Spanish 21 Blackjack, A Guide to Strategy

Blackjack is said to have originated in Spain- Don Quixote certainly played it- so it is no surprise that there is a variant called Spanish 21.
In Spanish 21, the ten cards are removed, meaning that this version of blackjack is played with eight decks of 48 cards. Like Atlantic City Blackjack, Spanish 21 is an American Hole Card Game. The dealer gets 2 cards, one of which remains face down, at the same time as the players get their cards.
Unlike other versions of blackjack, in Spanish 21 the player has the upper hand if and when they get blackjack or 21. If both the player and the dealer get blackjack or 21, it is the player who wins. Like other versions, the dealer must stand on soft 17.

Other rules include:

• You are allowed a late surrender.
• You can double down on any number of cards.
• You can surrender after doubling down.
• You can double down after splitting.
• You can split up to three times and play four separate hands.
• You can re-split aces.
• You can split 10 value cards even if they are different cards.
• Five card 21 pays 3:2.
• Six card 21 pays 2:1.
• Seven card 21 (or higher) pays 3:1.
• 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of different suits pays out 3:2.
• 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 in the same suit pays 2:1.
• 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of spades pays 3:1.
• Suited 7-7-7 when dealer has 7 face up pays 50:1.