Spanish 21
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About
Spanish 21 is the ultimate Blackjack variation which combines the excitement of a Blackjack game with the multiple payoffs of a slot machine.
Spanish 21 is like regular 21 (Blackjack) with more options, providing more fun and more ways to win. The game of Spanish 21 is played with 8 Spanish decks. A Spanish deck consists of 48 cards: 2-9, J, Q, K, A; no number 10 cards are in the decks. All cards count at face value except for Jacks, Queens, and Kings which always count as 10 and Aces which may be used for a count of 1 or 11.
Spanish 21 is played just like traditional Blackjack, but with the following exceptions:
- A Player's Blackjack ALWAYS beats a Dealer's Blackjack
- A Player's 21 ALWAYS beats a Dealer's 21 and pays up to 3:1. See the Bonus 21 Payoff Section in the Payout table for more information.
Pair Splitting
Player may split any cards of equal value (including Aces) to create up to 4 hands. Hitting and Doubling on Split hands is allowed - including on Aces!
Double Down
Player may Double Down with 2 or more cards on any total after splitting cards. No Bonus 21 payouts will be made on Double Down hands.
Double Down Rescue
After a Double Down, if a Player is dissatisfied with a non-busted hand, he may rescue (take back) the last DOUBLED portion of the wager; forfeiting half of the total wager.
How To Play
In Spanish 21, the Player and the Dealer each start with two cards. Then, by drawing additional cards, they attempt to achieve a greater point value than has their opponent without exceeding 21. If a hand exceeds 21, it is considered "busted" and becomes invalid to win the round.
Cards are assigned point values in the following manner:
- Aces: 1 point or 11 points
- Jacks, Queens, Kings: 10 points
- All other cards: face value
- In Spanish 21 there are no 10s
A calculated hand value that uses an Ace as 11 points is referred to as "soft". For example, 11 + 6 = 17. This is called a "Soft 17".
Starting the Hand
The hand starts when the Player places a wager between the minimum $5 and the maximum of $500 and presses the Deal button. The Player is initially dealt two cards face up while the Dealer receives one card that is face up and another card that is face down (the Dealer "Hole Card"). Special actions are taken if the Dealer's face up card is either an Ace or a card value of 10.
If the first two cards in a hand total 21 (an Ace and any card worth 10 points), the hand is known as a "Blackjack". In Spanish 21, a Player Blackjack is an automatic win regardless of whether the Dealer has a Blackjack or not.
After the initial cards are dealt, if the Dealer's upcard is an Ace or a value of 10, the Dealer will check to see if he has a Blackjack. If the Dealer up card is a 10 and it turns out that the Dealer has a Blackjack, the hand ends. If the Player also has a Blackjack, the Player wins the hand. If the Player does not have a Blackjack the hand is lost and the wager is forfeit.
Insurance
In cases where the Dealer's initial up card is an Ace, the Player will be provided the opportunity to purchase "Blackjack Insurance". Insurance costs one-half the amount of the initial wager and is a special wager that pays 2:1 if the Dealer does, in fact, have a Blackjack. In essence, Insurance provides the Player with the opportunity to break even because the initial wager will be forfeit, but he will be paid twice as much as the insurance payment.
If after Insurance has been purchased or declined, the Dealer does not have a Blackjack, normal play continues.
Player Decisions
If there is not a Blackjack after the intial deal, the Player is the first to act and has five options from which to choose:
HIT: So long as the hand has not busted, the Player may "Hit", meaning draw additional cards in an attempt to reach 21 points.-
STAND: If the Player does not wish to take additional cards, a "Stand" is made. This ends play for the current hand and moves attention to the next Player hand or, if all Player hands have completed, to the Dealer's hand. -
SPLIT: If the first two cards of a hand have the same value, the player is allowed to split them into two hands. When a Split is made, the Player places an additional wager equal to his initial wager. The Dealer separates the first two cards and the player then plays out the two separate hands in turn. The Player may split to up to a maximum of four hands.
Unlike traditional Blackjack, if the Player splits Aces, the new hands are played just like any other split cards. This means the Player may Hit, Double Down, or re-Split the new hands.NOTE: Blackjack hands made on split cards are considered 21 and pay even money as opposed to the 3:2 that is paid on a Blackjack made from the first two cards. -
DOUBLE DOWN: The player is allowed to double the initial wager in exchange for committing to making a Stand after drawing a single card. Unlike traditional Blackjack, the Player may Double Down at any point in a Spanish 21 hand. -
SURRENDER/RESCUE: Spanish 21 includes the concept of Surrendering. In a Surrender situation, the Player is allowed to end the hand and recover one-half of the total wagers that have been made on that hand. Surrender is allowed after the Player's initial two cards are received and after a Double Down action has occurred (so long as the Double Down action did not bust the hand). When a Surrender occurs after a Double Down action, it is referred to as a "Rescue" or "Late Surrender".NOTE: For expediency purposes, the Rescue option is only offered in Riverboat Gambler if the value of the hand after Double Down is less than 17. Please reach out to me if that's a problem.
Ending the Hand
After the Player acts it is the Dealer's turn to act. Dealer decisions relative to drawing additional cards are guided by two simple rules:
- If there are any Player hands that did not bust, were not surrendered, and were not Blackjacks, the Dealer must draw cards until his total is greater than or equal to 17 points.
- The Dealer does not draw on Soft hands of 17 points or greater.
If the Dealer busts, all Player hands that have not busted automatically win and are paid their wagers.
If the Dealer does not bust:
- Player hands with greater point values than has the Dealer win the round and are paid their wagers.
- Player hands with lower point values than has the Dealer lose the round and forfeit their wagers.
- Player hands with the same number of points as has the Dealer are deemed a Push and the wagers are refunded.
Dealer Match Bonus
The Dealer Match Bonus is paid if one or both of the Player's cards match the Dealer's first card. Matches are based on denomination not on card value. A higher payout is made if the match is both denomination and suit. If this optional bonus is wagered, it is paid regardless of who wins the round. The odds for the wagers are in the Payout Table.
Super Bonus
The Super Bonus is a free bonus option that can pay up to $5,000! To receive the Super Bonus, the Player must reach a hand of 21 using Suited 7s AND the Dealer's Up Card must also be any 7. When this situation occurs, the Player is paid according to the Pay Table based on the amount of his original wager.
Quick Replay
After the hand has ended, if the Player presses the Deal button, the same Bets will be placed and new cards will be dealt. If the Player does not want to repeat the last wager, play will resume after a wager has been made and the Deal button has been pressed.
Pay Table
First Two Cards | |
| Beat the Dealer | 1 to 1 |
| Blackjack | 3 to 2 |
| Insurance | 2 to 1 |
Bonus 21 | |
(Doubling Voids Bonus 21) | |
| 5 Card 21 | 3 to 2 |
| 6 Card 21 | 2 to 1 |
| 7+ Card 21 | 3 to 1 |
| Any 6-7-8 | 3 to 2 |
| Suited 6-7-8 | 2 to 1 |
| Spades 6-7-8 | 3 to 1 |
| Any Trip 7s | 3 to 2 |
| Suited Trip 7s | 2 to 1 |
| Spades Trip 7s | 3 to 1 |
Super Bonus | |
(Splitting/Doubling Voids Super Bonus) | |
| $5 - $24 Initial Wager | $1,000 |
| $25+ Initial Wager | $5,000 |
Dealer Match Bonus | |
(Match Dealer's 1st Card) | |
| 1st Card Match | 3 to 1 |
| 1st Card Suited Match | 12 to 1 |
| 2nd Card Match | 3 to 1 |
| 2nd Card Suited Match | 12 to 1 |