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.

How Spanish 21 Differs from Blackjack: The House Edge. In standard blackjack the house edge is 1%. In Spanish 21 it can run up to 3%, so the casino will definitely make more money from this game than from standard blackjack. Still, if you understand the game and play well you can enjoy some pretty nice payoffs compared to the standard game. Spanish 21 Spanish 21 is a variation of one of the most iconic casino games, Blackjack. Spanish 21 offers some new and interesting changes that shift the dynamic of the game, one of which is the removal of all number ‘10’ cards from the deck. This leaves the dealer with decks of 48 cards, rather than 52. Spanish 21 is a form of blackjack at online casino sites where players will play with decks that don’t have the 10 card. That is, there are only 48 cards in each deck. This means that the dealer has slightly better odds at the start. However, there are plenty of added rules to the game with the intention of giving the player more ways to win. 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. Spanish Blackjack is offered at online casinos such as BlackjackBallroom.com. The best Microgaming casinos like JackpotParadise.com also offer several versions of Spanish 21 to play. Other casinos offer a similar game called Match Play 21.

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

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.

Conclusion

Blackjack Vs Spanish 21 Odds

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.

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.

Spanish 21, a popular variant of blackjack, is played at casinos around the world.

While it’s new compared to the historic table game it’s based on, it has some intriguing rule changes that affect the house odds of the game.

1 – What Are the Rules of Spanish 21?

Spanish 21 is still played on the same casino tables as the game it’s based on, but it uses a custom layout and a different ruleset.

The recreation is played with six or eight decks, which are drawn from a shoe. The dealer will receive a hole card in Spanish 21. A hole card is a card that’s dealt face down, meaning neither the dealer nor player can see the card’s value.

If a player gets a blackjack, consisting of one ace and one card with a value of 10, then they automatically win the game and receive a 3:2 payout, regardless of whether the dealer has blackjack.

Insurance and late surrenders are available in Spanish 21.

Even though there are four fewer 10-value cards in Spanish 21 than in blackjack, insurance is still paid out at 2:1. House edge on insurance in Spanish 21 is 24.7%, making the house edge one of the worst of casino wagers.

Late surrender is when the player surrenders after seeing the dealer’s hand but still has the chance to get half of their stake back after waiving the right to play on.

The dealer is able to peek under the hole card after his original two cards are dealt if the face-up card is an ace. If the dealer peeks and finds out that he has blackjack, all players automatically lose unless one of them has blackjack.

Anytime the player ends up with blackjack, they automatically win, regardless of whether or not the dealer has blackjack. Players will get paid out differently depending on how many cards they draw before hitting 21. A five-card 21 pays out 3:2, a six-card 21 pays out 2:1, and a 21 with seven or more cards pays out 3:1.

Does Blackjack Or Spanish 21 Have Better Odds

2 – How’s It Different From Blackjack?

Spanish 21 wasn’t introduced until 1995, so the blackjack variant has far less history than the game it’s based on. Blackjack’s predecessor is 21. A short story by Miguel de Cervantes indicates 21 has been played since the 17^th century or earlier in Spain.

The history of blackjack began in Spain but spread to other European countries by the 18^th century. In Britain, there’s evidence of the game dating back to the 1770s. After making its round through Europe, 21 finally came to America sometime in the 19^th century. 21 was given its American name of blackjack by gold prospectors.

Prospectors called one of the minerals that indicated a gold or silver deposit “blackjack.” Top bonuses in casinos playing the game at the time were then named after the mineral. Eventually, the game itself was named blackjack.

A big rule change that gives a big boost to the player’s chances has to do with blackjacks. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the dealer drawing a blackjack on the same turn you do, then this rule will put your mind at ease.

In Spanish 21, the player’s blackjack always beats the dealer’s blackjack. Anytime you draw a blackjack in the game, you’ll receive a 3:2 payout, regardless of the dealer’s hand.

