Spanish Blackjack Rules - The Detailed Guide for the Beginners

Spanish blackjack is a fun version of Blackjack that gives you more chances to win prizes and enjoy exciting payouts. While it is similar to regular Blackjack, this version has some special rules and extra options.

If you want to play and win, it’s important to take your time and fully understand the Spanish blackjack rules. This guide will help you have a better idea of what to do during each round. Remember that the more you know, the more fun you’ll have!

Spanish Blackjack Explained

Spanish Blackjack, also known as Spanish 21, is a popular variation of traditional blackjack with unique rules and a few additional features that make the game more exciting and dynamic. The primary differences between Spanish Blackjack and classic blackjack are the deck composition, payout structure, and special rules that benefit players. 

Your cards are dealt face-up, while the dealer gets one face-up card and one face-down card. The goal is to have a hand total as close to 21 as possible without going over. However, some big differences make this version unique. Here is a detailed comparison table between Spanish 21 rules vs Blackjack:

Spanish Blackjack Rules for Beginners

If you already understand how to play blackjack, you’re off to a great start with Spanish 21. This version introduces some extra rules that make it more interesting and give you more winning chances.

The Deck:

Spanish 21 is typically played with 6 or 8 decks, but all the number 10 cards are taken out of each deck before the cards are shuffled. This means the deck has 48 cards instead of the usual 52. There are still 12 cards with a value of 10, but they are only the Jacks, Queens and Kings.

Because there are fewer 10-value cards, the game becomes a little harder than regular Blackjack.

Objective:

Just like in regular Blackjack, the goal in Spanish 21 is to get as close to 21 points as you can without going over.

• Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are worth 10 points.
• Aces can be worth 1 point or 11 points, depending on which one helps your hand more.
• All other cards keep the same value as the number on the card.

Blackjack Payout:

If you get a natural Blackjack (an Ace + a card worth 10 points), you win 1.5 times (3:2 payout) your bet. For example, if you bet $10, you win $15.

In Spanish 21, your Blackjack always wins, even if the dealer also has a Blackjack. This is different from regular Blackjack.

Total of 21:

If your cards add up to 21, you automatically win. It doesn’t matter what cards the dealer has. This rule works for any combination of cards that totals 21.

Note: Note that the rules may vary from casino to casino, but the general rule in Spanish 21 is that the player's hand that reaches 21 points always wins.

Double Down:

You can double your bet even after taking extra cards. For example, if you hit and add a third, fourth, or even fifth card, you can still choose to double down. Some casinos also let you double down again on a hand that has already been doubled (re-doubling).

Double Down Rescue:

If you double down without busting but you still don’t like your hand, you can take back your extra double down bet. However, you must give up the match and your original wager.

Splitting:

You can split any two equal cards (pairs), just like in regular Blackjack. If your new hands also have pairs, you can split them again (re-splitting). You also can keep splitting up to a maximum of four hands.

Late Surrender:

In Spanish 21, you can choose to surrender and leave the round. If you do this, you get half of your original bet back.

Insurance:

If the dealer's upcard is an Ace, you can choose to take insurance, which costs half of your original bet. If the dealer has a Blackjack, you win 2 times your insurance bet.

Match the Dealer

You win the bet if the rank (number or face) of one or both of your first two cards matches the rank of the dealer’s face-up card. The payouts and the house edge can change depending on the number of decks used in the game. You can see the details below:

Special Bonuses:

Spanish 21 has special bonus prizes for nine different hands that total 21 points, which are awarded if you get one of these specific hands.

• Any 5 Card 21 = 3 to 2
• Any 6 Card 21 = 2 to 1
• Any 7 + Card 21 = 3 to 1
• 6 - 7 - 8 (Mixed Suits) = 3 to 2
• 6 - 7 - 8 (Same Suits) = 2 to 1
• 6 - 7 - 8 (Spades Only) = 3 to 1
• 7 - 7 - 7 (Mixed Suits) = 3 to 2
• 7 - 7 - 7 (Same Suits) = 2 to 1
• 7 - 7 - 7 (Spades Only) = 3 to 1

Super Bonus:

If you hold three suited 7s and the dealer draws any 7, you win a bonus. The prize is $1,000 if your original bet is $25 or less, or $5,000 if your bet exceeds $25.

