Spanish 21 & Australian Pontoon

Last update: Nov. 12, 2007

Spanish 21 is a variation of blackjack that is one of the best bets in a casino. In locations where the dealer stands on a soft 17 or redoubling is allowed, Spanish 21 is probably a better bet than blackjack, depending on the specific blackjack rules. If you are looking for a change of pace from traditional blackjack but insist on a game with a low house edge you may find new excitement in Spanish 21.

What is called Pontoon in Australia and Malaysia, is what is called Spanish 21 in the United States. This has been the cause of much confusion.

1. A player 21 always wins.
2. Player blackjack beats dealer blackjack.
3. Player may double on any number of cards.
4. Player may usually hit and double down after splitting aces (some casinos no longer allow this).
5. Player may surrender after doubling, known as "double down rescue." The player forfeits an amount equal to his original bet.
6. A five-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a six-card 21 pays 2 to 1, a seven or more card 21 pays 3 to 1. However, the bonuses are not paid if the player doubled.
7. A 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3 to 2, of the same suit pays 2 to 1, and of spades pays 3 to 1. These bonuses do not pay after doubling.
8. Suited 7-7-7 when the dealer has a seven face up pays $1000 for bets of $5-$24 and $5000 for bets of $25 or over. In addition, all other players receive a $50 "envy bonus." This bonus does not pay after doubling or splitting.

Variable Rules

1. Dealer may hit or stand on a soft 17.
2. Usually 6 or 8 Spanish decks are used.
3. Some casinos allow redoubling, up to three times.
4. Some casinos allow late surrender on the initial two cards.

Next is the Spanish 21 basic strategy when the dealer stands on a soft 17.

Note: If drawing to split is not allowed, and the dealer stands on soft 17 (as is the case at the Mohegan Sun), then hit A,A vs A.

The next table if for when the dealer hits a soft 17, redoubling is allowed, and the player has not already doubled.

The next table if for when the dealer hits a soft 17, redoubling is allowed, and the player has already doubled, which limits his options to stand, surrender, and double again.

Many readers have expressed doubt about my advice to hit 17 against an ace with 3 or more cards. However, I stand by what I said. The player will save about 2.8% of the initial wager by hitting as opposed to standing. The dealers will advise against this play and the other players may curse the day you were born, but trust me, the odds favor hitting.

• Dealer stands on soft 17: 0.40%
• Dealer hits on soft 17, redoubling allowed: 0.42%
• Dealer hits on soft 17, redoubling not allowed: 0.76%

The probability of hitting the Super Bonus is 1 in 668,382, with six decks, and 1 in 549,188 with eight decks. The reduction in the house edge depends on the bet amount, and to a lesser extent, the number of players. With no other players, and bets of exactly $5 or $25, the Super Bonus lowers the house edge by 0.030% in a six-deck game, and 0.036% in an eight-deck game. At a bet of exactly $5, the Envy Bonus lowers the house edge by an additional 0.0015% in a six-deck game, and 0.0018% in an eight-deck game, per additional player.

For bet amounts other than those indicated above, the benefit of the Super Bonus will go down as the bet amount goes up.

No Draw to Split Aces: At the Mohegan Sun drawing to split aces is NOT allowed. There has been some confusion about whether this is in fact the case, due to an incorrect posting of the rules at the Mohegan Sun web site. However, since sometime in 2005, the problem was fixed, and I have a confirmation from the casino manager, dated May 8, 2006, that verifies drawing to split aces is NOT allowed. The effect of this rule is to increase the house edge by 0.29%. As stated above, hit A,A vs A if drawing to split aces is not allowed, and the dealer stands on soft 17, as is the case at the Mohegan Sun.

Ace and 10 after splitting aces pays 3 to 2: I have an unconfirmed report that at the Meskaki casino in central Iowa pays 3 to 2 on an ace and 10 after splitting aces. According to my calculations this lowers the house edge by 0.16%. Otherwise they hit a soft 17 and no redoubling, for an overall house edge of 0.60%.

Doubling only allowed on first two cards: I had a false report that a casino in Malaysia didn't allow doubling on any number of cards. If such a rule did exist, it would increase the house edge by 0.16%.

I would like to thank Katarina Walker for correcting some minor strategy errors in this page. She is the author of "The Pro's Guide to Spanish 21 and Australian Pontoon."

German translation of this page.