Spanish 21 Game

• Spanish 21 Game
• Spanish 21 Game Free
• Free Online Spanish 21 Games
• Spanish 21 Trainer

OBJECTIVE OF SPANISH 21 : The final goal of Spanish 21 to create a hand as close to 21 as possible.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 to 7 players

MATERIALS: A 'Spanish' deck of 48 cards – with no 10s, casino chips or cash, and a blackjack table with a custom layout.

TYPE OF GAME: Card Draw Game

Spanish 21 Card Game How to Play Spanish 21 How Spanish 21 is Related to Blackjack. Spanish 21 is a fast-paced variation of blackjack that has become increasingly popular. The game is played on a standard blackjack table. The main difference between Spanish 21 compared to blackjack is the removal of all 10's in the decks. Spanish 21 is a blackjack game that involves 8 decks of cards with the 10's removed from the deck. You can receive bonuses for receiving certain 21 combinations. Spanish 21 is a casino game that is based on the classic game of blackjack, but has several different rules and exciting twists. The game is played with only 48 cards and the removal of the tens provides the house with an increased edge. 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.

AUDIENCE: Adult

OVERVIEW OF SPANISH 21

The game is a variation of common blackjack and is also referred to as Pontoon in Australia and Malaysia. It's played by up to 7 players on a custom blackjack table. The goal is to form a card hand that is closest to 21.

Bets are accepted at the beginning of the game and as rounds proceed, there will be no further increase or decrease in bet values. Any two-cards that score 21 will be considered a win over the dealer's hand and be paid 3-2. The game can be played indefinitely, as long as there is an adequate bankroll.

GAMEPLAY

The round starts with the croupier accepting bets from all players at the table. Once complete, all players will be dealt 2 cards from a shoe of 6-8 Spanish decks. Players will be allowed to assess their cards and choose to either hit, stand, split, or double, or surrender.

The dealer then compares the cards and pays out wagers as prescribed in the game's rules.

GENERAL RULES OF PLAY

• Player's 21 trumps dealer's 21, always.
• A dealer can choose to hit or stand on a soft 17, unlike blackjack where they must hit.
• Redoubling can be allowed up to 3 times.
• A player can double at any number of cards.
• A player may surrender after doubling down to receive half of his wager.
• You can still surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack in the first round.
• The shoe will contain no 10s.
• Dealers must hit on 16.
• Doubling after splitting is allowed.
• Players can draw multiple cards after splitting Aces
• There are bonus payouts for selected hands.

GAME RULES

HIT, STAND, SPLIT

In regards to which moves to make, the rules are similar to classic blackjack. Players are allowed to hit, stand or split at any point in the game, after the dealer has received your bets and dealt the initial hand.

LATE SURRENDER RULE

Spanish 21 Game

A late surrender means that a player is allowed to surrender their hand after the dealer looks for a blackjack. This is a great opportunity for players to cut losses. If you can manage to calculate the odds between your hand and the dealers, you'll still be able to salvage at least half of your wager.

RE-SPLITTING RULE

You can choose to split aces at any point in the game. Also, you're allowed to double, re-double or re-split after your initial split. Late surrender also applies here, so if things go wrong, you'll be able to get half your bet back.

MATCH THE DEALER RULE (SIDE BET)

Aside from rule variation from the original blackjack game guidelines, Spanish 21 also surprises players with bonus games and additional side bets within the gameplay. Match the Dealer is one such side bet. This bet is paid out whenever any of the initial cards match that of the cards that the dealer has face-up. However, as a rule, seasoned punters avoid this wager in order to secure their chances of winning.

SUPER BONUS RULE

The Super Bonus is another side bet, exclusive to Spanish 21. It is when a Player holds suited 7-7-7 while the dealer draws a 7 of any suit. and the Dealer. Depending on the shoe, either 6 or 8, the probability of scoring this bonus is about 1 in 668,382 and 1 in 549, 188, respectively.

STRATEGIES

The strategies to play Spanish 21 is very close to that of blackjack. As you would in the classic variation, you'll need to be able to assess the probability of the cards with the dealer and gauge them against your own. And as with blackjack, there are strategy sheets for the outcomes possible in Spanish 21.

