Simple Spanish 21 Strategy

Spanish 21 strategy is a little different than that of blackjack because of the differences in the rules.

Hard Hands

In Spanish 21, always stand when the total is 18 or more than that and when the total is less than that of 8, always hit.

Given below are a few tips for hard totals:

• For a hard 9, when there are two cards, double down if the value of the dealer's card is 6. Against all other cards you should always hit.
• If the dealer has 2 through 7, double down and if the dealer has 8 or higher, always hit.
• For a hard 11, if the dealer has 2 to 8, double down and when the dealer has 9 or more, hit.
• When you have a hard 12 always hit.
• When the dealer has 2, 3, 4 or if he has 7 or more, hit. If the dealer has five or six, stand.
• For a hard 14, hit against seven or higher.
• For a hard 15, hit when the dealer has 7 or higher.
• For a hard 16, if the dealer shows an ace, surrender. If the dealer has 7 or higher continue to hit.
• For hard 17, surrender when the dealer has an ace otherwise stand unless the dealer has an 8, 9 or a ten.

Soft Hands

• For soft 13, 14 or 15 always hit.
• When you have a soft 16, double down when the dealer has a 6. If the 16 consists of more than four cards, hit.
• For a soft 17, hit when the dealer has a 2 or 3 or if he has 7 or higher. When the dealer has a 4, double down when the 17 is two cards. Similarly, when the dealer has a 6 and the 17 is three or four cards or when the dealer has a 5 and the 17 consists of three cards then double down.
• For a soft 18, hit when the dealer has an ace, 9 or 19. Always stand when the dealer has 2, 3 or 7, 8. Hit against the same cards when the 17 consists of more than four cards. Also, hit against 7 when you have more than 6 cards and double down when the dealer has 4, 5 or a 6 with more than four cards.

Splitting Pairs

When it comes to splitting pairs in Spanish 21:

• Always split the aces and never split the 10 value cards or the 5s and 4s.
• When you have a pair of 2s or 3s, you should split if the dealer's card is 3 through 7.
• Also, with a pair of 6s you should only split if the dealer has 4 through 6 and should split 7s when the dealer has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.
• If the dealer has an ace and if you have 8s, you should always surrender.

This was the Spanish 21 strategy.