Rose Bailey | January 5, 2023 | Updated on: August 8th, 2024
Best Spanish 21 Blackjack Australia
Play Spanish 21 at top casino sites in Australia today with Casino Inquirer! Spanish 21 is an exciting variation of Blackjack, with several unique rules, making it quite different from many others. Spanish 21 features several major rule changes, which lower the house edge, give the player a chance for larger payouts, and creates a very unique Blackjack experience.
Depending on the game developer, Spanish 21 could also go by several other names, including Spanish Blackjack, or Pirate 21. If you’re looking for a unique take on Blackjack, Spanish 21 might be just what you’ve been looking for. If you’ve never played it before, we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help new Australian players enjoy real money Spanish 21. This includes how to play, the changes to the rules, winning strategies, and more! Let’s jump in and learn about Spanish 21 Blackjack.
Top Australian Casinos offering Spanish 21
Basics of Spanish 21 Blackjack
Spanish 21 is a fairly new casino game, created back in 1995. The creator wanted to take Blackjack and make it more exciting without changing the core of the game. As such, the goal remains the same, get closer to 21 than the dealer without exceeding this value.
However, there are a number of pretty drastic changes to the rules. This includes the removal of all 10s from the decks. This helps lower the house edge to as low as 0.4%. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the rule changes in Spanish 21.
Spanish 21 versus Standard Blackjack
Spanish 21 shares many of the same rules with Blackjack, but there are a few notable changes. The cards are valued the same, and the goal is to get as close to 21 without exceeding. If you exceed 21, it counts as an instant loss. Another change is that the dealer is required to hit on a soft 17, which helps bring the house edge down. Below are some of the changes that make Spanish 21 unique.
- No 10s – The biggest change in Spanish 21 is that the game uses several decks of 48 cards. Typical card decks have 52 cards, but in Spanish 21, all of the 10s have been removed. Kings, Queens, and Jacks are still valued at 10, but the actual 10s are no longer there. This means players can hit a bit more frequently, as there are fewer high-value cards.
- Blackjack Wins – Should the player and the dealer both get Blackjack (Ace + 10-value card), the player wins and receives a 3:2 payout.
- Unique Payouts – When playing the standard version of Blackjack, the only unique payout is for hitting Blackjack, where players get a 3:2 payout. However, in Spanish 21, a few other hands receive special payouts. These include a winning hand made up of five or six cards, as well as winning hands with 6-7-8 or 7-7-7.
- Double Down Rules – Spanish 21 allows players to Double Down on a wider range of cards. You can also Double Down following splitting a hand.
- Splitting – Players are able to Split a second time if they receive another pair.
- Surrender – Many versions of Blackjack allow players to surrender, but only when they have two cards. Spanish 21 allows players to surrender at any time during their hand.
Spanish 21 Payouts
One of the best things about playing Spanish 21 is that this version of the game comes with a range of unique payouts. In traditional Blackjack, you receive a 1:1 payout for winning and 3:2 for getting Blackjack (21 with your first two cards). However, Spanish 21 has many more unique payouts, which is why the game has a lower house edge than traditional Blackjack.
| Hand | Description | Payout |
| Blackjack | 21 with just Two Cards | 3:2 |
| 21 with 5 Cards | Five Card hand totaling 21 | 3:2 |
| 21 with 6 Cards | Six Card Hand totaling 21 | 2:1 |
| 21 with 7 Cards | Seven Cards totalling 21 | 3:1 |
| 6-7-8 Mixed | A 6-7-8 of mixed suits | 3:2 |
| 6-7-8 Suited | 6-7-8 from the same suite | 2:1 |
| 6-7-8 Spades | 6-7-8 all Spades | 3:1 |
| 7-7-7 Mixed | 7-7-7 from different suites | 3:2 |
| 7-7-7 Suited | 7-7-7 from the same suite | 2:1 |
| 7-7-7 Spades | Three 7s from Spades | 3:1 |
| Winning Hand | Any other Winning Hand | 1:1 |
| Up 7 | Player has a 7-7-7, dealer shows a 7 | AU$1000 – AU$5000 Jackpot |
How to play Spanish 21 Blackjack
Playing Spanish 21 follows the same steps as traditional Blackjack. If you’ve never played either, this step-by-step guide will help you play your first few hands.
- Step 1 – Each round will begin with the player deciding how much they want to bet. Click on the appropriate casino chips to make your bet. Once you’re satisfied, click Deal.
- Step 2 – The player will now receive two cards. The dealer will also receive their two cards, but only one card will be visible. Players need to look at the value of their hand, as well as the dealer’s visible card.
- Step 3 – Once you have considered your hand’s value, and the dealer’s face-up card, you need to decide what your next move is. Are you going to Hit, Stand, split, or double down. Click on the respective button.
- Step 4 – Once you stand, the dealer will play their hand based on the rule set for the dealer.
- Step 5 – Once the dealer finishes playing their hand, the game will determine which hand is the winner.
Winning Spanish 21 Blackjack Strategy
When playing Spanish 21, Australian players can largely use the same strategy as any other version of Blackjack. However, in order to have the best possible chance of winning, players will need to modify their strategy slightly, to account for the rule changes.
- Hitting and Standing – In Spanish 21, we recommend you stand when you have 18 or higher. You should hit when your hand is valued at 13 or less.
- Double Down – If you have a Hard 11, we recommend Doubling Down. You should also consider Doubling Down when you have a Hard 9 – 11 if the dealer shows a 4, 5, or 6.
- Splitting – We recommend players split anytime they have a pair of Aces. You should also split when you have a pair of 2s, 3s, 7s, or 8s, when the dealer’s face-up card is between a 2 and a 7. We do not recommend splitting on a pair of 4s or 5s.