BASIC STRATEGY – DEALER HITS ON SOFT 17

Source : wizardofodds.com

BASIC STRATEGY – DEALER STANDS ON SOFT 17

Source : wizardofodds.com

BASIC STRATEGY – DEALER HITS ON SOFT 17, PLAYER HAS NOT DOUBLED

Source : wizardofodds.com

BONUS PAYOUT HANDS

6-7-8

• 6-7-8 of mixed suit pays out 2 to 1
• 6-7-8 of the same suit pays out 3 to 2

PERFECT CHARLIE

• Perfect Charlies are 5-card 21s

• Also known as 2-3-4-5-7
• Pays out 3 to 2

CLOSING

Many prefer this variation of blackjack as the odds are stacked in the player's favor. Additionally, there are also bonus payouts for selected hands and from the looks of it, these can easily be scored. The game is one that everyone should try out, especially if you're looking for an easy win against the dealer.

Introduction

Spanish 21 is a variation of blackjack, that in some cases is the best bet in the casino. In locations where the dealer stands on a soft 17, or redoubling is allowed, Spanish 21 may be a better bet than blackjack, depending on the specific blackjack rules. If you are looking for a change of pace from traditional blackjack but insist on a game with a low house edge, then you may find new excitement in Spanish 21.

In Australia and Malaysia, Spanish 21 is called Pontoon. There are some rule changes in Australia, which merit a separate page. For all the details please visit my page on Australian Pontoon. To make matters more confusing, there is another similar game, but different enough to warrant a separate page, called Player's Edge 21.

Following is a list of known aliases of the game:

• Betsoft, a major provider of software for Internet casinos, offers Spanish 21 under the name Pirate 21.
• The Casino Bregenz in Austria changes the name to Blackjack Exchange.

The Rules

Spanish 21 uses six or eight Spanish decks, each deck consisting of 48 cards — the regular 52 cards less the four tens. Any card counter can tell you that removing any 10-point card from the cards moves the odds in favor of the dealer. To make up for this, Spanish 21 gives the player a host of bonuses and favorable rules. There are lots of Spanish 21 games all over the country, so rules will vary somewhat from place to place, but the usual rules in the player's favor are:

1. Late surrender allowed.
2. Double after split allowed.
3. Re-splitting aces allowed.
4. A player 21 always wins.
5. Player blackjack beats dealer blackjack.
6. Player may double on any number of cards.
7. Player may usually hit and double down after splitting aces.
8. Player may surrender after doubling, known as 'double down rescue.' The player forfeits an amount equal to his original bet.
9. A five-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a six-card 21 pays 2 to 1, a seven or more card 21 pays 3 to 1. Bonus not honored after doubling.
10. A 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3 to 2, of the same suit pays 2 to 1, and of spades pays 3 to 1. These bonuses do not pay after doubling.
11. Suited 7-7-7 when the dealer has a seven face up pays $1000 for bets of $5-$24 and $5000 'Super Bonus' for bets of $25 or over. In addition, all other players receive a $50 'envy bonus.' This bonus does not pay after doubling or splitting.

Variable Rules

1. Dealer may hit or stand on a soft 17.
2. 6 or 8 Spanish decks can be used.
3. Some casinos allow redoubling, up to three times.
4. I have heard of some casinos not allowing surrender or drawing to split aces, but it isn't the norm.
5. A face card and ace after splitting has been known to count as a blackjack, at at least one casino.
6. There has been a lot of debate through the years whether the bonuses are payable after a split. First, there is almost no argument that they do not pay after doubling. However, the way the game was designed, all bonuses except the Super Bonus are supposed to be payable after splitting. However, most casinos do not pay the bonuses after a split. The effect of not allowing the bonuses after splitting is very small, around 0.01%.

Strategy

Following is my Spanish 21 basic strategy when the dealer hits a soft 17.

Next is the Spanish 21 basic strategy when the dealer stands on a soft 17.

Note: If drawing to split aces is not allowed, and the dealer stands on soft 17 (as is the case at the Mohegan Sun), then hit A,A vs A.

The next table if for when the dealer hits a soft 17, redoubling is allowed, and the player has not already doubled.

The next table if for when the dealer hits a soft 17, redoubling is allowed, and the player has already doubled, which limits his options to stand, surrender, and double again.

Many readers have expressed doubt about my advice to hit 17 against an ace with 3 or more cards. However, I stand by what I said. The player will save about 2.8% of the initial wager by hitting as opposed to standing. The dealers will advise against this play and the other players may curse the day you were born, but trust me, the odds favor hitting.

• Dealer stands on soft 17: 0.40%
• Dealer hits on soft 17, redoubling allowed: 0.42%
• Dealer hits on soft 17, redoubling not allowed: 0.76%

Super Bonus

The dealer then compares the cards and pays out wagers as prescribed in the game's rules.

