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• Is Blackjack The Same As Poker Rules
• Is Blackjack The Same As Poker Machine
• Is Blackjack The Same As Poker

Jan 01, 2018  Poker and Blackjack are two very different games. And people like playing them for different reasons. Poker is a dynamic game where you have to adapt and change strategies within seconds while Blackjack is a relatively mechanical and repetitive game. I suppose this is where I should introduce myself. Multi-Hand Blackjack shares the same basic rules as other variants of the game. For one, you can expect to play Multi-Hand Blackjack with anywhere between 4 and 8 52-card decks. The cards feature their face value, the Ace can count as both 1 and 11, depending on the situation, while the Jack, Queen and King, all have a value of 10.

Adding a 3-Card Side Bet to Blackjack Gives a Whole New Experience

Many casinos have tried to make blackjack more interesting (and often increase their house edge) by using side bets. Popular examples include 777 or Perfect Pairs. 21 +3 Blackjack is a regular game which can be either European or US rules, which has a 3-card optional side bet. The idea is that you make a poker style hand with your first 2 cards in combination with the dealer’s up card. There are some big payouts possible. These depend on the pay table in use – there are several variations. 21 +3 Blackjack can be played online and in live casinos.

This page gives you a complete overview of 21+3 Blackjack. I have used the live version as a basis, using the US rules – though the format is the same with European blackjack rules. First you will find an overview of the game, followed by some notes on strategy. Pros and Cons of this side bet are covered after that.

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Overview of 21+3 Blackjack

The 21+3 side bet is optional, and its size does not need to be the same as the main bet. In order to play the side-bet, you need to participate in the main hand.

Placing a bet in the 21+3 square is all you need to do to participate. As soon as the deal is made, and before any player takes any actions the 2 player cards and the dealer’s up-card (or only card in European Blackjack) are compared to the pay table.

There are several variations of 21+3 payouts, the most simple pays from a ‘flush +pair’ and up, with 9-to-1 payouts in each case. When pairs are also included, this is hit more often, so the prizes are lowered to reflect this. There are 3-to-1 for all hands (pair, flush, straight, trips and straight flush) or there are staggered pay tables.

When the prizes are staggered, a straight flush or better can win significant money. Here is an example:

• Flush – Pays 5:1
• Straight – Pays 10:1
• Straight Flush – Pays 35:1
• Three of a Kind – Pays 33:1
• Suited 3 of a Kind – 100:1

Keep in mind that depending on the pay table, the house edge can get as high as 13% for this side bet. You can find examples of games (depending on the number of decks in use) where this is around 2.78% instead.

Strategy for 21+3 Blackjack

It goes without saying that knowing the correct basic strategy of the base game is a prerequisite here. Without this you are just handing money to the house.

Your main ‘strategy’ decision over the long run with the 21+3 side-bet is whether to play or not. The house edge is bigger than in most base games. If you know this, then you get to decide whether the added interest and entertainment (and chance of a windfall win) are worth it to you. If the extra engagement from the 21+3 bet works for you – then you can simply add a little to your bankroll to cover this.

Card counters can beat this game by memorizing the suits as they are dealt. It is possible on some deals to find one suit over-represented as the shoe gets smaller – turning the edge positive for players. The expected hourly rate for this is very low compared to other forms of counting. Online the deck is shuffled after each hand, making card counting impossible.

Pros and Cons of 21+3 Blackjack

Adding a poker style hand to blackjack makes for an interesting variation – though I do wonder whether ‘purists’ in either discipline would approve! Depending on which of the pay tables you use there is the chance of a 9-to-1 or even bigger windfall. That elusive suited 3-of-a-kind (paying 100-to-1) would certainly be memorable.

Whether you participate depends on your attitude towards side-bets in general. Some players like these bets, and are happy to pay the extra house-edge for the chance of the occasional big win. Others scorn these bets as long-term losers.

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Summing Up – How Does 21+3 Blackjack Compare?

Is Blackjack The Same As Poker Rules

This is an interesting side bet, though there are plenty more to choose from. The jackpot potential of the 777 side bet appeals to many players, and the regular payouts for Perfect Pairs is also popular. For me the 21+3 bet compares well, and is sure to have its fans.

Casino software house WagerWorks have produced an online version of this game – along with the Unibet Casino.

Table Of Contents

• There are many variants of Blackjack that you can play online
• Spanish Blackjack is the most unique of them all
• The game includes some extra rules that favor the player over the house

If you think there’s nothing about Blackjack that can still surprise you, think again. There’s more to the game than most Blackjack variants show it to be.

Spanish Blackjack is an exceptionally good example of that.

The game has many additional rules that you won’t find in any other variant of Blackjack. And most of these rules favor the player rather than the house.

Care to see how Spanish Blackjack differs from its counterparts?

Read this article and you’ll know everything there is to know about the Spanish Blackjack.

Disclaimer: Since you’re reading this article, let’s assume you already know the rules of a classic Blackjack game. If you don’t, make sure you read them here.

