(Table Games continued)

Spanish 21

     

Spanish 21 is an interesting game. It is played with a deck absent 10's. In normal blackjack, keeping up with the ratio of 10 value cards to smalls is the essential task of card counting. Therefore, I have no idea if card counting is worth the effort in Spanish 21.

The goal of Spanish 21 is the same as regular 21, to get closer to 21 than the dealer.

There are more ways to win and more options in Spanish 21. For example, players are not limited to doubling only after the first two cards. Furthermore, a 21 for the player is a winner no matter what the dealer has. Some other interesting aspects are:
- 5 card Charlie pays 3:2
- 6 card pays 2:1
- 7 cards pays 3:1
- 7-7-7 of same suit when dealer has a face up 7 pays $1000 for bets less than $25 and $5000 for bets $25 and up.
- 6-7-8, 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3:2
- 6-7-8, 7-7-7 of same suit pays 2:1
- 6-7-8, 7-7-7 of spades pays 3:1

In addition, Spanish 21 players are allowed to re-split aces and double after splitting. Another helpful rule is that players are allowed to surrender. Surrender is rarely used in regular blackjack.

For Spanish 21 strategy chart, try this Google search.

According to the wiki article, removing the 4 10's from the deck adds 2% to the house edge over regular blackjack. However, the various payouts and liberal rules of Spanish 21 eliminates most of that additional 2%.