Introduction to Spanish Blackjack
If you want to play Spanish Blackjack, then you will need a firm hold of the rules and strategy that is employed. The game is different enough from standard blackjack so that if you use the same betting strategies in Blackjack as you do in Spanish Blackjack you will be giving the casino money!
The game is subtly different enough that you need to use different tactics to win. The major difference is that the 10s are taken out of the pack, so that you are left with 48 cards instead of 52. This means that there are fewer blackjacks, and this actually is in favour of the casino. So why should you play this game rather than normal blackjack, since no one enjoys giving the casinos more money?
Spanish Blackjack gives you a variety of other side bets and widens the possibilities for doubling down you bets, so that you can overcome the edge of losing the 10s with optimum betting strategy. In some cases, with both optimum card play and betting, you can having better odds than in blackjack.
Strategy in Spanish Blackjack
There are lots of Spanish 21 games all over the world so rules will vary somewhat from casino to casino. If you want to be successful then you should find a casino that has more factors that reduce the house edge. The usual rules in the player's favour are allowing a late surrender, allowing doubling after a split, allowing splitting after aces, a player 21 always wins, player blackjack beats a dealer blackjack, and doubles allowed on any cards.
All Spanish blackjack games pay out 3:2 on blackjacks (whereas in normal blackjack some tables only pay out 1:1). Some tables also pay uot more if you hit 21 with 5 cards or 7 cards. The payout may be as much as 3:1. The presence of side bets such as the matching the dealer bet, or the super 7s bonus also help put the cards in the players favour.
You should also aim to play at a casino where the dealer is forced to stand on a soft 17. Some casinos hit on a 17 and this actually makes the players job harder. If you find a casino that adheres to all these rules, then you will find one that has better odds than in standard blackjack. It is highly recommended that you check the rules of that particular game and play using play money before you start betting so you know exactly what the rules are.
The optimum strategy for playing revolves around what you should do depending on what cards you get, and what the dealer shows. There is a different strategy depending on what the dealer does on a 17.
The most advantageous card is the ace, and in Spanish Blackjack it appears in a greater proportion because of the absence of the 10. Any strategy can be implemented easily online as you can refer to a fixed strategy guide without any pressure from the dealer, and if you want to gain an edge you should certainly do so.
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