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Spanish Blackjack: The Basics

Is Blackjack The Same As Poker Machine

If you sit at the Spanish Blackjack (or Spanish 21) table, it doesn’t seem much different from other Blackjack tables.

It is still a Casino game between the dealer and Blackjack players. And your goal is still to get a 21-point or close value hand and beat the dealer with it.

But there’s more to it than it shows.

You may notice some small differences right away: the dealer must hit on a soft 17 contrary to many Blackjack tables where the dealer stands on all 17.

And then there are eight decks of cards used for the game of Spanish Blackjack. Meanwhile, many European Blackjack tables use only two decks of cards and American Blackjack tables can have from one to eight decks used.

When it comes to the card dealing, Spanish Blackjack resembles the American Blackjack game. The dealer gets both of their first cards together: one card face up and a hole card (face down).

The other differences reveal themselves only when you start playing. Or continue reading this article.

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How to Play Spanish Blackjack

You make your bets and you get two cards - this happens no matter what variant of Blackjack you’re playing.

But when it comes to Spanish Blackjack, you have more choices to make at the table.

And more ways you can win the game.

It starts with the regular bunch. You can:

• take insurance
• hit or stand
• double down
• split
• surrender

Doesn’t seem too different just yet? Well, the devil is in the details.

Sure, there’s nothing new you can discover about insurance, hitting, or standing. But other moves in different games are available only on very rare occasions, e.g. you can double down only once, you can split only Aces, etc.

In Spanish Blackjack, the rules regarding when you can double down, split, and surrender are a lot less restrained.

And that actually works in your favor.

Double down. You can double down on any number of cards AND you can re-double down once. Also, it’s possible to double down after a split.

However, bonus wins are not available after you double down. But you’ll read more about these bonus wins later.

Split. You can split all the cards if they have the same value. So, even if you land two 10-value cards that are different in their nature, e.g. a and a , you can still split them up.

Plus, you can split your hand three times in total - until you have four hands.

Surrender. Surrender is a rare player-favorable move in Blackjack games all by itself. And Spanish Blackjack not only has a late surrender, but you can even use this option after you’ve already doubled down. It’s called a double down rescue.

Not too bad, huh?

Spanish Blackjack Payouts and Bonus Wins

Now let’s go back to the most unique part of the Spanish Blackjack: the bonus wins.

As you know, you win a Blackjack game if you have a natural Blackjack (2-card 21-point value hand) or you have a hand higher than the dealer’s without going bust.

Blackjack payouts in a nutshell:

• If you have a natural, you get 3 to 1 payout.
• Other wins are paid even money.
• If you risk taking insurance and actually win, insurance pays 2 to 1.
• If you surrender, you get half of your wager back.

It all applies to Spanish Blackjack. But there’s more.

If your hand match the dealer’s hand, i.e. you both have natural Blackjacks or 21-value hands, in classic Blackjack, it’s a push. But in Spanish Blackjack, you win the bet.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

In Spanish Blackjack, you also win higher payouts if you have a specific combination or number of cards in a 21-point value hand:

• If you have a 5-card hand with the desired 21 points in value, you also get paid 3 to 2. It pays as much as a natural would!
• If you have a 6-card hand with 21-points in value, it’s even better. The payout for such hand is 2 to 1.
• And if for some miracle you’d get the same points in a 7-card hand, you’d get a payout of 3 to 1 for your success.

As for the other bonus payouts, Spanish Blackjack seems like it was inspired by the Poker games. You also get higher payouts for the cards that make up 21 points and in Three Card Poker would be called a straight or a flush:

• and in mixed suits pay 3 to 1
• and in same suits pay 2 to 1
• and (if all spades) pay 3 to 1

And that’s not all.

If you happen to land a suited and the dealer shows a , too, oh boy are you in luck. The payout for this hand is 50 to 1!

Have you ever seen a payout like that in Blackjack?

Me neither.

However, this payout is not available if you split your cards before. Plus, none of these bonus wins apply if you've doubled down.

Basic Strategy for Spanish Blackjack Games

Each Blackjack variant has some small modifications to its basic strategy. And Spanish Blackjack is no exception.

After all, you have a lot more ways to win this game.

So, sometimes it’s worthier to hit in order to have a five or more card hand with 21 points than stand in fear of going bust.

Wanna know what’s the most optimal move in each case? Check the Spanish Blackjack basic strategy charts below.

When you have a hard hand (no Ace):

Is Blackjack The Same As Poker

When you have a soft hand (with an Ace that can still count both as 1 and 11):

When you have the same value cards:

Symbols of the chart explained:

H - hit

S - stand
S4 - stand except when you have 4+ cards, then hit
S5 - stand except when you have 5+ cards, then hit
S6 - stand except when you have 6+ cards, then hit

D - double down
D3 - double down except when you have 3+ cards, then hit
D4 - double down except when you have 4+ cards, then hit
D5 - double down except when you have 5+ cards, then hit

SR - surrender

SP - split

¹ - hit if 6-7-8 combo is possible
² - hit if 6-7-8 in same suits is possible
³ - hit if spaded 6-7-8 is possible
⁴ - hit if 7s in same suits is possible

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