Is Spanish 21 The Same As Blackjack

This is a blackjack variation that got its name because it is played with six or eight Spanish decks – a regular 52 card deck from which the four tens cards are taken out. Beside some of the common blackjack rules, such as number of decks, double after split and resplit Aces, Spanish 21 offers some exciting bonuses with good payouts. These bonuses and the 48 card decks make this a unique and popular blackjack variation.

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On this page, you will find additional information about the game rules of Spanish 21 Blackjack, the house edge of the game and the optimal playing strategy for securing the best possible odds for the player.

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. Fundamentally, Spanish 21 has the same aim as blackjack: to acquire a hand with a greater total value than the dealer, without exceeding 21 points, otherwise known as a bust. It shares the same style of playing table and retains all of the regular blackjack jargon and terminology. Given how popular blackjack has proven to be around the world, it’s only natural that many have tried to change or build on the basics of the classic in order to create new challenges for players.One of the most popular of these attempts is Spanish 21, a game that can be found in many brick-and-mortar casinos, as well as many Internet gaming sites.

Rules and Special Features

The most usual form of the game is played with six or eight decks of 48 cards, while the four 10s are removed. The player is allowed to surrender and double after splitting the cards. Resplitting Aces is allowed and the player can hit or double down after splitting them. In addition, the player can double on any number of cards and surrender after doubling. Some of the rules that favor the player are: player 21 wins and player blackjack beats dealer blackjack.

The rules explained above are rules common for every Spanish 21 game. However, there are some variables that should be mentioned. For example, the dealer in some variations is allowed to hit on soft 17, while in others he stands on soft 17. At certain casinos redoubling is allowed up to three hands and somewhere a split Ace and a face card are counted as a blackjack.

In any case, what make Spanish 21 so unique and thrilling are the many bonuses. This blackjack variation awards five-card 21 with a 3:2 payout, a six-card 21 with a 2:1 payout and a 7+ card 21 with a 3:1 payout. If the player gets a combination of unsuited 6-7-8 or 7-7-7, a 3:2 bonus payout is granted to him. If the same combination is suited the payout is 2:1, while 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 of spades has the best payout of 3:1. Furthermore, suited 7-7-7 across a dealer’s 7 is considered to be a super bonus and pays £1,000 for bets from £5 to £24 and £5,000 for £25+ bets.

House Edge and Soft 17

Certain rule variations affect the house edge of the game. If the game is played with eight decks and the dealer stands on soft 17 the house has an edge of 0.38%. Reducing the number of decks to six will immediately lower the house edge to 0.37%. Hitting on soft 17 increases the house edge to 0.78% when played with six decks and to 0.80% when played with eight decks. Usually, this variation allows the player to surrender. However, if this rule is changed, the house edge grows for 0.006% (dealer hits on soft 17) or 0.018% (dealer stands on soft 17).

Side Bets and Bonuses

In Spanish 21 usually a side bet known as Match the Dealer is offered. The point of this bet is the player’s cards to match the dealer’s face up card. For example, if the dealer’s card is 9 of spades, the player should have 9 of spades, 9 of any kind or a total card amount of 9 in order to win the side bet. Depending on the number of decks, the payout varies and can be 4:1 (6 deck) or 3:1 (8 deck). Furthermore, a perfect match or rank pays 9:1/12:1. Additionally, if the player has 9 of spades and 9 of diamonds, he will get two bonuses.

Game Play Strategy

Because of the many rule variations that significantly change the optimal Spanish 21 strategy, here is discussed the best strategy when the game is played with eight decks and the dealer hits on soft 17. First, in case of receiving a pair of 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and Aces, the played is advised to split. Some exceptions apply whatsoever. In case of suited 7-7 when the dealer holds 7 it is the best to hit, while 8-8 across a dealer’s Ace signals the player to surrender. The player should stand with a pair of nines if the dealer has 2, 7 or Ace. If the dealer shows 9 or Ace and the player have 2-2, 3-3, 6-6 or 7-7 hitting another card is a good move.

Second, in case of hard 4-14 the player should hit no matter the dealer’s card. However, exceptions are situations when the dealer has 4 and 5, while the player has a hard 14 and 6 across player hard 13 or 14. Hard 15+ is a sign to stand, unless the dealer has 7, 8, 9 or Ace and hitting is a good option. Hard hand of 10 or 11 is a good time for doubling, however you should pay attention to the number of cards you have. For example, if you have three cards and a hard 10, it would be the best to hit instead of double. Hard 16 and 17 when the dealer holds Ace should result in player’s surrender.

