Spanish 21 is a variation of the standard game Blackjack with a few differences. This article concentrates on those differences and assumes you know the basic rules of Blackjack. This can be found in this separate article if you need a refresher.
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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.
As a 10 is an important card in all forms of Blackjack, you would have thought that this gives a huge advantage to the House. You would be correct if that was the only change, however, a number of other features have been added in an attempt to offset this. Spanish 21 actually has a slightly better edge for the player than many forms of Blackjack. Casino y slots.
Spanish 21 Rules
• Late Surrender is allowed, not just after your first 2 cards have been dealt
• You are able to Double after a Split
• You can re Split Aces
• A hand with 21 always wins even if the Dealer also gets 21
• Blackjack always wins even if the Dealer also gets Blackjack
• You can Double at any time after as many cards as you wish
• You can normally Hit and Double after Splitting Aces – this can vary so is worth checking
• You can Surrender after Doubling, known as Double Down rescue. You lose your initial stake which is effectively getting back half your total outlay for the initial stake and the Double
Variation of Rules
Spanish 21 does have some variables which differ depending on where you play so be sure you check these before you start playing.
• Either 6 decks or 8 decks of cards are used
• The dealer can sometimes Hit or Stand on soft 17 – a hand that includes an Ace meaning the Dealer has 7 or 17
• Some casinos will allow you to Double a hand up to 3 times
• Some casinos will not pay the bonus amounts after you Split a hand
Above is an example of the layout for a Spanish 21 table. This particular version sees the Dealer stand on all 17’s, other than this you will see it is very similar to a standard Blackjack table.
Spanish 21 Odds & Payouts
Payouts and odds can be slightly different from regular Blackjack.
• A 5-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a 6-card 21 pays 2 to 1 and 7-card or higher 21 pays 3 to 1. This bonus doesn’t count if you have previously Doubled
• A hand consisting of 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3 to 2, if suited it pays 2 to 1. Either of these hands with all Spades pays 3 to 1. Again, this doesn’t count if you have previously Doubled
• A suited 7-7-7 when the Dealer has a 7 face up pay $1,000 if your bet is between $5 and $24 and a whopping $5,000 Super Bonus if your bet was $25 or more. If you are playing live with other players, they will each receive a $50 ‘Envy Bonus’ if this comes in.
Spanish 21 Strategy
There are several variable rules for Spanish 21, which affect some of the decisions for an optimal strategy. The below Spanish 21 basic strategy is based on casinos that use 6 decks and the Dealer stands on a soft 17, which is the most common variation of the game.
Hard Hands – No Ace
Dealers Card | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Your hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
4 to 8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
9 | H | H | H | H | D4 | H | H | H | H | H |
10 | D5 | D5 | D | D | D | D4 | D3 | H | H | H |
11 | D4 | D5 | D5 | D5 | D5 | D4 | D4 | D4 | D3 | D3 |
12 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
13 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
14 | H | H | S4 | S5 | S4 | H | H | H | H | H |
15 | S4 | S5 | S5 | S6 | S6 | H | H | H | H | H |
16 | S5 | S6 | S6 | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
17 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S6 | S6 | S6 | SR |
18+ | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
H = Hit D = Double D2 = Double except Hit with x or more cards
SR = Surrender S = Stand S2 = Stand except Hit with x or more cards
Due to the bonus if you get 21 with 4 or more cards, in some instances it is best to Hit and go for these, in the above chart the number next to an action denotes the minimum number of cards you need in order to Hit as opposed to Stand or Double
Soft Hands – With an Ace
Dealers Card | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Your hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
12-15 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
16 | H | H | H | H | D4 | H | H | H | H | H |
17 | H | H | D3 | D4 | D5 | H | H | H | H | H |
18 | S4 | S4 | D4 | D5 | D5 | S6 | S4 | H | H | H |
19-21 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
H = Hit D = Double D2 = Double except Hit with x or more cards
S = Stand S2 = Stand except Hit with x or more cards
Due to the bonus if you get 21 with 4 or more cards, in some instances it is best to Hit and go for these, in the above chart the number next to an action denotes the minimum number of cards you need in order to Hit as opposed to Stand or Double.
Pairs
Dealers Card | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Your hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
2,2 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H |
3,3 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H |
6,6 | H | H | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H | H |
7,7 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP* | H | H | H | H |
8,8 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP |
9,9 | S | SP | SP | SP | SP | S | SP | SP | S | S |
A,A | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP |
H = Hit D = Double
S = Stand SP = Split SP* = Split except for Suited 7’s in which case Hit
Double Down Surrender when you have 12-16 Vs 8-A, 17 Vs A
Never Split 4’s, 5’s or 10’s
Spanish 21 Tips
There are many extra things to remember in Spanish 21 compared to standard Blackjack, remember the extra bonus payouts for getting 21 with 4 or more cards and getting 7-7-7 or 7-8-9. These don’t count if you were to Double though, so in situations where you feel you have a chance to hit these, ensure you follow the table above for the optimal chance of winning.
