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. Back in the late 1990s, Spanish 21 was all the rage among table game gamblers. Whenever my buddies and I would take a break from grinding high-limit blackjack, the Spanish 21 tables were a sure ticket for fun hands, creative plays, and in most cases, a breakeven or winning session. Spanish 21 is a variation of Blackjack and as such, it uses its fundamental principles and rules. The objective and the way the cards are valued are exactly the same as in the classic game and the players also compete against the dealer. If you play the Spanish 21 games with low house edges (and they are all over the northeast, Canada, and the Pacific northwest) e.g. S17 Spanish 21 (6-deck house edge 0.37%) or H17 with redoubling Spanish 21 (6-deck house edge 0.42%), you make a lot more money than if you play Blackjack. The payouts in Spanish 21 are similar to blackjack, but there are a few more options if the player meets certain requirements. A five-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a six-card 21 pays 2 to 1, a seven or more card 21 pays 3 to 1. This bonus is not honored after doubling or splitting.

Spanish 21 is one of the most popular variations of blackjack in the world and is played widely in casinos. While the differences can make the game a bit more complicated, they also influence the odds of winning.

Spanish 21 Vs Blackjack Odds

To a normal person, Spanish 21 and blackjack may seem like the same game with different names. However, there are a number of different advantages and disadvantages each game offers through different sets of rules.

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Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is played on the same traditional table as its counterpart, but it offers the player plenty more options than traditional blackjack; however, these options come at a price.

Giving the player more options to win would typically reduce the house edge, but casinos have found a way to combat that. Rather than playing with the traditional 52 card deck, they remove the four 10 cards, leaving the deck with only 48 cards. Any experienced gambler can tell you that removing 25% of the cards with a face value of 10 will influence your odds negatively.

Spanish 21 Rules:

Although the rules for Spanish 21 can vary at different locations, they are typically as follows:

• Late surrender is allowed- If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the player may surrender and receive half of their bet back. Unfortunately, they also forfeit their ability to keep playing.
• Double after split is allowed- If the player ends up with two cards of the same value, he or she may “split” them to make two hands. Players are allowed to double their bet after splitting
• Re-splitting aces is allowed, as well as splitting in general up to four hands.
• A player 21 always wins- This is one of the most important advantages of Spanish 21. According to traditional blackjack rules, the house can beat a 21 if the number of cards in the dealer’s hand is fewer than in the player’s.
• Player blackjack beats dealer blackjack- In regular blackjack, this would be a push and would result in no winnings. However, in Spanish 21, this win results in a 3:2 payout.
• Player may double on any number of cards.
• Player may usually hit and double down after splitting aces-
• Player may surrender after doubling, known as “double down rescue”- The player forfeits an amount equal to his original bet. Essentially, he takes the double bet while forfeiting his original bet.

Spanish 21 Blackjack – Dealer’s Rule:

Most casinos offering Spanish 21 require that the dealer hit on a soft 17. Because of this, the house advantage is about 0.8%, which is worse than almost any other variation of blackjack.

In traditional blackjack, where the dealer stands on a soft 17, the house edge is only about 0.4%. This is definitely something to consider when deciding which game to play.

Spanish 21 Game Payouts:

The payouts in Spanish 21 are similar to blackjack, but there are a few more options if the player meets certain requirements.

Blackjack Vs Spanish 21 Game

• A five-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a six-card 21 pays 2 to 1, a seven or more card 21 pays 3 to 1. This bonus is not honored after doubling or splitting.
• A 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3 to 2, of the same suit pays 2 to 1, and of spades pays 3 to 1. These bonuses usually do not pay after doubling or splitting, but some casinos allow it.
• Suited 7-7-7 when the dealer has a seven face up pays $1000 for bets of $5-$24 and $5000 for bets of $25 or over. In addition, all other players receive a $50 “envy bonus.” This bonus does not pay after doubling or splitting.

Blackjack Vs Spanish 21 Online

If you’re new to blackjack or are just learning the rules, trying to learn Spanish 21 simultaneously may not be your best bet. Trying to grasp all of the special rules and know how to work them to your advantage can make the game much more complicated. It would be best to learn the best strategies for traditional blackjack before moving on to any of its numerous variations.