- In case of a tie, the player’s 21 always wins, and the dealer wins if both have blackjack.
- Bonus Payouts: Spanish 21 offers various bonus payouts for specific hands:
- A 5-Card 21
- A 6-Card 21
- A 7-Card 21
- A 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits, suited cards, or spades.
- Special Rules:
- Late Surrender: You can surrender your hand and lose only half your bet after the dealer checks for blackjack.
- Double Down Rescue: If you double down and then don’t like your card, you can surrender and lose only your original bet.
Side Bets and Bonus Features in Spanish 21 Blackjack
Match The Dealer side bet
This optional bet lets you wager whether their first two cards match the dealer’s upcard in value or rank. This side bet can produce relatively large wins, but it comes with a higher house edge than the main game.
Payout
The payouts depend on the number of matches and whether they are suited or unsuited.
| Cards | Payout |
| An unsuited match | 4:1 |
| A suited match | 9:1 |
| Two unsuited matches (i.e., both of their cards have the same value or rank as the dealer’s upcard) | 8:1 |
| One suited and one unsuited match | 13:1 |
| Both of your cards exactly match the dealer’s upcard in both value and suit | 18:1 |
Super Bonus payouts
This bonus is granted to players who get a suited 7-7-7 when the dealer has a 7 as their upcard.
- For bets between $5 and $24, a player earns a $1,000 Super Bonus.
- Bets of $25 or higher will result in a $5,000 Super Bonus payout.
- All other players at the table who have active bets will receive an Envy Bonus, usually around $50, even if their hands do not qualify for the Super Bonus.
The Super Bonus payout is very rare to find.
Multi-hand Spanish 21
In multi-hand Spanish 21, each player can occupy up to three betting positions and play three independent hands at once.
- It allows you to take advantage of favorable situations and apply more advanced strategies.
- You must also manage your bankroll carefully, as increased bet frequency can lead to more significant fluctuations in your chip stack.
- Multi-hand play requires a solid understanding of the Spanish 21 strategy.
Spanish 21 Blackjack Payout Chart
| Card Combination | Payout |
| Blackjack (21) / Natural Blackjack | 3:2 |
| Three-card 21 | 2:1 |
| Five-card 21 | 3:2 |
| Six-card 21 | 2:1 |
| 7+ card 21 | 3:1 |
| 6-7-8 / 7-7-7 Mixed Suit | 3:2 |
| 6-7-8 / 7-7-7 Same Suit | 2:1 |
| 6-7-8 / 7-7-7 Spades | 3:1 |
Basic Strategy Chart for Spanish 21
Hard Totals
| Your Hand Total | Dealer’s Upcard | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
| 5-8 | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 9 | Hit | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 10 | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Hit | Hit |
| 11 | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down |
| 12 | Hit | Hit | Stand | Stand | Stand | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 13-14 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 15-16 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Surrender |
| 17-18 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand |
| 19-21 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand |
Soft Totals
| Your Hand Total (with Ace) | Dealer’s Upcard | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
| A-2 to A-3 | Hit | Hit | Hit | Double Down | Double Down | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| A-4 to A-5 | Hit | Hit | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| A-6 | Hit | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| A-7 | Stand | Double Down if allowed, otherwise Stand | Double Down if allowed, otherwise Stand | Double Down if allowed, otherwise Stand | Double Down if allowed, otherwise Stand | Stand | Stand | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| A-8 to A-9 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand |
Pairs
| Your Pair | Dealer’s Upcard | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
| 2-2 | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 3-3 | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 4-4 | Hit | Hit | Hit | Split | Split | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 5-5 | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Double Down | Hit | Hit |
| 6-6 | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 7-7 | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Hit | Hit | Hit | Hit |
| 8-8 | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split |
| 9-9 | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Stand | Split | Split | Stand | Stand |
| 10-10 | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand | Stand |
| A-A | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split | Split |
Key Points to Remember
- Adjust your strategy based on the dealer’s upcard. A low upcard (2-6) generally favors standing or doubling down.
- A high card (7-Ace) often requires hitting or considering other options like surrendering.
- Spanish 21 allows you to surrender more freely than traditional blackjack. Use this to your advantage, especially against a dealer’s Ace or 10 upcard.
- Remember the unique rules of Spanish 21, such as the player’s 21 always winning and special bonuses for 5-card 21, 6-card 21, etc. Factor these into your strategy.
Spanish 21 vs. Traditional Blackjack
Key differences
- The removal of the 10-point value cards from the deck.
- Spanish 21 offers bonus payouts for specific card combinations.
- You can double down on any number of cards and resplit aces in Spanish 21.
- Player blackjack beats dealer blackjack, and player 21 beats dealer 21, irrespective of the number of cards in hand.
- Late surrender is allowed in Spanish 21, and you can surrender after doubling down, known as ‘double down rescue.’
Similarities
Spanish 21 shares the same primary objective and basic gameplay as traditional blackjack. Players aim to achieve a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer without going over 21. Players can also hit, stand, double down, and split in both games.
Comparison of the House Edge
The removal of 10-point value cards in Spanish 21 increases the house edge compared to traditional blackjack, making it a more challenging game for players.
- Spanish 21 has a house edge ranging from 0.4% to 0.76%.
- Regular Blackjack has a house edge of 0.5%.
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