Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is a very popular and common variant on Blackjack, with a few small changes to keep the game exciting and give players opportunities to win jackpots on certain combinations of cards. Most Spanish 21 games are played with six to eight decks with the 10 cards removed. Otherwise, all other cards are the same respective values as in Blackjack.

Spanish 21 Rules

There are some rules with which you should be familiar before playing Spanish 21 at Golden Nugget Casino in Tukwila. In addition to the fact that the dealer receives a hole card and must stand on 16 and 17, keep the following rules in mind:

• A Blackjack will always win and pay out 3:2 regardless of whether or not the dealer also has Blackjack.
• Players are permitted to split up to a maximum of four hands.
• If a player receives a 21, the hand is never pushed, even if the dealer also has 21.
• Insurance pays 2:1, just like in normal Blackjack.
• If the dealer does not have a Blackjack, players may surrender if they choose. This move is called a “late surrender” in most Spanish 21 circles.

While the removal of the 10 cards from the Spanish 21 decks gives the dealer a 2% edge, players can make up for the house advantage with a variety of bonuses and special payouts. For example, Spanish 21 games feature a side bet called “Match the Dealer.” When making this side bet, players may compare theirs and the dealers’ upcards. Matching the dealer’s upcard in Match the Dealer results in a 4:1 payout in most six deck games. In eight deck games, the payout decreases to 3:1. Players will need to rely on luck and skill alone when playing Spanish 21, as the bonuses offered in Spanish 21 make card counting very difficult.