Finally, soft 12-17 should motivate the player to hit, no matter the dealer’s hand. Same goes if the player has soft 18, while the dealer holds 9 or Ace. To stand is a good move when you have soft 18 and 19. However, it is also important how many cards you hold. In a case of a soft 19 and six card hand you should hit. Soft 17 and 18 across dealer’s 4, 5 or 6 is a sign to double.

Overview

Spanish 21 is a very exciting blackjack variation. There are some rules that make it favorable to the dealer and some that are better for the player. Depending on the rules modifications it can have a low to medium house edge compared to other blackjack games. However, the many bonuses and the Match the Dealer side bet make it very interesting and challenging for the players. Using the optimal playing strategy can increase the player’s chances to win and turn this blackjack variation in a long lasting entertaining experience.


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’s two main differences from standard blackjack is a player’s blackjack always beats the dealer’s blackjack, and the game is played with a 48-card Spanish deck, rather than the standard 52-card deck. While the latter change means the four Tens are removed, which introduces problems for players in the form of a two per cent house edge increase, it is offset by some highly flexible, player-friendly changes to the usual rules, and unique bonus payouts which make it a genuinely worthwhile variation to play.

Spanish 21 has its origins in Nevada casinos, starting off as a side-game in 1996 before exploding into mainstream recognition. It is officially owned by a gaming company known as Masque Games in the United States, but several unlicensed equivalents are played around the world. One unlicensed version is known as Pontoon, an extremely popular game here in Australia and parts of south-east Asia. Locally, Pontoon — itself a variation of blackjack and Spanish 21 — has eclipsed Spanish 21 in popularity, but the latter is still worth playing for its exciting and favourable rule twists.

Spanish 21 and Standard Blackjack: the Differences

Fundamentally, Spanish 21 has the same aim as blackjack: to acquire a hand with a greater total value than the dealer, without exceeding 21 points, otherwise known as a bust. It shares the same style of playing table and retains all of the regular blackjack jargon and terminology. However, it is enough of a spin-off of blackjack with its own bonuses and rule differences to warrant being considered its own independent game.

Spanish 21 Fixed Rules

  • A player’s blackjack or any card total of 21 points always wins, regardless of what the dealer has; a rule which is thoroughly appealing to all players.
  • A blackjack payout is always fixed at 3 to 2.
  • 10-spot cards are removed from the six to eight Spanish decks used.
  • The dealer receives an up-card and a hole card.
  • If the dealer shows an Ace or face card, he/she peeks at the hole card to check for blackjack. If he/she does have blackjack, all players lose (unless they have blackjack).
  • We can opt for late surrender any time, after hitting, doubling or splitting.
  • Splitting is allowed and you can re-split up to three more times, including Aces.
  • We can double down on any number of cards, and can hit or double down after splitting any two cards, including Aces.

Spanish 21 Varied Rules

  • Spanish 21 is usually played from a six deck shoe, but eight decks are sometimes used.
  • The dealer can either hit or stand on a soft 17, but will usually stand.
  • Players can double double down, (re-double) up to two times after initially doubling down

Spanish 21: Bonus 21

A major facet of Spanish 21 is the massive bonus payouts awarded to players when their cards total 21: these extra winnings are called Bonus 21. These sort of bonuses, while hard to earn, are fairly rare in traditional games of blackjack, but are present in all games of Spanish 21, which is what makes this variant so popular.

The following are all the lucky hand combinations totalling 21 which earn the player a bonus payout:

  • If we have five cards from any suit which total 21, the payout is 3 to 2.
  • If we have six cards from any suit which add up to 21, the payout is 2 to 1.
  • If we have seven cards from any suit which add up to 21, the payout is 3 to 1.
  • If we reach 21 with a hand of Six/Seven/Eight, the payout is 3 to 2 for mixed suits, 2 to 1 for same suit, and 3 to 1 for those three cards all being Spades.
  • If we have three Sevens from the same suit, the payout is 2 to 1.
  • If we have three Sevens from mixed suits, the payout is 3 to 2.
  • If we have three Sevens all of Spades, the payout is 3 to 1.

Note: The above bonuses still pay out even if the hand was a split, but any doubling negates any potential bonus.

