Blackjack 21+3 Strategy

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.

• Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Games
• Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Game
• Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Definition
• 21+3 Blackjack Strategy
• Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Tactics

But don’t take your seat just yet, you’ve got to know your 21+3 from your Perfect Pairs and how blackjack side bets work before you can play profitably. What are blackjack side bets? A blackjack side bet is a subsidiary wager placed outside the main betting area during the 15-second interval at the onset of each round. This is for the variation of 21+3 that pays 9 to 1 for Straight Flushes, Straights, Flushes, and Trips. A flush is the most common winning hand in the 3CP side bet. In a full 6 deck shoe, there are 303,264 three-card flush combinations. There are 5,013,320 total 3 card combinations. The first thing to get to grips with is ‘basic strategy’ which is probably the most essential ingredient of blackjack strategy. The basic strategy detailed below is based on blackjack games played with 4 or more decks. Essentially, the basic strategy is a template which shows you the best course of action to take based on the cards dealt. 21+3 Blackjack House Edge and RTP Values. Something to always consider is the house edge and return-to-player percentage of any casino game. As it happens, blackjack has some of the best odds in the whole industry in general. But how does 21+3 Blackjack stack up against other variations? The “21 + 3” blackjack side bet is based on examining the player’s two cards and the dealer’s up-card. If the three cards form a flush, straight, three-of-a-kind or straight flush, the player wins. In the original version, the payout for each of these was 9-to-1. With this pay table, the game has a house edge of 3.2386%.

Spanish 21 vs Blackjack

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

Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Games

• 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.

Blackjack 21+3 Strategy 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

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 References:

How to Count Cards
Blackjack For Real Money

Featured Gambling Guides

21+3 Blackjack Review

• Number of decks: 6
• Blackjack payout: 3:2
• Dealer’s forced move: Stands on all 17
• Dealer’s first card: One up
• Split: Yes
• Re-Split: Yes
• Split Aces: Yes – can draw
• Double Down: Any
• Surrender: No
• Insurance: Yes

Dealer stands on all 17s in wagerworks 21 + 3 Blackjack. You may double down, even after a split or re-split. Re-splitting is allowed once per split card. Split aces are treated like any other split card, but Blackjack is not possible on Split cards. Any eight-card player hand that is not Bust will beat all dealer hands except for dealer blackjack. Additional rules apply to the 3 Card Side Bet – the two player up cards and the one dealer up card can produce extra wins if they form a special hand, as outlined below under Wagers and Payouts.

In 21 + 3 Blackjack, wagers are made using a combination of five different chips, ranging in denomination from 1 to 500. The minimum bet amount per hand is €/£1, and the maximum is €/£1000. This same limit applies to the 3 Card Side Bet. Payouts are as follows: blackjack pays 3:2, insurance pays 2:1, other wins pay 1:1, and all ties push. Additional payouts for winning 3 Card Side Bet hands are as follows:

• Flush 5:1
• Straight 10:1
• 3 of a Kind 33:1
• Straight Flush 35:1
• Suited 3 of a Kind 100:1

Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Definition

This game plays as smooth as can be. The buttons are easy to find and out of the way, leaving the whole playing area clear so that you can focus on your game. The cards are bold and very readable. The graphics are descent, though the table is blue instead of the traditional green. Subtle animations add a nice touch to card movements, chip actions, and other parts of the game. Overall, it looks quite good, and plays very well.

21+3 Blackjack Strategy

The 3 Card Side Bet is what makes this game unique, turning the first 3 up cards of a hand into a 3 card poker hand that can help you win big. But remember, while the proper clackjack portion of this game involves a mix of luck and skill, this side bet is based purely on luck. You’ll lose more often than you win, but when you win, the payouts are great!

Blackjack 21+3 Strategy Tactics

We all love a good game of Classic Blackjack. Many of us are poker fans too. So when this game first came out, many of us were excited to try it. 21 + 3 Blackjack definitely does not disappoint! It adds a little thrill to the deal, and a chance to win some extra cash, but then once you’ve won or lost you can focus on blackjack – it’s the ideal side bet scheme that doesn’t get in the way of the game!