Spanish 21 is a popular blackjack variant found at many Canadian online casinos. While it removes all 10s from the deck, the game compensates by offering players several liberal and often overlooked rules. Below, we break down five surprising Spanish 21 rules that Canadia online casino players can use strategically to improve their long-term results.
The General Rules
The quick rundown for Spanish 21 is that it is similar to playing Blackjack. You win by beating the dealer’s score. You also want to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. That’s the general rules of almost any type or style of Spanish 21 online casino Canada.
Some other nuances:
- No 10’s in the deck, so the game is played with 48 cards per deck, not 52
- Dealer hits on Soft 17
- Dealer always checks for 21 (no early bust)
Rule #1: Player 21 Always Beats Dealer 21
In Spanish 21, any player total of 21 always beats a dealer’s 21. Unlike traditional blackjack, there are no pushes on 21. As soon as you hit a Blackjack, you’ve won.
How This Rule Can Benefit You – You don’t really have to change your strategy in any way. Just know that this slight variation tilts the odds slightly in your favor.
Rule #2: Doubling Down on Any Number of Cards (Including After Splits)
Many Spanish 21 variants allow players to double down on any number of cards, and even after splitting. In other words, you can double down on your second card, third card, etc. Even if you decide to split cards, you can still double down.
How This Rule Can Benefit You : More doubling opportunities mean skilled players can extract extra value when favourable situations arise.
Rule #3: Late Surrender and Double-Down Rescue
Players have more control over doubling down in Spanish 21 (versus Traditional Blackjack) and they also have more control over surrendering. The blackjack variant often allows late surrender, meaning players can surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack. Some versions also offer double-down rescue, allowing surrender even after doubling.
How This Rule Can Benefit You: These surrender options help limit your losses in unfavourable situations, reducing the house edge.
Rule #4: Bonus Payouts for Multi-Card 21s and Special Hands
You’ll get rewarded with bonus payouts for reaching 21 using 5, 6, or 7 cards, as well as special combinations like 6-7-8 or 7-7-7.
How This Rule Can Benefit You: You’ll earn more bang for your buck, especially when paired with optimal strategy and favourable table rules.
Rule #5: Removed Tens Are Offset by Liberal Rules – Pick the Right Variant
Spanish 21 uses 48-card decks with all 10s removed, increasing the house edge by default. However, liberal rules such as surrender options, bonus payouts, and flexible doubling can bring the house edge down to approximately 0.4% when the right variant is chosen.
How This Rule Can Benefit You: Not all Spanish 21 games offered at Canadian online casinos are the same. Always review the paytable and rules before playing.
Try Your Hand With Spanish 21
Most people know how to play Blackjack but did you know that the game has a number of variants? The same is true for Spanish 21. Games like Pontoon 21, Super Fun 21, Pirate 21 are all sorts of live Blackjack/Spanish 21 hybrids or variants of the common game. Know what you’re getting into when you sit down at the table.
There are plenty of Canadian online casinos that will let you play a demo version, which is the responsible thing to do. We recommend learning the game and giving it a practice at Wyns Casino, before you start playing with real money.
