Spanish 21

1. Spanish 21 Strategy Chart Printable
2. Spanish 21 Game Online
3. Spanish 21 Wizard Of Odds

Spanish 21 is a spin-off of blackjack, following the same betting premises, but some alternative rules and bonus features make it an independent game in its own right. Unlike blackjack, Spanish 21 does not use a full deck of 52 cards, but rather removes the Tens and forms a deck of 48 cards.

As one might expect, Spanish 21 uses the Spanish deck, which is simply a normal deck with all of the tens removed. There are several rule variations for this game, especially as it is a popular game played in brick-and-mortar casinos all over the U.S.A., so it is important to understand what the house rules are and how they may affect the house edge.

• Spanish 21 is a common form of blackjack played in many of the larger casinos. You'll find the game played all over the world, though it originated in European casinos. Most gambling establishments in the United States didn't offer the game until 1995 or later.
• Spanish 21 is a popular American variant of the traditional game of blackjack. Played worldwide and offered in the majority of land-based casinos, it is a quick-to-learn and easy-to-play alternative for when you are looking for something slightly different.

Spanish 21 is similar to Pontoon and is usually found under the mopniker of, ‘Spanish Blackjack,' and can sometimes be found online under the name, ‘Pirate Blackjack,' but for the most part, it can be found in brick-and-mortar casinos.

Some of the more favorable player rules to balance the house edge is that surrender, doubling after splitting and re-splitting aces are all allowed while a player Natural always wins. Players can also double on anything with any number of cards as well as hitting and doubling after splitting aces. Five-Card 21's pay 3:2, Six-Card 21's pay 2:1 and Seven (or more) Card 21's pay 3:1, but not if the player has doubled or split.

Another interesting rule change is that the player has the option to surrender even after the player has doubled down, so essentially, the player gets the double wager back and forfeits the original amount bet.

There are a plethora of other rule variations which alter the house edge and can change the strategy pretty significantly, furthermore, this is a very complicated game to begin with, so a player should definitely rely on the strategy charts on Wizard of Odds and not his or her own intuition for this one.

Ultimately, this may be a game that many people enjoy, and it comes with a house edge comparable to a decent blackjack game, just with a ton more variance due to all of the pays for different hand types as well as the ability for the player to make several decisions that result in increasing one's bet. This game, however, is not for everyone. Those seeking to play optimally may become bored given how many times they will have to turn to the strategy chart within the first few hundred to a thousand hands before getting the game down, and while the chart has been made as simple as possible, the plethora of different situations that can come up can render the chart still somewhat hard to follow. It is definitely a game upon which a player can become easily overwhelmed in the early going.

Other Online Blackjack Variations

If you consider yourself a bona fide real money blackjack specialist, but you've never played Spanish 21 before, boy, are you missing out.

This relatively new addition to the blackjack family tree branched off in 1995, when Masque Publishing decided to take its shot at the hybrid table game fad.

These days, Spanish 21 is largely relegated to the best US online casinos, but you can still find it kicking around at the Venetian and Palazzo casino resorts in Las Vegas. Smaller regional casinos across the country, especially in the Pacific Northwest, also spread Spanish 21 tables alongside their traditional blackjack games.

1 – Full Basic Strategy Chart Outlining Optimal Play for All Possible Scenarios

Spanish 21 Strategy Chart Printable

One of the saddest sights you'll see in the table game pit is a blackjack player trying to use their basic strategy skills in Spanish 21.

When they see a pair of sixes to start against the dealer's three, these players will split ‘em up, as per blackjack basic strategy. Little do they know, however, that Spanish 21 basic strategy says to take a hit with 6-6 against a dealer's three.

Same goes for something like a 17 versus the dealer's seven, which is a clear hit in regular blackjack. In this game though, the book advises sharp players to stand.

Little wrinkles like this aren't readily apparent, leaving even blackjack experts to flail around like tourists trying table games for the first time.

If you want to add Spanish 21 basic strategy to your gambling repertoire, look no further. To begin, just remember that many plays are no-brainers that don't require any thinking at all.

When you have a hard total of 8 or lower, just take your free hit and proceed from there, as you'll never run the risk of going bust. And with a hard 17 or higher, simply stand and avoid the 69% chance of busting that a hit will incur.

Those are the easiest plays anybody can make, so you'll need to study the tables below to master more complicated Spanish 21 spots.

2 – Primer on Why You Shouldn't Place Match the Dealer Side Bets

Every so often, you'll see a Spanish 21 player shout for joy as they collect a 'jackpot' payout of between 4:1 and 18:1.

Or should I say, not very often… Spanish 21 offers an optional side bet called 'Match the Dealer,' which pays out whenever one or both of your starting cards matches the dealer's up card.

The best scenario is two suited matches, or something like the 8 of clubs + 8 of clubs for you against the dealer's 8 of clubs. That's clearly a longshot, but even a single eight (suits don't matter here) matched with the dealer's eight pays out at 4:1.

But, as you can see below, that minimum payout of 4:1 only comes around roughly 1 in 10 hands.

Spanish 21 Match the Dealer Hands and Payouts

Conversely, a whopping 85% of hands will result in a loss when playing Match the Dealer.

All told, this side bet carries a house edge of 3.05%, which is simply too high to chase when Spanish 21's primary game is already so great.

3 – Online Casino Guide to Find the Best Spanish 21 Tables

Nowadays, Spanish 21 is largely relegated to the realm of online casinos.

That's good news for fans though, as the best online casino platforms make sure to include Spanish 21 as a staple of their table games menu.

4 – ThePro's Guide to Spanish 21 and Australian Pontoon (2008) by Katarina Walker

When the game first hit casino floors, most gamblers assumed Spanish 21 was nothing more than a gimmick game like Triple Zero Roulette—something designed to separate suckers from their bankroll while smart players wisely avoided the additional action.

This misconception lingered until 2008, when advantage play specialist and casino game strategy writer Katrina Walker published The Pro's Guide to Spanish 21 and Australian Pontoon.

Walker herself posted insights to a popular online blackjack forum while explaining exactly why Spanish 21 is more beatable than standard blackjack.

And it's no coincidence that Walker's book was published just before the big casinos suddenly stopped spreading Spanish 21 as often, or at all. She really did crack the code for this game, so grab a copy of The Pro's Guide to Spanish 21 and Australian Pontoon and add this masterpiece to your gambling bookshelf.

Spanish 21 Game Online

Conclusion

Spanish 21 isn't for everybody, but if you enjoy blackjack with a twist, it just might be the perfect game. Bonus payouts, automatic winners which should be pushes, and the freedom to make creative double down and split plays combine to make Spanish 21 a true player's game.

Spanish 21 Wizard Of Odds

Anyone can fly blind at the tables and find a few winners. But, armed with the four resources listed above, you'll be target shooting accurately in one of gambling's most player-friendly affairs.