Spanish 21 Blackjack is one of those intriguing blackjack variants that you only seem to find at online casinos.

In fact, Betway Casino has two versions of Spanish Blackjack for real money.

The gameplay in Spanish Blackjack is simple: take on the dealer and try to get as close to 21 with your cards without going bust. Beat the dealer's total and you will also win.

But Spanish Blackjack features some small but important differences to classic blackjack. Let's examine the nuances of this fun online blackjack variant and see how you can get ahead.

How to play Spanish Blackjack

Spanish Blackjack is a game that is becoming more popular at Betway Casino. There are two editions of the game, both supplied by Microgaming.

There are two key concepts to grasp in Spanish Blackjack: the peek and the surrender.

At the start of the game, the player receives two cards face up and the dealer gets one up and one down. Eight decks are used in Spanish Blackjack but the tens are removed. It can be harder, therefore, to make blackjacks in the game.

If the dealer shows an ace or a 10-value card (e.g. J, Q or K) the will "peek" to check for a blackjack. If they have blackjack, the game ends before you have a chance to make a play.

You can also take insurance before the dealer has had a chance to peek. If the dealer doesn't have blackjack, your Insurance bet is removed and deducted from your balance.

Aces are worth 1 or 11 in Spanish Blackjack. If the dealer gets a soft 17 (a 17 with an ace), they must hit.

Rules in Spanish Blackjack:

- Played with 8 decks with the four 10s removed
- Dealer peeks for blackjack on aces or a card worth 10
- Dealer must hit soft 17
- Insurance pays 2/1
- Blackjack pays 3/2
- Late Surrender
- Surrender after double down

Bonus payouts

There are several bonuses that apply in Spanish Blackjack. Note that bonus payouts don't apply after a double down or a split.

5-card 21: 3/2
6-card 21: 2/1
7+ card 21: 3/1
6-7-8/7-7-7 mixed suits: 3/2
6-7-8/7-7-7 same suit: 2/1
6-7-8/7-7-7 spades: 3/1
7-7-7 suited with dealer showing 7: 50/1

Top tips for playing Spanish Blackjack

If you're used to European Blackjack, Spanish Blackjack can be an eye-opening game for online players, with some interesting added elements.

Before you play, make sure you know which bets to take and which to avoid.

1 - Don't take Insurance

Insurance is a bad bet even in regular blackjack. The 2/1 payout doesn't equate to the true odds of the dealer hitting his blackjack.

In any case, in Spanish Blackjack the dealer will peek for a blackjack and save you money in the long run.  

2 - Use the Late Surrender

Spanish Blackjack lets you surrender your hand. After the dealer has checked for blackjack and doesn't have it, you can still opt to surrender your hand.

Late Surrender is available after a double down. It's a risky strategy but if the double down goes badly and you miss your total, you can surrender, give up half your original stake, and give up the hand.

3 - Know when to hit and when to stand

The bonus payouts in Spanish Blackjack can make it advantageous to alter your gameplay.

You get paid 5/2 for a 5-card 21 and 3/1 for a 7-card 21. If you get dealt, for example, 3-2, it can be worth chasing a 7-card 21 rather than just trying to beat the dealer. A 3/1 payout is much better than the 1/1 on winning a regular hand.

4 - Playing the hard 16

Hard 16 is a difficult hand to play in Spanish Blackjack. Because the dealer has to hit a soft 17, do you sit and wait, surrender, or take another card? Here are four quick tips for playing hands like J-6 or 9-7:

- If the dealer shows an ace, surrender your 16
- If the dealer shows a 5 or 6, stand
- If the dealer shows 2, 3 or 4, and you have a 6-card 16, hit.
- If the dealer shows 7, 8, 9 or 10, hit.

Try Spanish Blackjack for free at Betway Casino

Spanish Blackjack plays like regular blackjack but with some added moves for the player. The bonus payouts make the game more interesting, and the Late Surrender option gives you some insurance on a sure-fire loser.

Give Spanish Blackjack a try at Betway Casino today.