Are there any Spanish 21 tables left on the strip? I've really become accustomed to playing it here at the MGM Grand Detroit (my "home" casino). I know no MGM or Caesars casinos have it, but I read a while back that it was at Cosmo and the Venetian. Does anyone know if they still have it?
They had it at the Cosmo in November. I used to play a lot of Spanish 21 at the Indian Casinos in Iowa. Makes you a lot more aggressive player -- 17/18 don't win you much in Spanish. 12 becomes almost an automatic hit. I quit playing when I grew up and realized the HA is so much higher than BJ. But, I will say. For those that like to keep taking cards...it's a great game
Yes, basic strategy is to hit 12 against everything, even a 6. I like the fact that any 21 gets paid automatically, player blackjack beats dealer blackjack, and you can surrender after doubling down. MGM Grand Detroit's regular BJ games don't allow surrender, and I'm a big surrenderer when basic strategy tells me to which is why I decided to give Spanish 21 a try. Had some beginners luck and doubled my money the first two sessions. I'm hooked now.
Actually the house edge is pretty similar to blackjack - under 1% and in some cases under 0.5%. Of course, if you're like me and go to great lengths to shave off hundredths of a percent of the house edge at blackjack, then it feels quite a bit worse than a good S17 game of traditional blackjack.
Like others have said, the house edge may be (slightly) worse than normal BJ, but I think Spanish 21 can be a good change of pace. The strategy does vary a bit from normal BJ though, mainly hitting all 12s and 13s - since there are no 10 cards it makes sense. I do like the ability to double at any time, and where I play (MGM/Foxwoods), its double after split, split up to 4 times, including Aces, and surrender after double.
I played it a bit right after I turned 18 because my local card room had a $2 table on Tuesdays but I haven't played it in probably 6 years.
I miss this game. A few years ago Excalibur use to have a few tables, but I sense that's no longer the case.
actually the H17 games with the redouble arent very good for advantage players, if you are in vegas you would be much better playing normal blackjack with DD S17 DAS RSA (like at the tropicana)
I played a bit at the Palazzo on Friday. I was the only one at either of the two tables. I hate playing by myself cause I always end up getting killed in like 5 minutes. Blew through $100 pretty quick and was out of there. I guess I'll stick to playing it here at the MGM Grand Detroit. THey have a six deck game and there's always people playing it so you don't lose your money so quickly.