Pros and cons
- The use of 48 decks makes the game wild and unpredictable
- Late surrender options helps players when dealer has 21
- Unlike traditional Blackjack, the player wins with 21, even if the deal has 21 as well
- Changes from traditional Blackjack take time to master
The Spanish 21 Blackjack encourages players to draw more cards than in the traditional version of the game, upping the action as the cards go flying over and over again.
Spanish 21 for Canadians
For every player coming to us from Canada, there is the availability of Spanish 21 online games at top Canadian gaming sites. A variety of Canadian online casinos offer the high quality, flashy Spanish 21 tables that you would expect to find in a land-based casino, and with the high payout rates that you would expect from an online game.
Spanish 21 Rules
Based on the rules of Blackjack, Spanish 21 was first developed for Nevada casinos in 1995. The game uses a 48-card deck and can be played with six to eight decks of cards, either from a shoe or from a continuously shuffling machine. Spanish 21 is played on an online blackjack table with a custom layout.
Like Blackjack, the game requires a 16 to hit and a 17 to stand. Some versions of this game require the dealer to hit or stand on a soft 17. Any hand that contains an ace, which counts as an 11, is a soft hand. Therefore, an ace-6 hand and an ace-3-3 hand are both soft 17 hands. The "soft 17 rule" requires the dealer to hit on a soft 17. Other versions require the dealer to stand on a soft 17. Both versions have different odds of winning, which we will go over later. First, let us go over the basics of playing Spanish 21.
Step 1: Dealing the First Hand
As with Blackjack, the game begins with the dealer dealing himself one card and giving each player two cards, with the players' cards facing either up or down, depending on the variant of the game.
Step 2: 21, Stand, or Hit
At this point, the player must not only determine the value of his own hand, but also that of the dealer. It's all or nothing now. A hand that has 21, and it can't be anything else, with an ace and a 10 wins Blackjack. Lose that and you simply lose. On the other hand, if neither you nor the dealer has 21, it's time to decide. You have several options, and I'm going to tell you what they are.
Stand/Hold: The person whose hand is the closest to 21 wins. If your hand is very close to 21, such as 19 or 20, you have a good chance of beating the dealer. In this case, you can choose to hold, which basically means that you won't be dealt any more cards and you're good to go with your current hand.
Hit In this case, the player is dealt another card to try to reach 21. You can hit all you want, but remember that if your hand goes over 21, you lose.
Winning Spanish 21
In this game, the person seated between the dealer and the player tries to make a hand that is closest to or equal to 21. If his hand exceeds 21, he is said to be busted and loses the game. If both the dealer and the player achieve a hand that totals 21, the person whose hand is between them and the dealer loses.
Spanish 21 Pays:
- Three to one is the payout for a hand of 21 when you hold seven or more cards.
- Mixed suits of 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 pay 3 to 2. Two pairs of 7, 8, 9 or 7, 7, 8 or 8, 8, 8 in the same suit pay 2 to 1. The payout for 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 in spades is 3 to 1.
- When the dealer has a seven face up, the suited 7-7-7 pays $1000 for bets of $5-$24 and $5000 for bets of $25 or more. It gets better: Every other player at the table automatically receives a $50 "envy bonus".
Unlike blackjack, the game has additional rules in the player’s favor:
- Late Surrender - The dealer checks for a natural (21 on the first two cards). If he doesn't have it, you can fold and get half your bet back in exchange for giving up the right to play on.
- Doubling down after splitting - Doubling down after splitting means that if you are dealt a pair, you can split it. You then have the opportunity to place an additional wager equal to the original wager on the second hand.
- A player can double down on any number of cards.
- Redoubling - Some casinos allow players to "redouble" up to three times.
- The player can hit and double down after splitting Aces.
- Double Down Rescue - The player may surrender after doubling down. In this case, the player forfeits an amount equal to the original bet.
- Insurance - When a dealer has an Ace, he can offer insurance to players. A player can buy insurance for half of his original bet.
Spanish 21 Odds
Earlier we talked about the different forms of Spanish 21. Although most people probably think that Spanish 21 has been the same since its inception, it actually has a couple of different forms that are more or less common around the world. One of these forms has the dealer busting on a soft 17, and the other has the dealer standing on a soft 17. Each of these forms has a slightly different house edge. And, of course, the house edge also changes quite a bit depending on whether you are playing with 6-card or 8-card decks.
Hit on 17 with 6 decks: 078% house edge
Hit on 17 with 8 decks: 080% house edge
Stand on 17 with 6 decks: 037% house edge
Stand on 17 with 8 decks: 038% house edge
Hit on 17 with redoubling with 6 decks: 0.42% house edge
Hit on 17 with redoubling with 8 decks: 0.45% house edge
Spanish 21 has a house edge that you can measure against other casino games. The following list shows some of the more popular games found in casinos today and their corresponding house edges:
- Slot Machines: 2-15% house edge
Top 5 Spanish 21 Strategy Tips
- Hit more often than in blackjack – Since the game has fewer 10 value cards, there is a lower risk of busting in a lot of hands compared to blackjack. Therefore, you have a better chance of winning by drawing another card here.
- Practice makes perfect– Because Spanish 21 has many rules and variations; we suggest practicing on demo games before you play with real money. Many online casinos offer free Spanish 21 games so you can try the game riskee. When you feel more comfortable with the game, you will win more when you play it for real money.
- Know your limits – At mymobicasino.com, we encourage our players to practice responsible gaming and never bet more than you can afford. When you play Spanish 21 online, you can set betting limits with the gambling site. In this way, the casino will cut you off once you reach betting limits, keeping gambling profitable and fun.
- Know the odds – Different casinos and versions of Spanish 21 have better odds. Learning the house edge and chances of winning will help you make better bets and win more.
- Review strategy charts – You can find plenty of Spanish 21 strategy online charts that give specific instructions on what move to make according to the exact cards you have been dealt. These guidelines will help you make the best decision and win more money.
Conclusion
So what are you waiting for? Discover firsthand what makes this game a fun twist on the time-honored casino staple, Blackjack. Spanish 21 casino games offer many benefits to players, including a house edge that is lower than Blackjack in most places. But even more exciting is the opportunity to play ridiculously good online versions - right on your computer or mobile device - at online casinos that accept Canadian players.