At my public events I’ve enjoyed blowing everyone’s minds by asking: “Does anyone know the difference between 21 and blackjack?”
No one’s ever raised their hand to answer. I get stunned silence.
And then I like to add: “Did you know that the movie 21 is NOT about 21?”
The game 21 is the original incarnation of blackjack. It’s the game you’ll most frequently encounter when you leave the States. In 21, the dealer gets no hole card and the payout for a natural (an Ace and a 10 point card, known in this country as a blackjack) is even money. The dealer deals himself just an up card and awaits the end of all player hands before taking the rest of his cards.
This is an important difference, requiring a change in strategy, which I’ve discussed before here and in my books.
But today I want to discuss other variations of 21 of which you might not be aware. These games come in all number of deck variants (in other words, you might find them as single deck games, double deck games, or multiple deck games):
Double Exposure
I first saw Double Exposure in New Mexico in 1996 or thereabouts. It was at the Sandia Casino (which no longer offers it, I believe).
Here, the dealer’s first two cards are dealt face up. In other words, the hole card is no secret.
Wow! You say. Great game!
Not.
There’s a huge drawback. When you push (tie) with the dealer, you lose. That reality gives you a 6 percent disadvantage from the get-go.
Basic strategy players and card counters cannot beat this game, especially in its multideck formulations. (Basic’s creators admitted basic is a losing strategy and card counting only gives, at best, about a 2 perent advantage, which is wiped out in this game.)
A state-of-the-art approach can beat it but why accept a huge deficit when you can play the real game? State-of-the-art players, using my methods, can figure out what the hole card is likely to be.
Spanish 21
The big draw to Spanish 21 is that you can surrender. This is a powerful option akin to poker’s “folding” option.
You say surrender (it’s the only move without a hand signal) and the dealer takes half your bet; the other half you keep (which is a huge bonus over folding in poker). You’re then out of the action.
This option, in the normal game, is a huge plus. It lets you get out of losing situations with greatly reduced losses. (Of course, few players know how to use it and dealers often convince players it’s a stupid move so it’s a much underused option even when offered. But more and more smart casinos are offering it, which is the good news.)
If “Double Down Rescue” is offered you can even surrender after doubling if you don’t like the results.
The disadvantage: the “pips,” the cards that say “10” (as opposed to the other 10-point cards, the face cards) are removed from the game. That results in reduced dealer busting rates. No good.
Blackjack switch
In blackjack switch, you get to switch the last two cards you get on the two hands you play. However, you cannot create blackjacks in this way. An Ace and a 10 after switching would just be a 21-point hand.
Drawbacks: Blackjacks pay even money. Much worse: The dealer does not lose when he or she busts. It results in a push (you tie with the dealer).
So with the dealer’s 2, you won’t win 35 percent of the time when the dealer will bust (over the course of time). You’ll push. With the dealer’s three, you won’t win 38 percent of the time when the dealer busts. You’ll push. Etc.
Avoid this game at all costs.
Super Fun 21
Hard to find anymore, the modern incarnation of this game is great. It’s the only variant I recommend.
You can surrender any hand, no matter how many cards you’ve taken, no matter if you’ve doubled down.
You can play split Aces like any other split hand, no card restrictions. You can double down on any hand no matter how many cards you’ve taken.
The drawback: you get paid even money for blackjacks.
No big deal.
Run to this game – assuming they give you more than one round of action per shuffle period. Beware of other restrictions that might be imposed at individual casinos that might make this game unwise, such as the ones I mentioned in New Ways To Win More At Blackjack. Read the rules before playing.
A popular blackjack web site claims this game is offered at “many Las Vegas casinos.” I don’t believe it’s offered at one. If you can find this game anywhere (except online), send me an email.
Bonus blackjack
This game lets you make side bets on what two cards you’ll get, with generous payouts.
Disadvantage: your probability of winning is far too low to make this option attractive.
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Richard Harvey is a renowned blackjack researcher and innovator, expert player, coach, columnist, blogger and bestselling author of Blackjack The SMART Way (the NEW Gold Edition), Cutting Edge Blackjack (the NEW Third Edition), NEW Ways To Win MORE at Blackjack and the CD audio book Richard Harvey’s Blackjack PowerPrep Session. Have blackjack questions? Send them to rharvey2121@netscape.net. For more info see http://www.blackjacktoday.com.
