In my area the best game is actually Spanish 21, it has the same rules as the regular bj game and is S17, according to thewizardofodds its -.40. My question is about the match the dealer bet, I know its a bad bet, but what if you work with a partner or two and split the matiching winnings? How much does the odds improve?
im sorry youre right it is the normal spanish 21 rules with the double on any # of card, double split aces, late surrender and all the rest. I was reffering to the S17 which few casinos have and make the game better the the regular by -.40 vs -.43 in 8 deck andsomething lower in 6 deck
Is that Spanish 21 number assume correct basic strategy? Have you ever SEEN a bs matrix for spanish 21? It's possible, but freakin hard! If that's your game, good luck! Even if learning all the BS is possible, this is still a disadvantage... are there any sources on counting spanish 21?
actually thewizardofodds has a BS matrix for Spanish 21, and it's not that much more complex then a regular bj matrix. I am by no means an expert on the game but there has been some research and a couple or books written. On the issue of counting I have dabbled a little, in setting the running count lower to offset the increased number of low cards, and I have done well at the game. Is it luck probably, but the game imho is a little more relaxing then bj at equal if not better odds.
sure, its more relaxing....you bust much less...
last night played for about an hour...had many stiff hands and id say i busted less than 15% of those....(i didnt get many 18-21s tho)
at least when you dont bust your still in the game...anything can happen...
If you are talking Windsor the SP21 is a good game with the match the dealer bonus. I have seen lots of wins there offsetting the losing hands, espcially those playing with a partner or two.
The other twist to the game is no pushing on 21.
The other table odds 5-6-7 card 21's, 6-7-8 21's, 7-7-7 21's, spaded 21's are just to entice the novice and don't have much merit in the game.
Another nice point to SP21 is that the bad players at the table can't hurt you as much. And with not as many dealer's 10's to steal and one should always hit a hard 12 (and 13 most of the time) the "occasional" dumb play by the guy on your right doesn't usually help the dealer.
Mije Oiue
Anyone worth their salt knows that helping the dealer with bad plays is hogwash... Your hand stands alone from the others.
this is true, a player is just as likely to help you as to harm you....you just seem to remember the bad plays that work out 'bad' more...
the thing about spanish 21 is i just cant bust....
whenever i play it, and i have a stiff hand, i nearly always get a nice 18-20...
the only bad thing about other players, is the slower rate at which hands are dealt (which can be helpful if you are a BS player or a ploppy)
i also like the fact that this game can be played more aggressively than BJ due to the liberal rules, and less high cards...
at my home casino, they have about 50/50 BJ/SP21, and the house edge difference between the 2 is pretty insignificant in the shorterm, so its always a nice change...
