Spanish 21

Spanish 21

The Game of Spanish 21

"Spanish 21" is similar to blackjack in may ways. Spanish 21 got its name from the deck used in the game. It is played with a 48 card or "Spanish" deck. The deck has face cards that count as 10, but no numerical 10s.

Advantages of Spanish 21

All player blackjacks are winners. A player blackjack even beats a dealer's blackjack and every player blackjack is paid 3 to 2.
In addition to the bonus 21 payouts printed on the layout, all player 21s are winners and are paid immediately. When a player draws to 21, the dealer pays him immediately and collects his cards. Since a player has to make all his play decisions before the dealer plays his hand, the dealer never has a chance to tie. So even if the dealer obtains a 21, it does not push the player's hand that has already been paid.
A player may split his hand up to three times, creating up to 4 hands. Split Aces are treated like any other pair. Hitting and doubling of split hands, including Aces, is allowed.
A player can double down with two or more cards. In other words, a player can double on any hand total with two, three, four or more cards in his hand. A player can always double down after splitting.
If a player elects to double down and gets hit with a stiff (an undesirable card), he can "Rescue" his doubled portion of the bet. The dealer will return the player's last doubled portion of the bet and pick up half of the total wager and the hand..
"Late Surrender" is allowed. If a player does not like his initial two card hand and sees that the dealer has a strong up-card, after the dealer ensures that he does not have a blackjack, the player may tell the dealer that he wishes to surrender his hand. The dealer will return half of the player's wager and collect his cards.
There is a "Super Bonus" payout that does not require a player side bet. If the dealer has a 7 as his up-card and a player obtains suited 7-7-7, he is awarded a bonus payout of $1,000 on bets less than $25, or $5,000 if his bet is $25 or more. All other active players at the table during that round receive an "Envy Bonus" of $50. Super bonus is void if the player splits or doubles the original 7-7 hand.

Card Values

The cards two through nine have a numerical value equal to the number printed on the card. All 10s have been removed from the deck. All face cards (Jack, Queen and King) have a value of ten. Aces may be counted as either eleven or one. Card suits have no value. For example, a hand consisting of a jack of hearts and a queen of hearts is equal to a hand consisting of a queen of diamonds and a king of spades. Both of these hands are also equal to a hand containing two fives and a face card, regardless of suit.

Bets and the Deal

At the onset of each hand, each player places his bet. All players and the dealer are then dealt two cards each. The dealer always deals his own cards face down. After the dealer has dealt everyone two cards, he will turn his first card face up for all to see. The dealer's other card (his face down card) is often referred to as his "hole card".

In addition to the regular Spanish 21 bet, a player can make a Match The Dealer bet, betting that either of his first two cards will exactly match the dealer's up card in rank (i.e., a four matches a 4, jack matches only jack, queen matches only queen, etc). If both of the player's cards match the dealer, both cards are paid. There are two payoff amounts, a suited rank match and an unsuited rank match.

The most common decision you will have to make is whether to hit (take another card) or to stand (do not take another card).

If the first two cards dealt to you are cards of equal value, you may "split" the pair combination. If you split, another bet, equal to your initial bet, is placed alongside your initial bet. When you split you effectively play two individual hands. The right most hand is played out first, followed by play on the hand on your left.

You may "double down" on a hand which consists of two cards. As this move implies, you double your original wager. When you double down, you are dealt only one additional card to your hand.

When the dealer has an ace showing you have an "insurance" option. By taking the insurance wager you are betting that the dealer has a blackjack. The insurance bet costs one-half your original wager, and the payoff, should the dealer indeed have a blackjack, is two to one.

Play Options

Hit - Take another card
Stand - Stop taking cards
Split - Only available on a two card hand in which each card has an equal value. When you split your hand, an amount equal to your original wager will be anted and your hand split. You play two or more separate hands.
Double Down - A player may double down with 2 or more cards in his hand. When doubling down, an amount equal to your original wager will be wagered, doubling your bet. You are dealt one additional card.
Double Down Rescue - After a player receives a double down card he may elect to rescue (take back) the last doubled portion of the bet and forfeit the rest of the bet and the hand.
Surrender - Allowed on two card hands only after the dealer has ascertained that he does not have a blackjack. You give up half of your wager and surrender all chances of winning the hand.
Insurance - Another form of wager that is offered to the players when the dealer has an ace showing. Those who take the insurance wager are betting that the dealer has a blackjack. The insurance bet costs one-half your original wager, and the payoff, should the dealer indeed have a blackjack, is two-to-one.

Soft and Hard Hands

When you have an ace in your hand that counts as eleven (ex: you have Ace-Six for a total of 17), you have what is know as a "soft hand". Think of the ace in your hand as flexible or "soft" because the hand value can always be reduced (ex: Ace-Six can also be counted as 7). If you hold no aces or have an ace in your hand that counts as one (ex: Ace-Six-Seven for a total of 14), you have a "hard hand".