Late surrender is another key difference between Spanish 21 and other blackjack variants.

If the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, you can surrender the game and get half your stake back. If you feel like the deck’s not in your favor, late surrender gives you a chance to minimize risk.

Better Odds Blackjack Or Spanish 21

Doubling down also works differently in Spanish 21 than it does in blackjack. Blackjack only allows you to double down on the original two cards dealt, meaning you can only double your wager based on the first two cards you’re dealt.

Spanish 21 lets you double down on any cards you’re dealt in the game. Anytime you double down, you’ll receive another card. You can repeat this process twice, multiplying your bet by a maximum factor of eight, giving you the chance to receive a huge payout.

The lax double down rules of Spanish 21 work in conjunction with its laid-back late surrender rules. Even though doubling down increases the risk of your wager significantly, you can always late surrender and get half your stake back.

3 – Does Spanish 21 Have a House Edge?

The house edge for Spanish 21 will vary based on the dealer’s instructions for hitting or standing when their hand is a soft or hard 17.

Soft 17 is when the dealer’s hand has a sum of 17 and includes an ace.

For example, if the dealer’s hand had a six and an ace, it would be a soft 17. Soft 17 means the dealer could draw a 10 and the hand wouldn’t bust. The ace’s value would change to one and the dealer would have 18 in their hand.

Hard 17 is when the dealer’s hand doesn’t have an ace but has a value of 17.

For example, the dealer may have a six, another six, and a five. Hard 17 has the same rules at casinos but dealers may hit or stand on soft 17, depending on the casino’s rules.

The house edge will also change depending on whether or not you choose to double throughout the game.

With redoubling, the house edge will change to .42% for six decks and .45% for eight decks. The “Match the Dealer” side bet will have different house edges depending on how many decks are in play. The more decks that are in play, the lower the house edge will be for the side bet.

With two decks in play, the house edge is at 3.63% and suited matches have odds of 19:1. However, with eight decks in play, the house edge is at 2.99% and suited matches have odds of 12:1.

4 – What Side Bets Does Spanish 21 Offer?

A popular side bet on Spanish 21 is the super bonus. If a player has a 7-7-7 hand against a dealer seven, they’ll get the super bonus. The super bonus is $1000 on bets under $25 and $5000 on bets over $25. Splitting or doubling down will negate the super bonus.

All players at the table will receive a $50 envy bonus if another player at the table wins a super bonus. Another common side bet offered on this table game is Match the Dealer.

If the rank of one or both of your original two cards matches the rank of the dealer’s face-up card, you can win this side bet. This is a pretty simple side bet to understand, but it can increase the fun of your hand and lets you try to predict which face-up card the dealer will give himself.

You can also make a second Match the Dealer side bet at some casinos. The second bet works the same as the first one, except you’re trying to match the dealer’s hole card this time.

5 – Where Can I Play Spanish 21?

Many casinos throughout the country offer this exciting blackjack variant. Rivers Casino Des Plaines, located in Des Plaines, IL, has Spanish 21 available to play in addition to other table games like baccarat, craps, and roulette.

The casino offers insurance at their Spanish 21 table letting players bet up to half the original bet on any hand. While you can double down on your hand at the casino, bonuses will not be paid out after you’ve doubled down on a hand.

Pair splitting is also available here. Players can split cards of equal value to create up to four hands. The casino also allows hitting and doubling of split hands.

Whats Better To Play Blackjack Or Spanish 21

Unlike doubled hands, bonuses can be paid on split hands, however, you will be ineligible for a super bonus after splitting your hand there.

Blackjack Spanish 21 Strategy

Hawks Prairie Casino, located in Lacey, WA, also offers Spanish 21. House rules at this casino forbid the players from touching their cards at any time while playing and the casino also disallows side bets, so you won’t be able to make Match the Dealer bets there.

Conclusion

Do you have any strategies for Spanish 21? Let us know in the comments section below.