Don’t be afraid to Surrender – It is better to admit defeat and get some of your bet back in certain circumstances than continuing and losing it all when the odds are against you. Spanish 21 gives you the chance to Surrender at any time, ensure you make the most of it to stay ahead of the game.
Play for fun first if you want to learn the game properly – This is especially important when playing Spanish 21 as there are different features and rules than in standard Blackjack. We, therefore, recommend you play with free chips until you get the hang of this version when you have a better chance of finishing up.
Always play only with money you can afford to lose – this is the same for all casino games which should be fun – if you don’t enjoy it or are gambling with money you cannot afford to lose your mindset will not help the situation giving you a bigger chance of losing.
Blackjack References:
How to Count Cards
Blackjack For Real Money
Blackjack For Real Money
Featured Gambling Guides
Counting to 20
Here is a counting game to try with a partner.
21 Game Strategy Games
- The object of the game is to be the first one to say '20'.
- The first person must start at '1'.
- Each person may say one, two, or three numbers per turn, and the numbers must be in counting order. Each person must start with the number after the last one that the other person said.
- For example, the first person can say '1', or '1, 2', or '1, 2, 3.'
- If the first person says '1, 2', then the second person could say '3' or '3, 4', or '3, 4, 5'.
- Whoever says '20' wins the game.
- Play this game many times and try to discover a winning strategy.
Counting to 21
As in the previous game, players alternate saying one, two, or threenumbers per turn. This time, the one who says '21' wins the game.What is the winning strategy now? Is it better to go first or second?
Counting to 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28
Players alternate saying one, two, or three numbers per turn.Determine the strategy if the goal number changes to 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27, or 28. When is it better to go first? When is it better to gosecond? How can you describe the winning numbers in each case?
Counting to 400
Players alternate saying one, two, or three numbers per turn. What ifthe goal number changes to 400? Is it better to go first or second?How could you describe the winning numbers?
Counting to 8,132
Players alternate saying one, two, or three numbers per turn. What ifthe goal number changes to 8,132? Is it better to go first or second?How could you describe the winning numbers?
Counting to 8,133
Players alternate saying one, two, or three numbers per turn. What ifthe goal number changes to 8,133? Is it better to go first or second?How could you describe the winning numbers?
Adding up to 100
In this variation, players take turns adding numbers between 1 and 10to the previous total. The first player chooses a number between 1 and10 to start with. The second player adds any number between 1 and 10and gives the new total. (It is best if the players say what they areadding and the sum). The two players alternate until one of themreaches 100. Whoever gets to 100 wins. This number is great mentaladdition practice and is also a challenging version of the basiccounting game. Steve Dingledine introduces this game at the beginningof the school year, and plays it intermittently all year. At the endof the year, he helps students analyze the game to find the winningstrategy.
Helpful Hints
- A hint about the strategy is that there are winning numbers that will guarantee you a win if you say them and don't make a mistake later.
- It can help to write all of the numbers from 1 to the ending number and then circle the winning numbers.
- The winning numbers for the original counting to 20 game are 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 itself. It is usually easiest to discover that 16 is a winning number first and then work backwards to find the rest. Students should note that we can find these numbers either by moving four numbers backwards each time or by repeatedly subtracting four (starting with 20). Older students may note that these numbers are all multiples of four or that these numbers have a remainder of 0 when they are divided by four.
- In addition to finding the winning numbers, it is necessary to decide whether it is better to go first or second. For the original counting to 20 game, 4 is the first winning number and so it is better to go second so that you can be the one to say that number.
- For the counting to 21 game, the winning numbers are 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 itself. Students should note that we can find these numbers by moving four numbers backwards each time or by repeatedly subtracting four (starting with 21). Older students may note that these numbers are one more than the multiples of four or that these numbers have a remainder of 1 when they are divided by four.
- For the counting to 21 game, since the lowest winning number is 1, it is best to go first and say '1'.
- For the counting to 22 game, the winning numbers are those numbers that have a remainder of 2 when they are divided by four. It is best to go first and say '1, 2'.
- Here is the general strategy for games when each player says 1, 2, or 3 numbers on each turn. Find the remainder of the goal number when it is divided by four. The winning numbers always have the same remainder as the goal number when divided by four. It is better to go first if the goal number is not a multiple of four. It is better to go second if the goal number is a multiple of four.
- When each player says 1 or 2 numbers per turn, the winning numbers are spaced three numbers apart. This means that the winning numbers always have the same remainder as the goal number when both are divided by three. It is better to go first if the goal number is not a multiple of three. It is better to go second if the goal number is a multiple of three.
- As students discover winning strategies, they should record their results in writing. Younger students might do this by formulating their conclusions as a group while the teacher records the words. Older students can work in groups, pairs, or individually to write their conclusions.
For each of the games below, two players alternate turns. Unlessindicated otherwise, the winner is the last player who makes a legalmove. See if you can find a winning strategy including when it isbetter to go first or second. Try to prove that your strategy works.
21 Game Strategy Game
- Counting to 18.
- Two players alternate counting starting with one. Each player must pick upcounting where the previous player left off. Players must say one or twonumbers on their turn. The player who says 18 wins the game.