Dealer Rules:

The dealer must hit if they have a soft 17, which is a hand totaling 17 that includes an Ace counted as 11. This rule makes the game a little more favorable to the house.

Spanish 21 Blackjack House Edge

The house edge of Spanish 21 blackjack is usually about 0.53%.

The tables below show the casino’s advantage based on data from 10 billion simulated hands. The results are very accurate, with a small error margin of 0.001%. The average payout is 100:1. These assume that you are using the basic strategy (the best way to play based on math).

• H17 means the dealer must draw another card on a Hard 17.
• S17 means the dealer stops on a Soft 17.

Let’s look at the numbers to see how the house edge changes:

From the table above, you can see some important points about what affects the house edge in Spanish blackjack:

• The S17 rule (dealer stops at Soft 17) is usually better for players than the H17 rule (dealer draws on Hard 17).
• Using more decks of cards will slightly increase the house edge, but the increase is very small.
• Rules like No Surrender or No draws after splitting Aces give the casino a bigger advantage.
• To have a better chance of winning, you should pick tables with player-friendly rules. These include options like allowing surrender and paying 3:2 after splitting.

Spanish 21 Strategy Charts

There are different Spanish 21 blackjack rules that can change how you should play, which affects the best strategy you use. Below, I will provide a detailed analysis of the most common version of the game, giving you a more professional and in-depth perspective.

Spanish 21 Basic Strategy when the Dealer Stands a Soft 17

The following Spanish blackjack charts work best for casinos that use 6 decks of cards and where the dealer stands on a soft 17.

Hard Hands - No Ace

• 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

In this game, you can get a bonus if you reach 21 with 4 or more cards. Because of this, there are moments when it’s better to take another card instead of stopping at a lower total.

In the chart above, the number next to each action tells you the smallest number of cards you should have before deciding to take another card instead of stopping or doubling your bet. This helps you figure out when trying for the bonus is a good idea and when it’s safer to stick with your current total.

Soft Hands - With an Ace

Pairs

When you’re dealt a pair, you can choose to split them into two hands, which can give you a better chance to win more money. Pairs like Aces are especially good to split because they can lead to stronger hands. The chart below shows when it’s best to split and when it’s better to keep your hands together.

Double Down Surrender is a smart move when your hand isn’t looking great, especially against a strong dealer card. If your hand totals 12 to 16 and the dealer has a card between 8 and Ace, or if you have 17 and the dealer is showing an Ace, it might be best to surrender.

It’s generally a bad idea to split 4’s or 5’s when you’re playing. If you have a pair of 4’s, splitting them doesn’t give you a strong chance of building two good hands. With 5’s, it’s usually better to keep them together and aim for a higher total by hitting or doubling down.

Tips to Win at Spanish 21

Here are some important tips to help you play Spanish 21 better:

• Learn Basic Strategy: Spanish 21 is different because the 10 cards are removed, so it has its own strategy chart. Make sure you learn it.
• Look for Bonuses: Pay attention to special payouts you can win with certain card combinations. These bonuses can help you win more.
• Manage Your Money (Bankroll): Start with small bets first so you can get used to the rules and not lose too much too quickly.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Surrender: If you think your hand is very weak, surrendering can save you half your bet and help you avoid bigger losses.

Conclusion

You now know the important things about Spanish 21 rules to start playing. The next step is to find the game and try it out for yourself.

You can look for Spanish 21 in casinos you visit in person or on websites where you can play online. I suggest starting with online casinos. Playing online first can help you practice and understand the game before you play it at a real casino with other players. Have fun exploring the game and good luck!