Blackjack vs Spanish 21

I have been playing blackjack and recently I learned about Spanish 21 at my local casino

1. Regular 6 deck blackjack
Dealer hits soft 17
Blackjack pays 3:2
Can double on first two cards
Can surrender on first two cards
Can split 4 times (except on aces)
Can double upon split

Sidebets are match the dealer and push the dealer (10:1 if we push)

2. Spanish 21 6 deck blackjack
Dealer hits soft 17
Blackjack pays 3:2
Can double --> double double --> double double double
Can surrender on first two cards or after any double
Can split 4 times
Can double or double double or double double double upon split
All bonus bets applied

Which game is better. I am confused since the house edge isn't really different

Spanish 21 looks like the slightly better game, going by the rules you posted I think it is about 0.11% better (Spanish 21 0.42% vs Blackjack 0.53%).

If you are used to playing blackjack, I would practice Spanish 21 using a free to play/ demo game at one of the online casinos, so that you can get used to the minor basic strategy changes without people questioning your play style, then when you get more confident and faster at making the correct basic strategy decision, you can then play at a "normal casino" for real money.

But like you said "...the house edge isn't really different", so It depends which game you are more comfortable with.

Lastly, here are some link that may be helpful


https://wizardofodds.com/games/spanish-21/

Thanks a ton. I will review and practice a little.

I think SP21 is a MUCH better game. And off the top of my head, I think the possibility of hitting the 777 v 7 for $5000 lowers the house edge even more than what you wrote. Much more fun.

Basic Strategy, much more involved. Most players ain't got a clue. Which is great, the House must make a killing off of it.

Quote: bobbartop

I think SP21 is a MUCH better game. And off the top of my head, I think the possibility of hitting the 777 v 7 for $5000 lowers the house edge even more than what you wrote. Much more fun.

Basic Strategy, much more involved. Most players ain't got a clue. Which is great, the House must make a killing off of it.

Yes you are correct, I think SP 21 is close to 0.39% house edge, when playing $25 per box because of the $5,000 (super) bonus.

Also, here are some more links that the OP may find helpful (meant to post them in my earlier reply):

BlackJack (BJ):

https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/calculator/
https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/strategy/calculator/
http://www.beatingbonuses.com/bjstrategy.php

BJ Side bet (push the dealer/push your luck side bet):

https://discountgambling.net/2012/12/20/push-your-luck-blackjack-side-bet/ ( side-bet pays 10-1)


SP21:

https://wizardofodds.com/games/spanish-21/ (repeat of link that I posted earlier)
https://discountgambling.net/?s=spanish+21

Counting SP21***:
https://discountgambling.net/2009/02/24/does-card-counting-work-for-spanish21/

***: I know you didn't ask for this but If counting SP21 I would use the values below:
"simple" count: 3, 4, 5, 6 (+1) and J, Q, K, A (-1)
"slightly harder" count: 5 (+2), 3.4. 6 (+1), J, Q, K (-1) and A (-2).

I read that in a Florida casino, when you split Aces in Spanish 21, you can have more than 1 card :o

Be prepared at the tables of Spanish 21 when you play correct basic strategy. You will get heat and strange looks from people who think it is the same strategy as regular 21. Especially when it doesn't help the other players

I thought I read that Spanish 21 has a lower percentage of winning hands, so your losing streaks will add up more. Getting paid right away on a 21 or a BJ is one way to offset that, getting the little extra bonuses that pay 3:2 or 2:1 or 3:1 help too. I wouldn't expect that Super Bonus to come around any time soon, the odds are over 1 in 600K. You'd get a bigger 6 figure payout from a $5 bet on Blazing 7's, but that will wreck your bankroll trying to win it. If I can't swing a $25 base bet right away, I'd try to win enough in early sessions so I can maintain a $25 base bet on Spanish 21.
Draft Kings has a demo game with a $2,000 bankroll. I don't usually win at it but when I do I can top $10K on the credit meter. I should be practicing with a strategy card more instead of reinforcing my imagined memory of it weeks later. There's quite a difference between regular BJ and Spanish 21 with the strategy cards.
I think I'd prefer Spanish 21 just to get away from pit heat that occurs on regular BJ tables for no reason.

Quote: avianrandy

Be prepared at the tables of Spanish 21 when you play correct basic strategy. You will get heat and strange looks from people who think it is the same strategy as regular 21. Especially when it doesn't help the other players
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What, heat from players at Spanish 21? No way, I don't believe you! Guess you've played in Atlantic City and Pennsylvania, right?

I had been playing it as an AP way over a decade, and been at some wonderfully fun and friendly tables. I've also been: slapped, kicked, pushed, called every name in the book, threatened with violence and death, followed from the table (very bad) and a voodoo curse put on me by a group of Haitians. Everything but the spat upon, but I know someone who got that. The basic strategy gets enough but when you are playing a lot of indices, especially with an advanced count, you're doing plays they can't even imagine are right. It's amplified by the fact that you are taking some very wild hits in low counts when you have a minimum bet down, and there could be some guy there betting $500 in a bad count and he perceives you hitting a 15 vs. 4, something like that, as just for the sake of screwing with him.

And I miss it! It's not available in LV, just a couple of CSM tables in town. I'd have to go to Arizona or California to play it (the H17 DDD version) but that alone would not be worth the trip.

Are there other players at the table? I tend to ignore them unless I can scavenge off of them. Unless they are smoking a cigar, they don't matter.

I don't like to play at a full table because it just gets choppy. I like 2-3 other players at the most so I can run my progressions on a win.