- Counting to 19.
- Change the rules for the previous game so that the player who says 19 winsthe game. Players must still say one or or two numbers per turn.
- Counting to 20.
- Change the rules for the previous game so that the player who says 20 winsthe game. Players must still say one or two numbers per turn.
- Counting to 3027.
- Change the rules for the previous game so that whoever says 3027 wins thegame.
- Removing Pennies.
- A set of 16 pennies is placed on a table. Two players take turns removingpennies. At each turn, a player may remove between one and four pennies(inclusive).
- Removing More Pennies.
- Change the rules for the previous game so that a set of 1,062 pennies isplaced on a table. At each turn, a player may remove between one and threepennies (inclusive).
- Don't Remove The Last Penny.
- What if the first Removing Pennies game was changed so that the loser isthe player who takes the last penny.
- Breaking Chocolate.
- Start with a rectangular chocolate bar which is 6 x 8 squares in size. Alegal move is breaking a piece of chocolate along a single straight linebounded by the squares and eating one of the pieces. Whoever eats the lastsquare wins.
- Cartesian Chase.
- Begin by creating a rectangular grid with a fixed number of rows andcolumns. The first player begins by placing a mark in the bottom leftsquare. On each turn, a player may place a new mark directly above,directly to the right of, or diagonally above and to the right of the lastmark placed by the opponent. Play continues in this fashion, and the winneris the player who places a mark in the upper right hand corner first.
- The Asymmetric Rook.
- On some starting square of an 8 x 8 chessboard there is an'asymmetric rook' that can move either to the left or down through anynumber of squares. Alice and Bob take turns moving the rook. The playerunable to move the rook loses.
- Match Pile.
- There are 25 matches in a pile. A player can take 1, 2, or 4 matches ateach turn. Whoever removes the last match wins.
- Two Match Piles.
- There are two piles of matches; one pile contains 10 matches and the othercontains 7. A player can take one match from the first pile, or one matchfrom the second pile, or one match from each of the two piles. Whoevertakes the last match wins.
- Writing a 20-digit Number.
- Alice and Bob produce a 20-digit number, writing one digit at a time fromleft to right. Alice wins if the number they get is not divisible by 3; Bobwins if the number is divisible by 3.
- Writing another 20-digit Number.
- What if the 3 in the previous game is replaced by 15?
- Diagonals in a Polygon.
- Given a convex n-gon, players take turns drawing diagonals that do notintersect those diagonals that have already been drawn. The player unableto draw a diagonal loses.
- Reducing by Divisors.
- At the start of the game, the number 60 is written on the paper. At eachturn, a player can reduce the last number written by any of its positivedivisors. If the resulting number is a 0, the player loses.
- Multiplying to 1000.
- Alice calls out any integer between 2 and 9, Bob multiplies it by anyinteger between 2 and 9, then Alice multiplies the new number by anyinteger between 2 and 9, and so on. The player who first gets a numberbigger than 1000 wins.
- Squares and Circles.
- In this game, one person plays Squares and the other person plays Circles.Start with an initial row of circles and squares. On each turn, a playercan either replace two adjacent squares with a square, replace two adjacentcircles with a square, or replace a circle and a square with a circle. TheSquares player wins if the last shape is a square and the Circles playerwins if the last shape is a circle.
- Negative to Positive.
- There are a number of minuses written in a long line. A player replaceseither one minus by a plus or two adjacent minuses by two pluses. Theplayer who replaces the last minus wins.
- A Circle of Negativity.
- Same game as above except that the minuses are written around a circle.
- Number Cards.
- There are nine cards on a table labeled by numbers 1 through 9. Alice andBob take turns choosing one card. The first player who acquires three cardsthat total 15 wins.
- Puppies and Kittens.
- Start with 7 kittens and 10 puppies in the animal shelter. A legal move isto adopt any positive number of puppies (but no kittens), to adopt anypositive number of kittens (but no puppies), or to adopt an equal number ofboth puppies and kittens. Whoever adopts the last pet wins.
- Splitting Stacks.
- A game is played with two players and an initial stack of n pennies (n ≥3). The players take turns choosing one of the stacks of pennies onthe table and splitting it into two stacks. When a player makes a move thatcauses all the stacks to be of height 1 or 2 at the end of his or her turn,that player wins. Which starting values of n are wins for each player?
- The Rolling Die.
- Start by rolling a six-sided die and choose a goal number (31 forexample). On their turns, players turn the die to any adjacent sideand add the result to the die. A player may not repeat the numberalready up and may not flip the die 180 degrees to get the oppositenumber. The player who either attains the goal number or forces theiropponent over the goal number wins.
- Nim.
- Start with several piles of stones. A legal move consists of removing oneor more stones from any one pile. The person who removes the last stonewins.
21 Game Strategy Tactics
- What happens if there is only one pile?
- If the game has only two piles, what is the winning strategy?
- What if the game starts with three piles of 17, 11, and 8 stones?
- What is the general strategy for winning Nim games no matter how many piles there are?