• Blackjack 21 Optimal Strategy Example
• Blackjack 21 Optimal Strategy Definition
• Blackjack 21 Optimal Strategy Tactics
• Blackjack 21 Optimal Strategy Examples

With a simple goal to get as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it, and beating the dealer’s hand, smart decision-making goes a long way. Some of the greatest minds to play blackjack developed the basic strategy chart, which explains what moves should be made in every case scenario, to maximise your chance of success.

Spanish 21 is a variation of the standard game Blackjack with a few differences. This article concentrates on those differences and assumes you know the basic rules of Blackjack. This can be found in this separate article if you need a refresher.

Spanish 21 vs Blackjack

• So that's the best strategy for humans, I'm quite certain. Deducing optimal strategy for computers. Computers are better built to play this game. For my next strategy, after the 21 check, I'd calculate the most common card value. left in the deck then subtract it from 21. Whatever the result was, that's what we'd be shooting for.
• Optimal betting is discussed in many places on the Web and a discussion can be found in Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger. I will not go into the theory here other than to say it is the betting ramp that will maximize SCORE. SCORE takes into account both advantage and risk. The optimal bets can be greatly affected by penetration.
• No, if the player has over 21 he/she has busted their hand resulting in a loss. The dealer must pick up ones chip if they bust (making over 21). In your case hitting 15 and catching an ace gives you 16 which is not over 21. The goal playing blackjack is to not bust your hand but to get close to 21 as possible.
• Catch 21 optimal strategy? The goal of the game is to go through a deck of cards and make as many points as possible. At first the deck is shuffled and you get to either place the first card of the deck into one of 4 piles or to place it in a discard pile.

The main difference between Spanish 21 and most other forms of Blackjack is that it is played with a Spanish deck of cards that has 48 cards instead of the usual 52 – the deck is the same with all 10’s removed.

As a 10 is an important card in all forms of Blackjack, you would have thought that this gives a huge advantage to the House. You would be correct if that was the only change, however, a number of other features have been added in an attempt to offset this. Spanish 21 actually has a slightly better edge for the player than many forms of Blackjack.

Spanish 21 Rules

• Late Surrender is allowed, not just after your first 2 cards have been dealt

• You are able to Double after a Split

• You can re Split Aces

• A hand with 21 always wins even if the Dealer also gets 21

• Blackjack always wins even if the Dealer also gets Blackjack

• You can Double at any time after as many cards as you wish

• You can normally Hit and Double after Splitting Aces – this can vary so is worth checking

• You can Surrender after Doubling, known as Double Down rescue. You lose your initial stake which is effectively getting back half your total outlay for the initial stake and the Double

Variation of Rules

Spanish 21 does have some variables which differ depending on where you play so be sure you check these before you start playing.

• Either 6 decks or 8 decks of cards are used

• The dealer can sometimes Hit or Stand on soft 17 – a hand that includes an Ace meaning the Dealer has 7 or 17

• Some casinos will allow you to Double a hand up to 3 times

• Some casinos will not pay the bonus amounts after you Split a hand

Above is an example of the layout for a Spanish 21 table. This particular version sees the Dealer stand on all 17’s, other than this you will see it is very similar to a standard Blackjack table.

Spanish 21 Odds & Payouts

Payouts and odds can be slightly different from regular Blackjack.

• A 5-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a 6-card 21 pays 2 to 1 and 7-card or higher 21 pays 3 to 1. This bonus doesn’t count if you have previously Doubled

• A hand consisting of 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3 to 2, if suited it pays 2 to 1. Either of these hands with all Spades pays 3 to 1. Again, this doesn’t count if you have previously Doubled

• A suited 7-7-7 when the Dealer has a 7 face up pay $1,000 if your bet is between $5 and $24 and a whopping $5,000 Super Bonus if your bet was $25 or more. If you are playing live with other players, they will each receive a $50 ‘Envy Bonus’ if this comes in.

Spanish 21 Strategy

There are several variable rules for Spanish 21, which affect some of the decisions for an optimal strategy. The below Spanish 21 basic strategy is based on casinos that use 6 decks and the Dealer stands on a soft 17, which is the most common variation of the game.

Hard Hands – No Ace

H = Hit D = Double D2 = Double except Hit with x or more cards
SR = Surrender S = Stand S2 = Stand except Hit with x or more cards

Due to the bonus if you get 21 with 4 or more cards, in some instances it is best to Hit and go for these, in the above chart the number next to an action denotes the minimum number of cards you need in order to Hit as opposed to Stand or Double

Soft Hands – With an Ace

H = Hit D = Double D2 = Double except Hit with x or more cards
S = Stand S2 = Stand except Hit with x or more cards

Due to the bonus if you get 21 with 4 or more cards, in some instances it is best to Hit and go for these, in the above chart the number next to an action denotes the minimum number of cards you need in order to Hit as opposed to Stand or Double.

Pairs

H = Hit D = Double
S = Stand SP = Split SP* = Split except for Suited 7’s in which case Hit

Double Down Surrender when you have 12-16 Vs 8-A, 17 Vs A

Blackjack 21 Optimal Strategy Example

Never Split 4’s, 5’s or 10’s

Spanish 21 Tips

There are many extra things to remember in Spanish 21 compared to standard Blackjack, remember the extra bonus payouts for getting 21 with 4 or more cards and getting 7-7-7 or 7-8-9. These don’t count if you were to Double though, so in situations where you feel you have a chance to hit these, ensure you follow the table above for the optimal chance of winning.

