The Playing 21 Blackjack Program -- Spanish 21

Spanish 21
“A Whole Other Language”

This Program Is Next

Spanish 21 is likely the most common of the specialty Blackjack versions found in casinos today. It will clearly not be the most popular after As Easy As 1-2-3 is found everywhere. The game has been successful enough to crack the starting lineup at most casinos. We are not going to say Spanish 21 is “Regular” Blackjack, as seems to be the most common way others on the net describes it. We will call it what it is, a variation of the game Blackjack.

The game Spanish 21 is popular only for its varied options, which all should be included in traditional Blackjack anyhow if the casinos weren’t so greedy. We have seen almost all the Spanish 21 options in different games, but never all in one game. To compensate though, Spanish 21 removes the 4-Ten’s in each deck. They leave in the Jacks, Queens and Kings. To give some back to the player, the game has different features unfortunately not found in traditional Blackjack, as the casinos are offering it today.

Like its parent game you make a wager and get two cards, and are still trying to make a better hand than the dealer. Options in the game however include much of the following:

· Player’s Blackjack always wins, even if the dealer has a Blackjack.
· Player’s 21 total beats dealers 21 total.
· Player may Double Down once, but at any time (We have only seen this offered at regular Blackjack at Silver Legacy in Reno)
· Double Down Surrender allowed. After seeing your Double Down card, you can take your Double down amount back, and surrender your initial wager.
· Late Surrender is allowed on your first two cards.
· Splitting aces, and hitting after splits is allowed up to 4 hands.
· Dealer hits soft 17.
· No Insurance offered.
· Specialty payouts for hands such as 3-Seven’s, which pays 3-2. 3-Spaded 7’s pays 3 to 1.

There is a “Side bet” feature to the game. You can bet on matching one of your first two cards to the dealers up card. Payouts here range from 4 to 1 for unsuited to 18 to 1 for suited.

There is nothing about Spanish 21 that excites us. If you are getting excited about a hand of 3-Spaded-Seven’s that pay’s a measly 3 to 1 (sorry, but we didn’t set the payout for this amazing feat), you will be old, and likely very dead, before achieving this remarkable feat. If you are bored with regular Blackjack, by all means give this a try. Because of the lack of quality options casino are allowing, what are our choices if we want something with a kick? I did mention As Easy As 1-2-3 did I not?

In our opinion the casinos have it all wrong. You should be able to double down at any time, and split aces out to 4 hands, and hit them out. The odds are so subtle for these options, yet they stay strong. You do have a huge say. Seek out and play at casinos that offer the best games. Only when other casinos feel the pinch will they cater to you. Clearly, with the odds of the game already so heavily in their favor (unless you Count Cards), they have no reason not to give a little back.

As Easy As 1-2-3

How to Play
The dealer plays three separate Blackjack hands.
You bet on the one you think will be the best.

(Players Ante)
To start players would Ante (more on the Ante here)
Shown in the picture below, a player has placed an Ante to join in the game.
The dealer places this Ante in the Ante area and caps it with a special token.

(Dealer Starts Game)
After all players have Anted.
The dealer now places one card face up to each of the 3 Hand areas (shown below)

(Players Bet)
Players would now place a bet equal to their Ante on either Hand 1, Hand 2, or Hand 3
The object is to bet on the Hand that will be the eventual best Blackjack Hand
From our example clearly the Ace in Hand 3 is the best starting Hand
Will it win?
Place Your Bet!