Spanish 21

I like to play Spanish 21 but the strategy is a bit more involved ( I am still trying to learn it) than basic strategy in Black Jack .I played at the Cosmo with the Wizards Strategy chart and the pit boss said I should just play it like Black Jack and would not stop talking long enough for me to use it and play. He was actually a friendly guy but obviously not very knowledgeable about the game. The dealer however referred to it frquently and actually wanted a copy so I told him where I got it. My question is has the Wiz ever done a simplfied basic strategy for Spanish 21 like he has for Black Jack? That way it could be used until the complete basic strategy was learned. If there was such a simplfied veresion for Spanish 21 what would it add the the house edge. Thanks

Quote: MrRalph

I like to play Spanish 21 but the strategy is a bit more involved ( I am still trying to learn it) than basic strategy in Black Jack .I played at the Cosmo with the Wizards Strategy chart and the pit boss said I should just play it like Black Jack and would not stop talking long enough for me to use it and play. He was actually a friendly guy but obviously not very knowledgeable about the game. The dealer however referred to it frquently and actually wanted a copy so I told him where I got it. My question is has the Wiz ever done a simplfied basic strategy for Spanish 21 like he has for Black Jack? That way it could be used until the complete basic strategy was learned. If there was such a simplfied veresion for Spanish 21 what would it add the the house edge. Thanks

I love Spanish 21, and am finally getting the strategy down (without needing the card)...

The problem is that there CAN'T be a simplified strategy. The 3:2, 2:1, and 3:1 combos make it necessary to learn every stinking rule and adjust the strategy. If I were to quantify a simplified strategy, I guess it would be...

1) Follow main BJ rules, except...
a) ALWAYS HIT 12 and 13
b) Double-down rescue any non-made hand (17+) against a 9, face or ace.
c) Always hit a 5+ card hand to 17+.

This is TOTALLY amateur, but those rule changes I would imagine take away enough of the house edge.

Now think of the game being offered to a half-drunk tourist who wanders by .... and you can see how deceptive a term such as "house edge" can be.

Quote: FleaStiff

Now think of the game being offered to a half-drunk tourist who wanders by .... and you can see how deceptive a term such as "house edge" can be.

Spanish 21 is an interesting game in that regard. In the Chicagoland Indiana casinos, most of the players know the basic strategy moves, although they sometimes tend to forget the exception cases. NOT hitting 12s will get you yelled at... EVERYWHERE else I've ever played the game, it tends to be played like regular BJ, and so I prefer to play the game by myself. I did play it a little at Atlantic City, but didn't get a feel for the players there.

It's hard to find Spanish tables anymore. It seems like it's a market based game, meaning if one casino in the area has it, they all do. MGM Grand Detroit does, but I don't remember anymore if the others have it. Council Bluffs has a 24 hour table at Ameristar, and Horseshoe has H17 with redouble. Southern Indiana has it, with various rules (less Belterra, who opted for Super Fun 21 and said it was basically the same game... LOL).