Spanish 21 Rules and Strategies

Spanish 21 rules and strategiesIn a nutshell, Spanish 21 is a variant of your classic blackjack table game. It’s similar to standard blackjack; however, all 10s are exempt from the deck. It offers players a chance at various winning possibilities and provides a unique gaming experience. If you’re a lover of Blackjack but keen on a slight twist, Spanish 21 may just be the game for you.

How to Play Blackjack, Spanish 21

The Bets

Essentially, all betting systems in Spanish 21 remain the same as those of blackjack. To start, the table minimum must be bet by the player to begin a hand. An example of this would be to find a $5 to $50 table. The least bet to play at such a table is $5, while the most that the player can bet is $50.

As we’ve already mentioned, the Spanish 21 game offers players the chance at multiple ways to win. The player must meet specific criteria to qualify for a Super Bonus or Bonus 21 payout.

Bonus 21 Paytable

This is how combinations compare with the payouts.

  • 7-7-7 Spaded – 3-1;
  • 7-7-7 Mixed – 3-2;
  • 7-7-7 Suite – 2-1;
  • 6-7-8 Spaded – 3-1;
  • 6-7-8 Mixed – 3-2;
  • 6-7-8 Suite – 2-1;
  • 7+ Card 21 – 3-1;
  • 6 Card 21 – 3-2;
  • 5 Card 21 – 2-1.

How to play blackjack spanish 21

Super Bonus

The Super Bonus is another fantastic way to win big with Spanish 21. If you find yourself being dealt with a 7-7-7 set and the dealer’s card facing upwards also happens to be a 7, then you qualify for this bonus. You can score $1,000 for bets within a range of $5 as well as $14. If you place a bet of more than $25, then the feature will have a payout of $5,000.

There is also an Envy Bonus. With this feature, all the other players at the table will receive $50. In this case, there’s no need for a side bet.

It’s a relatively simple game to grasp as a beginner. With enough playing experience in Blackjack alone, you should find yourself genuinely enjoying Spanish 21.

The Gameplay and Its Rules

Typically speaking, Spanish 21 is played using 6 Spanish decks. You have your Ace to nine, the Joker, King, and Queen. Always take note that this game does not offer 10s. Just as you’d find with blackjack, the aim is to put together a hand that’s closest to 21. During this time, you cannot bust or go over 21, or you’ll lose the game, and the dealer wins. Should you total the closest to 21, but not over, then you win.

Depending on the player’s hand, all Aces are worth one or 11. All the face cards are worth 10. For an automatic win, get a card combination that is equal to 21. An excellent example of this would be a Jack and an Ace. This player blackjack outsmarts the dealer’s side and has a payout of 3-2.

This is what you can expect when starting with Spanish 21:

  • All players are dealt 2 cards.
  • Both the cards are dealt face-up.
  • The dealer also gets 2 cards.
  • The dealer’s first card will be faced up, while the second card will be facing downwards so that other players can’t see it.
  • After all the cards have been dealt, each player will be required to take the next step based on what their individual hands hold.

Spanish 21 gameplay and rules

Strategies

When we talk about the player taking the next step, they can choose from the following options below.

  • If the dealer’s upcard is a King, Queen, Joker, or Ace, you have to be on the lookout for a possible blackjack on their end. If there’s no evidence of a blackjack on their end, the player can surrender. But this can only happen if the player is not happy with their individual hand and if the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack, then the player can’t surrender.
  • You can stand if you feel happy with your individual hand. In this case, you won’t be dealt any more cards.
  • Other than choosing to surrender, you also have the option to hit or request for more cards to be dealt to you. Since you may be dissatisfied with your hand at this point, you may continue to hit until you’re fully satisfied with it.
  • You can double down. This is when you add to the wager amount that’s either equal or less than the original wager amount.
  • If you are dealt with matching cards, like 2 matching cards of sevens, then you can make 2 separate hands by splitting the hands. From here, the player will need to initiate an added wager that matches the original bet. Once the cards have been split, the player will make a move on each hand. You can’t take action with both hands at the same time. With this game, you have the option to split your cards with up to 4 hands. You also have the option to hit or double those split hands.
  • Take insurance if you see that the dealer’s card that’s facing up is an Ace card. You can call for insurance on half of your original bet. This can be a huge advantage to players in the case of finding that the dealer’s hand equals 21. In this case, you can expect a payout of 2-1. The purpose of insurance is to protect your original bet when the player finds that the dealer has a blackjack.

Once all the players have chosen their individual cards, the dealer will proceed to reveal their second card. This is the card that was placed face down. If the dealer’s cards are closer to 21 than the player’s, the dealer wins. If your hand and the dealer’s hand are equal, no chips will be exchanged. But if both hands equal a total of 21, then your hand, as the player’s, will win, and you can expect a payout of 3-1.

In Conclusion

Knowing the rules and strategies of Spanish 21 allows you to understand how to make your next move. Always remember to gamble responsibly and ask for help if you need it.

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Conrad Brennan
Former Author
University of Toronto
BA of Business and Marketing
Expert in:
  • Games reviews
  • Slot reviews
Reviewed by Head of Content:
Dmitry Rogalchuk
Last updated on: 06.03.2024

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