The difference between Spanish 21 and Online Game
While Spanish 21 is based on blackjack, it has entirely different rules that often make it considered a separate game. In contrast to many other older casino games, Spanish 21 is a trademarked game that belongs to Masque Publishing Inc. To offer Spanish 21, casinos must pay a royalty to Masque Publishing Inc. Therefore, you might find it challenging to find an online casino that offers Spanish 21 due to this royalty payment. For example, in Australia and Malaysia, Spanish 21 goes under the name of Pontoon, where the rules are very similar with only slight differences. However, you will find blackjack at most online casinos with many variations available. The Spanish 21 game gets played with 6 or 8 decks, the same as blackjack. However, with so many different options for you to know when playing, it’s a fantastic idea to gain as many details of the games as possible before you start.
Spanish 21 has many advantages over the standard blackjack game, including more favourable odds. In addition, compared to the old-fashioned Blackjack, Spanish 21 offers some unique features. As a result, you’ll better know whether you’d prefer standard blackjack or learn to play Spanish 21 after reading this post.
Main differences between Spanish 21 and Blackjack
A distinct twist to Spanish 21 is the removal of all the number ten cards from the deck, leaving you with a 48-card pack. Blackjack gets played with a 52-card pack. In addition to that, you can also benefit from some other differences. In Spanish 21, you can surrender and give up your hand. It’s a bit like when you fold in poker. The reasons for your folding could include that your hand is not great and you would like to cut your losses. When you do fold, you get half of your bet back. Also, in regular blackjack, when you hit a 21, you would hope that was a winning hand. However, if the dealer hits a 21, too, it’s a push which can be frustrating for a player hoping for a more significant win. However, in Spanish 21, a 21 always pays as a winning hand whether the dealer has hit 21 or not.
Blackjack rules are much easier, but both games’ primary objective is to beat the dealer. To beat the dealer, you must draw a hand higher in value but under 21. You will automatically win the round if the dealer’s hand goes over 21. The dealer has to stand if their dealt cards total 17 or more. On totals 16 and under, they have to take a card. The dealer must also continue taking cards until they hit 21, or the total stands at 17.
Basics to playing Spanish 21
The object of Spanish 21, as is blackjack is to complete a hand as close to 21 as you can get without busting. Any players with hands closest to 21 or 21 will win as long as the dealer has a bust or lower cards. The face cards, i.e., King, Queen, and Jack, are valued at 10. The ace can count for either 1 or 11, depending on the cards you hold. The value of the cards is identical in both Spanish 21 and blackjack.
Playing Spanish 21 for the first time can be confusing, but as soon as you get used to all the different rules, it is a superb and profitable game.
In Spanish 21, Match the Dealer is where a side bet is offered if your card matches the dealer’s up card. If it matches rank and suit, you will win a bigger payout. Some casinos even provide a 2nd bet of Match the Dealer, where you will win if either one or both of your initial two cards match the hole card held by the dealer.
What is Doubling Down
Doubling down in regular blackjack is where you can split two cards. Although Spanish 21 also lets you double down, it is different. If you get lucky and have two aces, you can split both. It doesn’t stop there, though. After splitting your aces, you can split again if you hit another ace, putting you in an excellent position at the table.
- You can split Aces multiple times
- After splitting, you can double down
- After splitting further aces, you can still double down
House Edge
There is a higher house edge with Spanish 21 compared to blackjack. Blackjack can have a house edge of anything up to 4.5%. However, players with a good strategy can bring that edge down to 0.5%. An example would be that for every 100.00 you would wager, you can expect to lose 0.50.
Spanish 21 house edge can be as low as 0.4%; however, this does also require a proper approach. There are many Spanish 21 strategy charts online. Printing one off and following the actions in different circumstances is a great way to learn when you are new to the game.
Odds
The odds vary pretty significantly between the two. With regular blackjack, you will always receive a 1:1 payout. The exception to the rule is if you hit blackjack with your first two cards, where you receive a 3:2 payout with what is known as a natural 21.
Spanish 21 allows many more opportunities to hit that 21. Below are some of the payouts you can achieve:
- Hit a 21 with a 5-card hand for a 3:2 payout
- Hitting 21 with a 6-card hand pays 2:1
- Hit 21 with a 7-card hand and get a 3:1 payout
- Hitting 21 with either 6, 7, or 8 receives a 3:2 payout
- Hitting 21 with three 7 cards and get a 3:2 payout
Conclusion
Although blackjack has many variants, they all pretty much run on the same rules. Spanish 21 is a fun and different game to try if you have been getting bored with standard blackjack. All the great Blackjack rules have been integrated into Spanish 21, and the bad rules have been eliminated. Spanish 21 also offers the option to double down after any number of cards get dealt. In addition, the house edge is far lower on Spanish 21, making it, in our opinion, a better game than blackjack.