Casino School: How to Play Spanish Blackjack

Intro to Spanish Blackjack

Spanish Blackjack (or sometimes referred to as Spanish 21) is one of the most popular variations and is a cross between typical blackjack and a slot machine in some casinos (more on that a little later). To participate in some Spanish Blackjack, you need to create an account at SlotsParadise.com and deposit some money into your account. You can also redeem a bonus free of charge by selecting it as an extra to your deposit and get into the action. 

Spanish Blackjack Strategy & Objective

The strategy of Spanish Blackjack is the same as any other variation of blackjack; get your card total to equate 21 points without going over. If you go over, you “busted,” and it is considered an automatic loss to the player. 

There are some variations where there is a bonus, as we referred to in the opening with the slot machine aspect. You would get a bonus if you are playing and get 21 by having three sevens, and the dealer is showing a seven. However, not every casino does this, so make sure you clearly understand if that feature is at the table you are playing at before getting into the game. 

Card Values

So one of the major differences is the cards. Instead of playing with a 52-card deck, you will be playing with a Spanish deck (48 cards as the ten card of each suit is eliminated from the deck). Otherwise, the card values are the same as original blackjack as the 2-9 cards provide the value of the card number while the jack, queens, and kings are all valued at 10 points. The ace is either a one or an 11, depending on which number will provide the higher number but is equal to or below 21.

Paytable 

So Spanish Blackjack has some unique ways of allowing you to wager. You can do it traditionally and just wager that your hand will be greater than the dealers without exceeding a total of 21. But there is a side bet called “Match the Dealer.”

Matching the dealer is a fun and creative way to win some extra money on top of playing blackjack. The wager is that one or both of your initial cards will match the dealer. We will explain each wager and how much they pay out here as well.

• 1 Non-Suited Match (pays 3:1) means that one of your two cards matches the card’s value that the dealer shows before deciding to hit or stand.
• 2 Non-Suited Matches (pays 4:1) means that both of your cards match the card’s value that the dealer is showing.

Spanish Blackjacks Rules

So now that you understand how the game works let’s discuss a few ways you can get an advantage while playing to maximize your chances of winning. One tip is to hit if you have an 11 or lower and always stand if you have a 17 or over, no matter the amount of cards. This is because if you have an 11 as your card, there is no way you can bust, and if you hit and get a face card, you are at 21. The reason you stand on 17 is because that is typically what spanish blackjacks rules are for the dealer, meaning if he shows 17, you are guaranteed to split at worst. Also, that means you are in the driver’s seat, and the probability of hitting and getting a card that would not force you to bust is not great enough to risk. 

Another tip is to avoid the “Match the Dealer” side bet. Even though the payouts seem great, with some as high as winning $18 for every $1 bet if it hits, there is a reason for it. The house edge is extremely high and not worth taking the risk. Plus, the probability is not on your side there. If you want to do it once in a while, that is okay but avoid betting it frequently as that is an easy way to drain your bankroll quickly. 

Conclusion

Spanish Blackjack is a fast-pace game that is enjoyable, and you can win a lot of money without even realizing it due to the nature of the game. However, you are leaving all the money on the table unless you activate your account over at Slots Paradise and deposit some money as well as redeem your bonus to get into the game. What are you waiting for? Get into the game now and win some side money!