Blackjack game variants X – details: Spanish 21
A very popular game variation of the regular blackjack played extensively in the United States is the game called Spanish 21 and if played in an unlicensed manner, the name of that version is often changed to Spanish Blackjack.
One of the fist and foremost things to note about Spanish 21 is that it is played on a standard game table that is used in the regular blackjack game. Four, five, six or eight card decks are used in play and the dealing is done either from a shoe or via a continuous shuffling machine. It is to be noted that a game of Spanish 21 is played with a card deck containing 48 cards with the four 10 cards stripped from a standard 52-card deck. The values assigned to the cards are same as in a regular version of blackjack game.
While the players receive two hole cards, the dealer of the Spanish 21 game receives one hole card. The regulation regarding the dealer hitting or standing varies. While most casino houses require the dealer to hit when his hand value is a soft 17, some casinos dealers stand when their hand strength aggregates a soft 17. The second situation, when allowed, diminishes the hand value that the dealer may hold as his final total on an average and also prevents his chances of getting busted. Since the dealer’s unbusted hand total is lower if he stands at soft 17 than if he hits, this is advantageous play for the participants. This is translated as a lower house edge for the casino. So, if a six-card deck Spanish 21 game is being played then for the dealer hitting at soft 17, the house advantage is approximately 0.78% whereas in case he stands at soft 17, the house edge is lower at about 0.37%.
