Spanish 21 is a popular casino card game, a variation of blackjack where the 10 cards are removed from the deck. This gives the house a bigger advantage, but players are compensated with bonus payouts for certain hands. As a tradeoff, a good Spanish 21 strategy is essential to reduce the house edge.
How Spanish 21 Works
Similar to blackjack, the goal is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21. Players are trying to get a hand value as close to 21 as possible. But there are some key differences in Spanish 21 at Rocket Play Australia:
- Decks have 48 cards – the 10s are removed
- Player 21 always wins
- Player blackjack beats dealer blackjack
- Late surrender allowed
- Bonus payouts for 5+ card 21s and 7+ card 21s
So there are some new strategic decisions for the player. When should you stand, hit, double down or split? When should you surrender your hand? A basic Spanish 21 strategy chart can guide your decisions.
Basic Spanish 21 Strategy
While Spanish 21 strategy can get complicated when factoring bonuses, a simple basic strategy is:
Hard Totals
- Hit on 8 or less
- Stand on 17-21
- Double on 9-11 vs dealer 2-6
- Double on 10-11 vs dealer 2-9
- Otherwise, hit
Soft Totals
- Always hit soft 17 or less
- Stand on 18
- Double soft 19-20 vs dealer 2-6
- Otherwise, stand
Pairs
- Always split aces and 8s
- Never split 10-10
- Split 2s and 3s vs dealer 2-7
- Split 4s vs dealer 5-6
- Split 6s vs dealer 2-6
- Split 7s vs dealer 2-7
- Split 9s vs dealer 2-6 or 8-9
This covers basic decisions, but bonuses and optimal strategy get more complex.
Factoring in Bonuses
Spanish 21 strategy deviates from basic blackjack because you can get lucrative bonuses for:
- 7-7-7 suited (3 sevens of same suit) – pays 3:1
- 6-7-8 suited – pays 2:1
- 7+ card 21 pays 3:2
- 6+ card 21 pays 2:1
- 5 card 21 pays 3:2
Tables show ideal strategy when these bonuses come into play.
Advanced Spanish 21 Strategy
Because 10s are gone, the dealer will bust less often. So an advanced Spanish 21 strategy is extremely important to counter the increased house edge.
Key aspects:
- Stand on more stiff hands – With 10s gone, standing on stiff totals becomes more favorable instead of hitting. Hands like 15 vs dealer 9 is better to stand instead of trying to improve.
- Double down aggressively – Doubling down on more hands, especially soft hands, is optimal to increase bonuses.
- Learn when to deviate – Advanced charts will show exceptions to basic strategy when bonuses factor in. For example, with a 5 card soft 20, basic strategy says to stand. But you may double against a 6 to try for a bonus if the count is right.
- Vary by true count – When the deck has a higher concentration of non-10 cards, Spanish 21 strategy adjusts based on the true count, a measure card counters use.
So an advanced strategy considers bonuses, true count, dealer’s upcard, double downs, splits, insurance and surrender. It’s a lot to digest, so charts are a useful guide.
Using Spanish 21 Strategy Charts
Due to its complexity, Spanish 21 strategy charts are invaluable for knowing perfect plays for every possible hand. Printable charts show ideal decisions based on:
- Dealer’s upcard
- Player’s hand total
- Whether hand is soft or hard
- Number of cards dealt
By consulting accurate Spanish 21 strategy charts for your specific game and rules, you’ll significantly cut the house edge and boost your chances of winning.
Having multiple charts by count will indicate how to adjust strategy as the count favors the player. Custom-made charts are optimized around the payout tables and rules at your casino.
Counting Cards in Spanish 21
Since the deck is rich in non-10 value cards, Spanish 21 presents more favorable counts for card counters. As 10s are depleted from the deck, your count will rise quicker, bringing betting and playing strategy adjustments.
Positive counts indicate when:
- Bonuses become more likely
- The dealer is more likely to bust
- You should increase bets
- Deviate from basic strategy
Mastering card counting along with Spanish 21 strategy will maximize the lucrative plusEV plays and bonuses available.
Conclusion
While Spanish 21’s lack of 10s increases the house advantage, its rewarding bonuses help counteract it. By mastering an advanced Spanish 21 strategy for when to stand, double, split, surrender and insure, skilled players can thrive at these games – especially when combined with card counting. Getting custom charts tailored to your specific casino will let you reap the benefits this exciting blackjack game variation has to offer.
