Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is a blackjack variation, one that is very popular with experienced blackjack players who are comfortable with the basic strategy. In the Pacific it is sometimes called “Pontoon,” but it is the same game.

The “Spanish” part comes in because a “Spanish” deck has only 48 cards. All four tens have been removed. So Spanish 21 is essentially blackjack played without the tens.

From blackjack basic strategy it should be obvious that this modification strongly favors the dealer, as it enriches the concentration of low cards in the deck by reducing the number of high cards that could be drawn. This causes the dealer to bust less often when hitting up to 17.

The reason Spanish 21 is popular amongst experienced blackjack players is that there is a compensation for making the deck more favorable to the dealer. The game rules are more favorable to the player, and many believe the trade-off is more than fair.

Six or eight Spanish decks are used. Players are allowed to double after splitting, take advantage of “late surrender,” and re-split aces – all rules associated with a liberal approach to blackjack. Casinos may specify “Dealer Stands on Soft 17” or not. Casinos may limit the number of times a person can redouble in a splitting situation or when late surrender can be declared, even though the “standard” Spanish 21 rule is quite liberal on both counts.

Additionally, in Spanish 21:

• The player always wins if he or she has a natural or any other 21, including when both player and dealer have naturals.
• The player may double down after two, three or any other number of cards, including after splitting aces and getting an additional card. (This last liberalization is not unanimous among casinos.)
• Surrender after doubling is permitted, costing only the original bet (“double down rescue”).
• A 21 in five cards pays 3:2, a six-card 21 pays 2:1 and a 21 of seven or more cards pays 3:1. Bonuses are paid only if the player has not doubled.
• A 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 pays 3:2 unless they are suited, in which case the payoff is 2:1. If it is a suited 7-7-7 and the dealer shows a 7 too, there is a $1000 bonus for bets of $5 to $24 and $5000 for bets of $25 or higher. Other players at the table get an “envy bonus” of $50. No bonuses are paid if the player has doubled.

There is a “Match the Dealer” side bet with an edge of -3% or so. So like most side bets, they are not to be taken unless you have some more information that will push the edge into positive territory.

The basic strategy for Spanish 21 is a variation of basic blackjack strategy, except that it takes into account the extra winnings for certain bonuses. The following table presumes dealer stands on soft 17.