Spanish 21, owned by Masque Publishing Inc., is a variation of traditional blackjack. It can be found in many casinos and is growing in popularity online. The game is played on a traditional blackjack table and while the general rules are the same as blackjack, there are several modifications.
Spanish 21 only uses 48 cards with all of the tens being removed from the deck. This provides the house with an edge, but bonuses are available to give the player some leverage. The players’ blackjack or 21 will always beat the dealer and pays 3:2. The dealer will hit on 16 and will stand on 17 although; sometimes a dealer will hit on a soft 17. Other key rules for Spanish 21 are that the player can double down on any cards, and splits and pairs can be split up to 4 times even on aces. Late surrenders are also permitted. This move allows the player to stop playing the hand and only forfeit half of the bet. If surrendering after a double down, the player can retain the double part of the bet.
As mentioned previously, there are bonuses available to the player. The bonuses are based on how the player attains 21 and pay as follows: a 5 card 21 pays 3:2, a 6 card 21 pays 2:1, and a 7 card or more 21 pays 3:1. A 21 consisting of a 6, 7, and 8 of mixed suits pays 3:2 or a 21 consisting of a 6, 7, and 8 of the same suit pays 2:1. A 21 consisting of a 6, 7, and 8 of all spades pays 3:1. A 21 consisting of three 7′s of mixed suits pays 3:2, and a 21 consisting of three 7′s of the same suit pays 2:1 and a 21 consisting of three 7′s of spades pays 3:1. A Super bonus pays out if the player is dealt a suited 7-7-7 and the dealer also has a 7 of any suit showing. Payment is $1000 on bets between $5 and $24, and pays $5,000 for bets of $25 or more and a $50 envy bonus is paid to all other players. With all the bonuses, if a player splits or doubles, they are not eligible for the bonus.
Spanish 21 is an interesting variation of blackjack. There are many rules and bonuses to master, but with practice the game can be a refreshing break from tradition.