Spanish 21 Game – Review & Demo
Written By Scott Lawson
Known to be one of the best bets in the casino, the Spanish 21 game is an extremely popular variant of blackjack. Also known as Spanish Blackjack, the online casino game has been developed by the software giant Microgaming and boasts quality graphics, outstanding audio and a smooth playing experience. Whilst its unique rules can make the game a little harder to grasp, they can also help increase your chances of winning. You can play Spanish 21 online at most Microgaming casinos; however, you can check out my recommended casino for this game below.
This Spanish 21 review will introduce you to the main rules and features of the game, discuss any interesting side bets that offer further opportunity for profit, before finally, giving some tips on how to play Spanish 21 online for real money.
Play the Spanish 21 Demo Game – Now!
Before you get stuck into the meat of this Spanish 21 review, I’d recommend trying out the free version rather than start playing for real money. The advantages are endless as you can get comfortable with the steps of the game, playing styles and not risk losing any of your own money in the process. You can play the free demo version of the Spanish blackjack game below!
–In addition to getting your hands dirty in the free demo version, I’d also recommend immersing yourself in the rules of the game before you start playing with your own money. Having an understanding of the rules means you can be confident in each step you make whilst playing. Keep reading for an easy to understand guide to playing Spanish 21 online.
Overview of the Rules and Features
The Spanish 21 game is played with six to eight Spanish decks. That is your traditional 52-card deck minus the four tens to make up 48 cards in total. While this may seem like a slight advantage towards the dealer, the rules are different to the standard rules of blackjack and favour the player more heavily. For instance, a player with a hand worth 21 always wins, no matter what the dealer holds. Additionally, you can hit or double down after splitting card values and even surrender after doubling, which forfeits your original bet but allows you to keep you double down bet.
- RTP:99.20% – 99.22%
- Blackjack Pays:3:2
- Decks:6 – 8
- Multi-Hand:Yes
- Insurance:Yes
- Surrender:Yes
- Split:Yes
- Re-Split:No
- Hit Split Aces:Yes
- Double:Yes
- Double After Split:Yes
- Dealer Peek:Yes
- Dealer Hits Soft 17:Yes
- Side Bets:Match the Dealer
A blackjack pays out at odds of 3:2 on any regular bet, 2:1 on six-card and 3:1 on seven or more. You can even reach bonus odds of up to 50:1 for suited hands or a 21 made up of three sevens. However, these bonus payments do not apply if you have blackjack. All ace cards can have a value of one or eleven and the dealer must always hit on a soft 17. The typical return to player rate for Spanish 21 online is between 99.20 and 99.22%, a much higher payout rate than you would find on slots or a roulette game, or even other blackjack games.
The Match the Dealer Side Bet
No Spanish 21 review would be complete without discussing an additional side bet. On top of the various rules discussed before, the most recognised side bet for this game is the Match the Dealer side bet. It can be won by the player if one or both preliminary cards match the dealers face up card. The pay-outs for matching the dealer depend on the number of decks in the game. In a six-deck game, a non-suited match would yield 4:1 winnings whilst an eight-deck yields 3:1. For a suited match, the payouts increase further. You would get 9:1 in in six-deck game and 12:1 in an 8-deck game. That said, whilst these odds sound great, side bets can put you into murky waters at times, and I’d recommend just sticking to the normal game before you try and increase winnings through side bets.
Play Spanish 21 Online in Real Money Mode
There is no doubting that along with Buster Blackjack and Double Exposure Blackjack, Spanish blackjack is one of the more enticing games you can play online today with a low house edge and lots of extra rules that favour the player. Now that you’ve had a chance to test out the demo game for free and have a better understanding of the rules, you are ready to take on the Spanish 21 real money game. My favourite casino to play this game is shown below. In addition to its fantastic game selection, the operator currently offers one of the best welcome bonuses in the market today. Head to the main bonus page to get the complete overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spanish 21 blackjack?
Spanish 21 Blackjack is a popular variant of blackjack played with "Spanish decks" - decks of 48 cards instead of the traditional 52. If you'd like to learn more about different blackjack variants, you can check out our page explaining the rules and variants in full.
How to play Spanish 21 blackjack?
Playing Spanish 21 blackjack is remarkably easy. To learn how, simply jump up to our section on the rules and features.
Spanish 21 or blackjack which has better odds?
Generally speaking, Spanish 21 favours the player more than other variants of blackjack. To get a good over view of RTPs on a variety of different blackjack games, click over to our breakdown of blackjack payout rates.
How is Spanish 21 different from blackjack?
There are a number of ways in which Spanish 21 differs from traditional blackjack. There are fewer cards, a player hand worth 21 will always win - regardless of the dealer's hand - and the odds are considerably better. To get to grips with the differences yourself, you can try out our free Spanish 21 demo.
How do I count Spanish 21 blackjack?
Counting in Spanish 21 doesn't differ much from counting in any other game of blackjack. To learn how to count, you can read our in-depth blackjack counting guide.
Why is it called Spanish 21?
The name Spanish 21 derives from the deck used. A "Spanish deck" is comprised of 48 cards. Basically, it's a normal deck with the four 10s missing. If you're interested in learning about the origins of other variants, we recommend checking out our page on the history of blackjack.