Spanish 21
BLACKJACK VARIANT (1995) — plays like blackjack but uses a SPANISH DECK (48 cards; standard 52 with all 10s REMOVED, but not J/Q/K). Compensates for the missing 10s with LIBERAL BONUS PAYOUTS: (1) Player 21 ALWAYS BEATS DEALER 21 (no push); (2) BLACKJACK ALWAYS PAYS 3:2; (3) BONUSES for 5+, 6+, 7+ card 21s (up to 3:1); (4) SUITED 7-7-7 with dealer 7 upcard = SUPER BONUS ($1000-5000). House edge ~0.4% with basic strategy — better than standard blackjack. Popular in Nevada, Australia, online casinos.
Quick facts
Category
Casino & Gambling
Type
Individual
Players
1–7
Duration
~30 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
1995 Masque Publishing / Ramada Express Casino Nevada
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Reach 21 without busting; earn bonus payouts on multi-card 21s + special hands.
Rules
Basic rules
Deal 2 cards each; dealer 1 upcard
Standard blackjack start.
Player 21 ALWAYS BEATS dealer 21 (no push)
Major player-friendly rule.
Blackjack (ace + 10-value from J/Q/K) always pays 3:2
Better than modern 6:5 blackjack.
Double after split; late surrender; hit split aces
Very liberal rules.
Bonuses for 5-card 21 (3:2), 6-card 21 (2:1), 7+ (3:1)
Multi-card bonuses.
Suited 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 (mixed) pays 3:2-2:1; suited 7-7-7 with dealer 7 = SUPER BONUS
Signature side bonuses.
Scoring
Payouts include multi-card 21 bonuses + suited combinations; house edge ~0.4% with basic strategy.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Blackjack (natural 21) | 3:2 |
| Player 21 beats dealer 21 | 1:1 (no push) |
| 5-card 21 | 3:2 bonus |
| 6-card 21 | 2:1 bonus |
| 7+-card 21 | 3:1 bonus |
| Suited 6-7-8 | 1:1 base + 3:2 bonus |
| Suited 7-7-7 with dealer 7 | $1000-$5000 SUPER BONUS |
Win condition · Beat dealer or hit bonus payouts.
Equipment
Spanish 48-card deck (standard 52 minus all 10s)
Signature deck alteration
Spanish 21 table (similar to blackjack)
Casino layout
Chips + $5 side-bet marker (optional)
Standard casino chips
Terminology
- Super Bonus
- Suited 7-7-7 with dealer 7 upcard; pays $1000-$5000.
- 5-card 21
- 21 total made from exactly 5 cards; pays 3:2 bonus.
- Match the Dealer
- Optional side bet paying if player's card matches dealer's upcard.
Where it is played
Frequently asked
Spanish 21 vs Blackjack — which is better for the player?+
SPANISH 21 has LOWER HOUSE EDGE (~0.4% vs ~0.5% blackjack basic strategy 6-deck 3:2) due to LIBERAL RULES + BONUSES, ONLY IF you play SPANISH 21 BASIC STRATEGY (different from blackjack because of missing 10s). Players using blackjack strategy in Spanish 21 give up ~1% edge. Learn the correct strategy chart or stick with blackjack.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Spanish 21— Wikipedia