How To Play Spanish 21 Blackjack

The following hand is regarded as the ‘super bonus’ and pays out significantly more than the above, but is obviously a hell of a lot rarer:

  • If you reach 21 with a three Sevens of the same suit, and the dealer’s up-card is also a Seven (of any suit), the automatic payout is $1000 for bets of $5 to $24, and $5000 for any bets made over $25, while all over players on the table receive an ‘envy bonus’ of $50.

Note: If the above hand (Seven/Seven/Seven with a dealer Seven) is made following a split or a hand which was doubled, the bonus is negated. Any other winning hands which do not include any of the above combinations pay out at even money (1 to 1).

The coveted suited Seven/Seven/Seven combination with a dealer Seven holds a probability of 1 in 668,382 if the game is being played with six decks, and 1 in 549,188 with eight decks. Every casino also employs their own modifications to the super bonus: sometimes this can mean smaller payouts or additional criteria to acquire it, so read up on each venue’s unique guidelines before playing.

Free Spanish 21 Blackjack

Match the Dealer

Is Spanish 21 The Same As Blackjack

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Some games of Spanish 21 incorporate an additional side-bet known as Match the Dealer. This side bet is unique to Spanish 21 and applies if either or both of our first two cards dealt match the dealer’s up-card. With a house edge of three per cent, it eclipses the house edge of the main game, but Match the Dealer still has one of the lowest house advantages of any blackjack side bet.

For example:

  • We draw a Seven of Clubs and a King of Hearts, and the dealer draws a Seven of Spades, this is called one non-suited match.
  • If we draw a Seven of Clubs and a King of Hearts, and the dealer draws a Seven of Clubs, this is one suited match.
  • If we draw a Seven of Clubs and a Seven of Hearts, and the dealer draws a Seven of Spades, this is two non-suited matches.
  • If we draw a Seven of Clubs and a Seven of Hearts, and the dealer draws a Seven of Clubs, we call this one non-suited match and one suited match.
  • And finally, if we draw two Sevens of Clubs, and the dealer also draw a Seven of Clubs, this is two suited matches and holds the largest payout.

The payout and house edge for a non-suited matches and suited matches depends on the number of decks used.

The match the dealer side wager holds a house edge of 3.06% in a six-deck game, and 2.99% in an eight-decks game.

Same

Spanish 21 House Edge

How To Play Spanish Blackjack

Spanish 21 offers a significantly lower house edge than any blackjack variant game. The house edge can be dropped to less than 1% if we follow basic, optimal strategy, making Spanish 21, like traditional blackjack, an ideal game for those who want larger control over their returns. The house edge of Spanish 21 will depend on the rule variations of the game:

  • If six decks are in play, and the dealer stands on a soft 17, the house edge is 0.37%.
  • If six decks are used, and the dealer hits on a soft 17, the house edge is 0.78%
  • If eight decks are being used, and the the dealer must stand on a soft 17, the house edge is 0.38%.
  • If eight decks are in play, and the dealer is required to hit on a soft 17, the house edge is 0.80%.
  • If re-doubling is allowed where the dealer hits on a soft 17, the house edge is 0.42% in six-deck games, and 0.45% in eight-deck games.
  • If surrendering is not an available option, the house edge increase by 0.006% in a stand on soft 17 game, and by 0.018% in a hit on soft 17 game.

Is All Spanish The Same

Spanish 21’s unique Super Bonus also reduces the house advantage, depending on the number of decks used and the wager amounts placed. In a six-deck game with bets of exactly $5 or $25, the Super Bonus lowers the house edge by 0.030%, and 0.036% in an eight-deck game, assuming there are no other players. At a bet of $5, the ‘envy bonus’ also lowers the house edge by 0.0015% in a six-deck game, and 0.0018% in an eight-deck game, per additional player.

Spanish 21 Blackjack Card Game

Insurance bets remain a sucker bet, just like in any other game of blackjack. In Spanish 21, such a wager actually presents worse odds than other games, due to the removal of the four ten-valued cards per deck; a dealer natural blackjack thus much less likely. With a house edge of 24.7% and an unfair payout of 2 to 1 rather than 3 to 1 to match the increased risk in Spanish 21, insurance continues to be one of the poorer wagers of any casino game.

Spanish 21 holds a different twist on the traditional game of blackjack, for good entertainment value, and refreshment from the usual rules. While the removal of 10-valued cards is concerning, Spanish 21’s generous Super Bonus and other enticing extra payouts, along with the extremely favourable rule of a player blackjack always winning, are good enough rules to make the game worth playing.