GENERAL RULES OF PLAY

• Player's 21 trumps dealer's 21, always.
• A dealer can choose to hit or stand on a soft 17, unlike blackjack where they must hit.
• Redoubling can be allowed up to 3 times.
• A player can double at any number of cards.
• A player may surrender after doubling down to receive half of his wager.
• You can still surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack in the first round.
• The shoe will contain no 10s.
• Dealers must hit on 16.
• Doubling after splitting is allowed.
• Players can draw multiple cards after splitting Aces
• There are bonus payouts for selected hands.

GAME RULES

HIT, STAND, SPLIT

In regards to which moves to make, the rules are similar to classic blackjack. Players are allowed to hit, stand or split at any point in the game, after the dealer has received your bets and dealt the initial hand.

LATE SURRENDER RULE

Spanish 21 Game

A late surrender means that a player is allowed to surrender their hand after the dealer looks for a blackjack. This is a great opportunity for players to cut losses. If you can manage to calculate the odds between your hand and the dealers, you'll still be able to salvage at least half of your wager.

RE-SPLITTING RULE

You can choose to split aces at any point in the game. Also, you're allowed to double, re-double or re-split after your initial split. Late surrender also applies here, so if things go wrong, you'll be able to get half your bet back.

MATCH THE DEALER RULE (SIDE BET)

Aside from rule variation from the original blackjack game guidelines, Spanish 21 also surprises players with bonus games and additional side bets within the gameplay. Match the Dealer is one such side bet. This bet is paid out whenever any of the initial cards match that of the cards that the dealer has face-up. However, as a rule, seasoned punters avoid this wager in order to secure their chances of winning.

SUPER BONUS RULE

The Super Bonus is another side bet, exclusive to Spanish 21. It is when a Player holds suited 7-7-7 while the dealer draws a 7 of any suit. and the Dealer. Depending on the shoe, either 6 or 8, the probability of scoring this bonus is about 1 in 668,382 and 1 in 549, 188, respectively.

STRATEGIES

The strategies to play Spanish 21 is very close to that of blackjack. As you would in the classic variation, you'll need to be able to assess the probability of the cards with the dealer and gauge them against your own. And as with blackjack, there are strategy sheets for the outcomes possible in Spanish 21.

BASIC STRATEGY – DEALER HITS ON SOFT 17

Source : wizardofodds.com

BASIC STRATEGY – DEALER STANDS ON SOFT 17

Source : wizardofodds.com

BASIC STRATEGY – DEALER HITS ON SOFT 17, PLAYER HAS NOT DOUBLED

Source : wizardofodds.com

BONUS PAYOUT HANDS

6-7-8

• 6-7-8 of mixed suit pays out 2 to 1
• 6-7-8 of the same suit pays out 3 to 2

PERFECT CHARLIE

• Perfect Charlies are 5-card 21s

• Also known as 2-3-4-5-7
• Pays out 3 to 2

CLOSING

Many prefer this variation of blackjack as the odds are stacked in the player's favor. Additionally, there are also bonus payouts for selected hands and from the looks of it, these can easily be scored. The game is one that everyone should try out, especially if you're looking for an easy win against the dealer.

Introduction

Spanish 21 is a variation of blackjack, that in some cases is the best bet in the casino. In locations where the dealer stands on a soft 17, or redoubling is allowed, Spanish 21 may be a better bet than blackjack, depending on the specific blackjack rules. If you are looking for a change of pace from traditional blackjack but insist on a game with a low house edge, then you may find new excitement in Spanish 21.

In Australia and Malaysia, Spanish 21 is called Pontoon. There are some rule changes in Australia, which merit a separate page. For all the details please visit my page on Australian Pontoon. To make matters more confusing, there is another similar game, but different enough to warrant a separate page, called Player's Edge 21.

Following is a list of known aliases of the game:

• Betsoft, a major provider of software for Internet casinos, offers Spanish 21 under the name Pirate 21.
• The Casino Bregenz in Austria changes the name to Blackjack Exchange.

The Rules

Spanish 21 uses six or eight Spanish decks, each deck consisting of 48 cards — the regular 52 cards less the four tens. Any card counter can tell you that removing any 10-point card from the cards moves the odds in favor of the dealer. To make up for this, Spanish 21 gives the player a host of bonuses and favorable rules. There are lots of Spanish 21 games all over the country, so rules will vary somewhat from place to place, but the usual rules in the player's favor are:

1. Late surrender allowed.
2. Double after split allowed.
3. Re-splitting aces allowed.
4. A player 21 always wins.
5. Player blackjack beats dealer blackjack.
6. Player may double on any number of cards.
7. Player may usually hit and double down after splitting aces.
8. Player may surrender after doubling, known as 'double down rescue.' The player forfeits an amount equal to his original bet.
9. A five-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a six-card 21 pays 2 to 1, a seven or more card 21 pays 3 to 1. Bonus not honored after doubling.
10. A 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3 to 2, of the same suit pays 2 to 1, and of spades pays 3 to 1. These bonuses do not pay after doubling.
11. Suited 7-7-7 when the dealer has a seven face up pays $1000 for bets of $5-$24 and $5000 'Super Bonus' for bets of $25 or over. In addition, all other players receive a $50 'envy bonus.' This bonus does not pay after doubling or splitting.