Don’t be afraid to Surrender – It is better to admit defeat and get some of your bet back in certain circumstances than continuing and losing it all when the odds are against you. Spanish 21 gives you the chance to Surrender at any time, ensure you make the most of it to stay ahead of the game.

Play for fun first if you want to learn the game properly – This is especially important when playing Spanish 21 as there are different features and rules than in standard Blackjack. We, therefore, recommend you play with free chips until you get the hang of this version when you have a better chance of finishing up.

Always play only with money you can afford to lose – this is the same for all casino games which should be fun – if you don’t enjoy it or are gambling with money you cannot afford to lose your mindset will not help the situation giving you a bigger chance of losing.

Blackjack 21 Optimal Strategy Definition

Blackjack References:

How to Count Cards
Blackjack For Real Money

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Blackjack is a classic casino card game that’s been around for hundreds of years now. Everyday people from around the world enjoy playing at these tables in hopes to bring home more cash than they started with. It’s a simple game to learn and it’s also very fun to play. You can literally just sit down at a table with a dealer and start playing right away. The game has a pretty good house edge, usually somewhere around 0.5% which is one of the lowest you can find at a casino. Not only can you play at the physical casinos, but you can also have fun playing online. If you’re new to the casino, it’s also a great game for new comers as the rules are fairly simple and doesn’t require too much strategy.

Once you understand the rules to Blackjack, and before you start playing, you should definitely go over some strategies that can improve your overall gaming experience. There are different ways in which you can lower the house edge even more, and that’s by simply making the correct decisions at the right time. One of the main reasons why so many players lose is because of not knowing what to do in certain circumstances. Sure, there’s luck involved, but the decisions you make are a huge key factor in determining whether you will be a winner. The Blackjack optimal strategy is in your hands, so be sure to continue reading below to learn more.

21 Card Game

21 card game or simply known as “21” is a classic casino card game where the main objective is to get a better hand than the dealer. In order to do that, you need to get a hand that is worth more points that the dealer’s, without going over 21 points. Once you have gotten a good understanding of the game and learned all the rules, next thing you should do is go over the strategies. Speaking of which, below are some of the most common.

• Split – if you are ever in a situation where you are dealt two aces or two eights, it’s a good idea to go ahead and split them. Never split fives or tens.
• Hit – it’s always a good to hit when you have been dealt a soft 17.
• Stand – always stand when you have a 17 or higher.
• Insurance – in the long run, it’s best to not take insurance.
• Double-Down – is a great opportunity, and a way to bring the house edge down.
• Surrender – it is said that you should only surrender when you have a hard 15 and the dealer has a 10, or when you have a hard 16 and the dealer has a 9,10 or ace.
• Side Bets – are usually not worth going for, and the casino’s advantage is higher than without them.

Blackjack Basic Strategy

As far as the amount of decks used, it’s usually best when there’s less, however it doesn’t make a huge difference, and the most common you will see are four and six. Overall, there are tons of strategies out there you can find, however since the game involves probability, most of them are a waste of time. Rather than looking at the game as one long session, it’s best to look at each hand individually. Below are some basic guidelines to follow.

• For each hand you win, go ahead and increase your bet by one chip.
• If you lose a hand, go ahead and bet the same amount as your previous hand.
• If you make profit in the end, go ahead and put them to the side.
• Never play when you’re in a rush. If you’re ever in a hurry, it’s best to play when you have more time, especially when it’s a good idea to take breaks.
• Don’t drink alcohol. Keep your head clear, especially when playing with real money.
• Set a limit. Don’t bet more than you can afford, and don’t try to make up for your losses. Before you start, make up your mind on how much you’re willing to spend.
• Don’t let your emotions affect your game play. If you’re losing, shake it off and focus on the next hand.

How to Win at Blackjack

Want to learn how to win at Blackjack? Once you have learned the basic rules to the classic game as well as some strategies, you should go ahead and widen your horizon by checking out some other variations, such as European and Progressive Blackjack. These are just a couple different versions, but they are both very popular. By learning some of the different versions, this can help increase your game play so that you can become a well rounded player.

European Blackjack is another variation to the classic we just spoke about. In fact, the main objective is the same, which is to get a higher score than the dealer without going over 21. This is the most popular variation and is mostly found at the casinos scattered across Europe. One of the differences is the dealer doesn’t get a second card until all the players have finished making their moves. The game is also played using two decks of cards. You also can’t surrender your cards. If you want to double-down, you can only do so if you have a hard total between 9 and 11. You can split up to three hands, except for aces. The dealers have to stand when they have a soft 17. If you and the dealer end in a tie, you get your initial bet back. The house edge is usually lower, too.

Progressive Blackjack is just like the classic version, except there’s a side bet you can take advantage of. This progressive jackpot keeps growing for each side bet. Keep in mind that the side bet has no impact on the outcome of your hand. Each time you or someone else places a side bet, a certain percentage goes towards the jackpot, and continues to grow until someone gets lucky and wins. The size of these jackpots can get big, therefore the more people who play and the higher the bets, the larger the potential pot will be.

Blackjack 21 Optimal Strategy Tactics

In the end, you can never stop learning on how to become a better Blackjack player. The more you educate yourself on the game and practice, the better your outcome will be. Don’t forget, as much as you may want to come close to 21, the main objective is to beat the dealer. This means you can even win with a low score as the dealer can bust, therefore strategy takes a big part in the game. More importantly, it’s all about having fun. Win or lose, you should always walk away with a smile on your face. To start playing Blackjack now and practice some of these strategies, go ahead and give our games a try here at Caesars Casino for free.

Blackjack 21 Optimal Strategy Examples