How To Play Spanish 21 - Spanish 21 Rules and Strategies

Spanish 21 is a variation of blackjack that uses 48 cards rather than the standard deck of 52 cards. In this game, the four tens are removed from the deck, leaving a total of 48 cards to play with. As the removal of high value cards such as the 10 moves the odds in the house's favour, the player receives favourable rules that level the playing field.

Like blackjack, the aim of Spanish 21 is to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 as possible without going over. If your hand exceeds 21, you've busted, and your hand automatically loses, regardless of what the dealer does.

Before we dive into how Spanish 21 differs from blackjack, let's go over the basic rules of the game:

• Players must place their bets before the round begins.
• The game is played with between 6-8 48-card decks that have had the 10s removed.
• Numbered cards are worth their face value, picture cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) are worth 10, and aces are worth 1 or 11.
• A natural blackjack (the player is dealt an ace and a picture card with their first two cards) is paid out at 3 to 2.

Rule Variants

Unlike traditional blackjack, Spanish 21 uses a variety of rules that seek to improve the player's odds. This is to counteract the absence of the four 10s in the deck, rebalancing the house edge to an acceptable level.

While the exact rules of the game will vary from casino to casino, we've created a list of the common rule variations found in this game:

• Players are allowed to double down after splitting.
• Players are allowed to re-split aces.
• Late surrendering is allowed.
• A player 21 will always win.
• The player's blackjack will always beat a dealer blackjack.
• Players can double on any number of cards.
• Players can hit or double down after splitting aces.
• Players have the option to surrender after doubling down. When doing so, they forfeit the amount equal to their original bet.

Bonus Payouts

As well as these favourable rules, there are bonuses for making a hand that totals 21 with five cards or more:

• Five-card 21 pays 3 to 2
• Six-card 21 pays 2 to 1
• Seven-card 21 pays 3 to 1
• 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 of different suits pays 3 to 2
• 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 of the same suit pays 2 to 1
• 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 in spades pays 3 to 1

Super Bonus

If you make 21 using all 7s of the same suit while the dealer is showing a 7, you automatically win a payout called the Super Bonus.

This bonus pays out 1000 dollars for bets between $5 and $24 and pays out 5000 dollars for bets of $25 or more. When you win the super bonus each player at the table receives a $50 "envy bonus."

Depending on the situation, the player may choose from six actions during their turn:

♠️ Hit

You receive an additional card to increase your hand total. This action can be taken at any time.

♣️ Stand

You decline to take another card, keeping your hand total the same. This action can be taken at any time.

♥️ Double Down

You double the size of your bet and only receive one additional card. Unlike blackjack, you can double down on any number of cards when playing Spanish 21.

♦️ Split

If a player is dealt two cards of the same rank, they can split their hand into two separate hands. For example, if a player is dealt 88, they can split their hand by matching their original bet. The dealer will separate the cards and add a second card to each. The player can then play these hands as they would any other blackjack hand, with all of the same options available to them.

🃏 Surrender

If you are in an unfavourable situation, such as a hard 16 against a dealer 9, you have the option of surrendering your hand. This allows you to take back half your bet in exchange for forfeiting your chances of winning. In Spanish 21 blackjack, you have the option of late surrendering, which means you can only take this action after the dealer has checked for blackjack.

This game also offers the chance to surrender after doubling down, an action known as "double down rescue." In this situation, get half of your total bet back and give up your chance to win the hand.

🧐 Insurance

When the dealer's up card is an ace, you have the option to take out an insurance bet that's equal to half of your original wager. If the dealer has a blackjack, your insurance bet is paid out at 2 to 1.

🤵 Match The Dealer

Some games of Spanish 21 may offer a side bet called "Match The Dealer." In this game, players must try to match the ranks of their initial two cards with the up card shown by the dealer. Here's an example of a common paytable used for this side bet:

The basic strategies for Spanish 21 are similar to that of blackjack. However, due to the variety of rules in place, there are a lot more deviations to remember. This is because adjustments need to be made to take advantage of all the bonuses offered to the player if they can make a total of 21 with specific combinations of cards.

Below, we've posted an example of a Spanish 21 strategy table where the dealer hits on soft 17.