Variable Rules

1. Dealer may hit or stand on a soft 17.
2. 6 or 8 Spanish decks can be used.
3. Some casinos allow redoubling, up to three times.
4. I have heard of some casinos not allowing surrender or drawing to split aces, but it isn't the norm.
5. A face card and ace after splitting has been known to count as a blackjack, at at least one casino.
6. There has been a lot of debate through the years whether the bonuses are payable after a split. First, there is almost no argument that they do not pay after doubling. However, the way the game was designed, all bonuses except the Super Bonus are supposed to be payable after splitting. However, most casinos do not pay the bonuses after a split. The effect of not allowing the bonuses after splitting is very small, around 0.01%.

Strategy

Following is my Spanish 21 basic strategy when the dealer hits a soft 17.

Next is the Spanish 21 basic strategy when the dealer stands on a soft 17.

Note: If drawing to split aces is not allowed, and the dealer stands on soft 17 (as is the case at the Mohegan Sun), then hit A,A vs A.

The next table if for when the dealer hits a soft 17, redoubling is allowed, and the player has not already doubled.

The next table if for when the dealer hits a soft 17, redoubling is allowed, and the player has already doubled, which limits his options to stand, surrender, and double again.

Many readers have expressed doubt about my advice to hit 17 against an ace with 3 or more cards. However, I stand by what I said. The player will save about 2.8% of the initial wager by hitting as opposed to standing. The dealers will advise against this play and the other players may curse the day you were born, but trust me, the odds favor hitting.

• Dealer stands on soft 17: 0.40%
• Dealer hits on soft 17, redoubling allowed: 0.42%
• Dealer hits on soft 17, redoubling not allowed: 0.76%

Super Bonus

The probability of hitting the Super Bonus is 1 in 668,382, with six decks, and 1 in 549,188 with eight decks. The reduction in the house edge depends on the bet amount, and to a lesser extent, the number of players. With no other players, and bets of exactly $5 or $25, the Super Bonus lowers the house edge by 0.030% in a six-deck game, and 0.036% in an eight-deck game. At a bet of exactly $5, the Envy Bonus lowers the house edge by an additional 0.0015% in a six-deck game, and 0.0018% in an eight-deck game, per additional player.

For bet amounts other than those indicated above, the benefit of the Super Bonus will go down as the bet amount goes up.

No Draw to Split Aces: At the Mohegan Sun drawing to split aces is NOT allowed. The effect of this rule is to increase the house edge by 0.29%.

Ace and 10 after splitting aces pays 3 to 2: I have an unconfirmed report that at at one time the Meskaki casino in central Iowa paid 3 to 2 on an ace and 10 after splitting aces. I have another unconfirmed report that as of Aug. 2010 they removed the Spanish 21 table completely. According to my calculations this lowers the house edge by 0.16%. Otherwise they hit a soft 17 and no redoubling, for an overall house edge of 0.60%.

Doubling only allowed on first two cards: I had a false report that a casino in Malaysia didn't allow doubling on any number of cards. If such a rule did exist, it would increase the house edge by 0.16%.

Match the Dealer

Match the Dealer is a side bet found in both blackjack and Spanish 21. The player wins for each of his initial two cards that match the dealer's up card. Matches in rank only pay less than a match in rank and suit. The following tables show the various pay tables that I am aware of for Spanish 21.

Match the Dealer — Six Decks

Match the Dealer — Eight Decks

Spanish 21 Game Free

C4

The Casino Bregenz in Austria offers Spanish 21 but calls it Blackjack Exchange. They tack on a side bet called the C4, which is analyzed below. The table is based on six decks and assumes that if the player qualifies for more than one win, he only gets the higher win. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 14.48%.

C4 — Six Decks

Following is the house edge of the C4 for other numbers of decks.

• Four decks: 18.49%
• Eight decks: 12.41%

Methodology

Acknowledgments

I would like to give a huge thanks to Katarina Walker for correcting some minor strategy errors in this page. She is the author of The Pro's Guide to Spanish 21 and Australian Pontoon.

Links

Free Online Spanish 21 Games

German translation of this page. Win a trip with life com.

Spanish 21 Trainer