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How To Play Spanish 21 - Spanish 21 Rules and Strategies
A popular blackjack variant, Spanish 21 mixes things up by using a smaller deck and a host of rules that favour the player. This results in an exciting game with a high RTP rate and the possibility for extra bonuses without needing to make an additional wager.
If you want to start your Spanish 21 journey, you're in the right place. We'll be covering the rules of the game, how to play a hand, the best strategies, bonus information, and much more.
What is Spanish 21?
Spanish 21 is a variation of blackjack that uses 48 cards rather than the standard deck of 52 cards. In this game, the four tens are removed from the deck, leaving a total of 48 cards to play with. As the removal of high value cards such as the 10 moves the odds in the house's favour, the player receives favourable rules that level the playing field.
In fact, depending on the exact ruleset in place, Spanish 21 can often be a better game to play than blackjack!
Spanish 21 Basic Rules
Like blackjack, the aim of Spanish 21 is to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 as possible without going over. If your hand exceeds 21, you've busted, and your hand automatically loses, regardless of what the dealer does.
Before we dive into how Spanish 21 differs from blackjack, let's go over the basic rules of the game:
- Players must place their bets before the round begins.
- The game is played with between 6-8 48-card decks that have had the 10s removed.
- Numbered cards are worth their face value, picture cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) are worth 10, and aces are worth 1 or 11.
- A natural blackjack (the player is dealt an ace and a picture card with their first two cards) is paid out at 3 to 2.
Rule Variants
Unlike traditional blackjack, Spanish 21 uses a variety of rules that seek to improve the player's odds. This is to counteract the absence of the four 10s in the deck, rebalancing the house edge to an acceptable level.
While the exact rules of the game will vary from casino to casino, we've created a list of the common rule variations found in this game:
- Players are allowed to double down after splitting.
- Players are allowed to re-split aces.
- Late surrendering is allowed.
- A player 21 will always win.
- The player's blackjack will always beat a dealer blackjack.
- Players can double on any number of cards.
- Players can hit or double down after splitting aces.
- Players have the option to surrender after doubling down. When doing so, they forfeit the amount equal to their original bet.
Bonus Payouts
As well as these favourable rules, there are bonuses for making a hand that totals 21 with five cards or more:
- Five-card 21 pays 3 to 2
- Six-card 21 pays 2 to 1
- Seven-card 21 pays 3 to 1
- 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 of different suits pays 3 to 2
- 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 of the same suit pays 2 to 1
- 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 in spades pays 3 to 1
Super Bonus
If you make 21 using all 7s of the same suit while the dealer is showing a 7, you automatically win a payout called the Super Bonus.
This bonus pays out 1000 dollars for bets between $5 and $24 and pays out 5000 dollars for bets of $25 or more. When you win the super bonus each player at the table receives a $50 "envy bonus."
How To Play Spanish 21
Aside from the alternative rules we've outlined, blackjack and Spanish 21 are almost identical in the way they're played. Let's run through a hand to familiarise ourselves with how it's played:
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Placing Bets
Each player who wants to participate places their bet in the rectangular betting box in front of them.
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The Deal
All participating players are dealt two cards face up, while the dealer is dealt one card face up and one card face down. If the dealer has an ace, players are offered the chance to take insurance.
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Player Actions
Action begins with the player to the left of the dealer. Players can choose actions such as hit, stand, or split, depending on the hand they've been dealt.
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Dealer Actions
Once all players have finished their actions, the dealer turns their second card face up and plays their hand according to the casino rules.
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Result
After the dealer has played their hand, the player will either get paid if they beat the dealer or lose their bet if they fail to beat the dealer.
Player Actions
Depending on the situation, the player may choose from six actions during their turn:
♠️ Hit
You receive an additional card to increase your hand total. This action can be taken at any time.
♣️ Stand
You decline to take another card, keeping your hand total the same. This action can be taken at any time.
♥️ Double Down
You double the size of your bet and only receive one additional card. Unlike blackjack, you can double down on any number of cards when playing Spanish 21.
♦️ Split
If a player is dealt two cards of the same rank, they can split their hand into two separate hands. For example, if a player is dealt 88, they can split their hand by matching their original bet. The dealer will separate the cards and add a second card to each. The player can then play these hands as they would any other blackjack hand, with all of the same options available to them.
🃏 Surrender
If you are in an unfavourable situation, such as a hard 16 against a dealer 9, you have the option of surrendering your hand. This allows you to take back half your bet in exchange for forfeiting your chances of winning. In Spanish 21 blackjack, you have the option of late surrendering, which means you can only take this action after the dealer has checked for blackjack.
This game also offers the chance to surrender after doubling down, an action known as "double down rescue." In this situation, get half of your total bet back and give up your chance to win the hand.
🧐 Insurance
When the dealer's up card is an ace, you have the option to take out an insurance bet that's equal to half of your original wager. If the dealer has a blackjack, your insurance bet is paid out at 2 to 1.
🤵 Match The Dealer
Some games of Spanish 21 may offer a side bet called "Match The Dealer." In this game, players must try to match the ranks of their initial two cards with the up card shown by the dealer. Here's an example of a common paytable used for this side bet:
| Matching Cards | Payout |
| 1 card | 4 to 1 |
| 1 card of the same suit | 9 to 1 |
| 2 cards | 8 to 1 |
| 2 cards, one of which is the same suit | 13 to 1 |
| 2 cards of the same suit. | 18 to 1 |
Spanish 21 Basic Strategy
The basic strategies for Spanish 21 are similar to that of blackjack. However, due to the variety of rules in place, there are a lot more deviations to remember. This is because adjustments need to be made to take advantage of all the bonuses offered to the player if they can make a total of 21 with specific combinations of cards.
Below, we've posted an example of a Spanish 21 strategy table where the dealer hits on soft 17.
Expert Note
The best strategy will vary depending on the particular rules in place at each casino. If you aren't sure what rules your game is using, ask the dealer or check the information page of your online casino game.
Spanish 21 Tips & Tricks
Memorizing the entire strategy table is quite a task, particularly for beginners. So, to help you get started, we've provided some handy tricks that you'll want to use to approximate the basic strategy:
- Always hit when you have a hard hand between 4 and 12 or a soft 13/14.
- Always double down when you're dealt 11.
- Always stand when you have a hard 18 or higher.
- Always split aces.
- Never split 4s or 5s.
While strategy tricks are all well and good, we want to help you maximize your gameplay experience no matter the result. That's why we've offered a few helpful tips for you to remember while gaming.
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Practice Bankroll Management
To reduce the risk of going broke while playing, we recommend that your initial wager should be a small percentage of your total bankroll. This also allows you to make the most of advantageous situations such as doubles, as you'll always have the bet required to make it.
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Read The Rules
There are many versions of Spanish 21, each with a unique set of rules. These rules impact both how the dealer's hand is played and how your hand should be played.
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Have Fun
The most important thing to remember when playing is to have fun. Despite the low house edge, the dealer gets the best of it in the end, so rather than focusing on the results, just make sure you enjoy yourself.
WHERE TO PLAY JACKS OR BETTER
Now that you've learned everything there is to know about the popular blackjack variant, Spanish 21. The only thing left to do is start playing! You can find a list of the best Spanish 21 Blackjack online casino sites here in our guide.
Always remember to have fun and play responsibly - good luck!
