Spanish 21 Online

The casino game called Spanish 21 is a variant of blackjack with a different set of rules and classic twists. If you are looking for a change from the traditional blackjack but want a game with a low house edge, Spanish 21 is the one for you. Equivalent versions of the game may be called Spanish Blackjack. In Australia and Malaysia, the game is called Pontoon. 

How to Play Spanish 21

The game uses six or eight Spanish decks, each deck consisting of 48 cards (that’s the regular 52 cards without four tens) which gives the house an added edge and moves the odds in the favor of the dealer. The main difference between blackjack and Spanish 21 is that the player’s 21 always beats the dealer’s 21. To make up for this and balance the stakes, Spanish 21 offers its players a bunch of bonuses and favorable rules. 

Learning Spanish 21 is important if you want to play a good hand and enjoy the game. Also, being familiar of the games rules would increase your chances of winning real big money.

Spanish 21 Rules

Although there are variations to the rules but here are a couple of rules that all casinos follow that are in the favor of the player. These are: 

  • Late Surrender is allowed: You are allowed to surrender your hand late that means you can give up your hand anytime at the expense of half your wager. This rule is highly advantageous to the player because you can minimize your losses by forfeiting the hand and still getting half your bet back. 
  • Re-splitting Aces is allowed: Players can split any cards of equal values including aces thus creating four hands. Players can hit and double on split hands and can even be awarded the Bonus 21 on split hands. 
  • Double after split is allowed.
  • Player may double on any number of cards
  • Player can even hit and double down after splitting aces
  • Double Down Rescue: Play can surrender after doubling but the player forfeits an amount equal to his original bet. 
  • Bonus not offered after double or splitting if a 5-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a 6-card 21 pays 2 to 1, a 7 or more cards pay 3 to 1.
  • A 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 2 to 1, of the same suits pays 3 to 1. Of spades, it pays 3 to 1. These bonuses usually do not pay after doubling or splitting but some casinos may allow them. 
  • Super bonus: When the player has 7-7-7 suited cards and the dealer has a seven face up, the player wins a super bonus and the house pays $1000 for bets of $5 to $24 and $5000 for bets over $25. With that all other players receive a $50 bonus known as the envy bonus. This bonus is voided if the player chooses to split or double. It must be remembered that playing Spanish 21 online is a little different and may have a different type of super bonus. It is best to read the rules and understand them clearly. 
  • Variable Rules
  • The dealer may stand or hit on a soft 17
  • 6 or 8 Spanish decks can be used.
  • Some casinos allow doubling up to 3 times. 

Learn Strategies for Spanish 21

Do you want to learn how to win Spanish 21? Well, there are many ways you could win but luck would be your problem most of the time – sometimes you experience good luck, sometimes bad luck. So how can you increase your chances of winning big real money online?

Strategies can be used in Spanish 21, just like any other gambling game that can increase a player’s chances of beating the game. But strategies would only be effective if you understand how the game works, its rules, and mechanics – knowing these would allow your strategies to help you win more and more games online.

We’ve researched the best strategies you can use when playing the popular Spanish 21 online. Every serious player of this gambling game must know these strategies in order to play well. Below are several strategies that can make you win real big money in this gambling game.

Spanish 21 Basic Strategy: Hard Totals

A player should always stand with cards that make a total of 18 or more and hit with totals of 8 or less. In other cases, the following strategies can be used:

Hard 9

  • A two card 9 should be doubled down if the dealer is showing a 6
  • You can hit against all other up cards
  • Hit against a 6 if you 9 is made up of three cards. 

Hard 10

  • If the dealer is showing a 2 – 7, double down. 
  • Hit against eights or higher. 

Hard 11

  • If the dealer shows a 2-8, double down.
  • Hit against a 9 or higher. 

Hard 12

  • Always hit against a hard 12.

Hard 13

  • Hit if the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4 or a 7 or higher.
  • Stand against a 5 or 6. 
  • Hit if a 13 is made of give cards or more. 

Hard 14

  • Hit against a 2, 3 or 7 or higher. 
  • Hit on a 4 if the hard 14 is made of four cards or more.
  • Hit on a 5 or a 6 if the hand is made up of five or more cards. 

Hard 15

  • Hit against a 7 or higher.
  • Hit on a 2 if the hard 15 is made of four or more cards
  • Hit on a 3 and 4 if the 15 is consists of five or more cards
  • Hit on a 5 or a 6 if the 15 is made of six cards. 

Hard 16

  • Hit against a 7 or higher. 
  • If the 16 is made of five or more cards, hit against a 2.
  • If hard 16 is made up of six cards, hit against a 3 or 4.
  • Surrender if the dealer shows an ace. 

Hard 17

  • Hit if the 17 is made up of six cards.
  • Stand if the dealer shows an 8, 9, or a 10.
  • Surrender if the dealer shows an ace. 

Spanish 21 Basic Strategy: Soft Totals

A player should always stand on a 19, 20 or a 21. In other cases following strategies should be used:

Soft 13

  • Always hit on this total.

Soft 14 and 15

  • Always hit.
  • Soft 16
  • If the dealer is showing a 6, double down.
  • If the soft 16 is made up of 4 or more cards, hit against it. 

Soft 17

  • Hit against a 2, 3 and 7 or higher. 
  • If 17 is made of two cards, double down against a 4.
  • Double down against a 5 if the 17 consists of 2 or 3 cards.
  • Double down against a 6 if the 17 is made of 2, 3 or 4 cards. 

Soft 18

  • Hit if the dealer is showing a 9, 10 or an ace.
  • Stand against a 2, 3, 7 or 8.
  • If the 17 is made of four or more cards, hit against a 2, 3, or 8.

Double down against a 4, 5 or 6

  • If 17 is made of six or more cards, hit against a 7.
  • If there are four or more cards, hit against a 4.
  • If there are five or more cards, hit against a 5 or a 6. 

Spanish 21 Strategy: Splitting Pairs

Aces should always be split – and we mean every single time when you get the chance. On the other hand, cards of 4s 5s valued at 10 should never be split. In other cases:

  • Pair of 2s or 3s: If the dealer is showing a 3-7 then split. 
  • Pair 6s: If the dealer is showing a 4-6, split. 
  • Pair of 7s: Split against a 2-7
  • Pair of 8s: Split against all other cards or surrender if the dealer is showing an ace. 
  • Pair of 9s: When the dealer is showing 3-6 or 8 and 9, split.

Play Spanish 21 Online today

When playing Spanish 21 online, remember that your biggest priority in choosing the best Spanish 21 site should be the rules it uses. As rules vary from casino to casino online, it’s better to choose an online site that gives you the most advantage. 

To learn how to Spanish blackjack is a bit tough as there are many variations from the actual blackjack game. The best way to play the game is to memorize the probability table constructed specifically for Spanish 21. There are many good legal online casinos offering Spanish 21 for the past decade. 

Now playing from the comfort of your home has never been this easy! Select an online casino, learn Spanish 21, read the rules carefully and Viola! You can play Spanish 21 online! The game has a great many variations to offer so choose whichever casino you’re most comfortable with. It couldn’t get better than this. 

What are you waiting for? Play Spanish 21 online today and win real big money at the comfort of your own home!


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