Spanish 21
Spanish 21 is a blackjack variant that is fast gaining in popularity. Spanish 21 is owned by Masque Publishing, Inc. Many online and land-based casinos, however, still offer Spanish 21 using an equivalent though unlicensed version called \”Spanish Blackjack\”. For those unfamiliar with this game you will find it pretty easy to learn if you already know blackjack basics. The rules of course differ from regular blackjack and the strategy is also pretty different but as in all blackjack games what you want is to get a blackjack. To help get you familiarized with the game below is a summary of the Spanish 21 rules and a few tips on how increasing your long term profit.
The Rules:
1. The game is played using 6 to 8 decks dealt from a shoe. A Spanish 21 deck has no face cards with all the existing cards having the same value as in the standard blackjack game.
2. Player blackjacks always beat dealer blackjacks. Blackjacks pay 3:2.
3. Player totals of 2l also always beat dealer 2ls.
4. Ties, except for 21s, are pushes.
5. Rules for hitting, splitting, and standing are the same as in standard blackjack.
6. Re-splitting up to four hands is allowed, even with Aces.
7. The player is allowed to surrender after the first 2 cards or after doubling down.
8. The player is allowed to double down on any total and even after taking any number of hit cards.
9. The player is also allowed to double down after splitting.
10. The rules for each casino differs when it comes to whether the dealer will hit or stand on soft 17.
11. Some casinos also allow players to redouble after having doubled down already.
Spanish 21 also has some bonus payoffs peculiar to it. The bonus payoffs include:
1. Payoff for a 5-card 2l - 3:2
2. Payoff for 6-card 2l - 2:1
3. Payoff for 7-card-or-better 2l - 3:1. Note that the bonus payoffs for #1-3 is not applicable if the 21 happens because of doubling.
4. Payoff for 6-7-8 in mixed suits - 3:2
5. Payoff for 6-7-8 of the same suit - 2:1
6. Payoff for 6-7-8 all spades - 3:1
7. Payoff for 7-7-7 mixed suits - 3:2
8. Payoff for 7-7-7 same suit - 2:1
9. Payoff for 7-7-7 all spades - 3:1
10. In some casinos a suited 7-7-7 against dealer 7 of the same suit earns the the player a jackpot. Other players at the table also benefit by receiving an \”envy bonus\” of around $50.
With all the face cards removed from the deck the game will seem to favor the dealer. But because of the rest of the rules, which all favor the player, Spanish 21 is actually a relatively less risky game to play. The house edge for Spanish 21 IS lower than that of traditional blackjack. Choose casinos that don\’t allow dealers to hit on a soft 17 to increase your chance of winning. Learn basic card counting to also help you have a better chance of winning in the long run.
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Written by The Blackjack Advisor on October 2nd, 2006 with
1 comment.
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