Study Spanish 21 before playing this blackjack

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Updated: January 23, 2012 12:27AM

Spanish 21 or Spanish Blackjack is a variation of traditional blackjack that is offered in many gaming jurisdictions around the United States, including Las Vegas.

I’ve never had the inclination to sit down and play, thinking the game was just another gimmick used by casinos to relieve us of our gaming bankrolls.

Popular gaming author Frank Scoblete made me change my mind some years ago with his book “Armada Strategies for Spanish 21” (Bonus Books).

For my money, give me traditional blackjack any day.

But after reading Scoblete’s book I would feel much more comfortable sitting down to play the game, knowing that I am in possession of information to help me employ optimum strategies against the house’s built-in edge.

First of all, here’s a brief outline on how Spanish 21 is played.

The object is still to beat the dealer. The biggest difference is that in a 6-deck shoe, all the 10-spot cards in the deck have been removed, so instead of 312 cards as in traditional blackjack there are only 288 cards in play in Spanish 21. The 10-value face cards, of course, remain in play.

Taking the 24 10-spot cards out of play is a hefty price to pay for playing Spanish 21. After all, cards with a value of 10 are essential for making blackjacks, the real object of the game.

To compensate players, Spanish 21 offers special payout bonuses for certain hands, including five-card 21, six-card 21, seven- or more-card 21, three-card hand of 6-7-8 in mixed suits, three-card hand of 6-7-8 in same suit, three-card 6-7-8 in spades, a 7-7-7 hand in mixed suits, a 7-7-7 hand of same suit, and a 7-7-7 hand in spades. Also, if both the player and the dealer have a blackjack, the player is paid off at 3-2.

If you go into a Spanish 21 game enticed by the bonus perks but unaware of the basic strategy differences between it and traditional blackjack, you’re going to give the casino a fat edge in the 2 percent to 3 percent range, making it one of the worst betting propositions in the house.

If, on the other hand, you take the time to learn the basic strategy as outlined in Scoblete’s book, you’ll reduce that edge to a more comfortable 0.82 advantage, making it one of the best games in the house, although still not as good as traditional blackjack.

Scoblete emphasizes that if you play Spanish 21 using traditional blackjack basic strategy, you’re going to get killed.

Using the special strategies Scoblete outlined with the help of blackjack expert and gaming author Fred Renzey, you give yourself a fighting chance of staying in the game instead of getting blown out of the water.

In addition to being the definitive analysis of Spanish 21, Scoblete’s book is filled with the author’s trademark literary wit and wisdom.

You’ll have a lot of fun reading the book en route to learning more than you ever thought imaginable about this rather strange variation of blackjack.

Scoblete makes a thorough study not only of the rules of play, but also the most efficient manner of play.

The knowledge you derive can help gaming enthusiasts in all aspects of casino gambling.

John G. Brokopp’s Beat the Odds tips air at 8:20 a.m., 2:50 p.m. and 10:42 p.m. Sundays on WBBM-AM (780). The freelance casino columnist and author can be reached at jbrokopp@comcast.net.