In this article we present the concise overview of the basic Spanish 21 strategy. We must point out that this game's philosophy differs a bit from the basic blackjack strategy.

Strategy for a hard hand

Stand with a hard hand of 18 or more. Hit with a hard hand of 8 or less. Always keep this rule in your mind. In other cases use the strategy given below:

• Hard 9 (further just H):the dealer (further just D) has 6 face-up and you have a two-card 9 - use double down; your hit vs. other variants of face-up cards and also your hit vs. 6 if the 9 is composed of 3 cards;
• H 10: the D shows 2 through 7 - use double down; your hit vs. 8's or higher;
• H 11:the D shows 2 through 8 - use double down; your hit vs. 9's or higher;
• H 12: always hit;
• H 13: the D shows 2, 3, 4 or 7 or higher - your hit; the D shows 5 or 6 - stand; avoid hit if the 13 is composed of 5 or more cards;
• H14:your hit vs. 2, 3 or 7 or higher; your hit vs. 4 if the hard 14 is composed of 4 or more cards; your hit vs. 5 or 6 with 5 or more cards;
• H 15:your hit vs. 7 or higher; your hit vs. 2 if the 15 is composed of 5 or more cards; also your hit vs. 2 or 4 with of 5 or more cards; or hit vs. 5 or 6 with 6 cards;
• H 16:the D shows an Ace - surrender; your hit vs. 7 or higher; also your hit vs. 2 if the 16 is composed of 5 or more cards; or hit vs. 3 or 4 with 6 cards;
• H 17:the D shows Ace - surrender; the dealer shows a8, 9 or 10 and the 17 is compound of 6 cards - your hit; in other cases - stand.

Strategy for a soft hand

Stand with a soft hand of 19, 20 or 21. In other cases use the strategy given below:

• Soft 13, 14 and 15 (further just S): your hit;
• S 16: the dealer (further just D) has 6 face-up - use double down; avoid hit if the 16 is composed of 4 or more cards; your hit vs. other variants of face-up cards;
• S 17:your hit vs. 2, 3 and 7 or higher; use double down vs. 4 if the 17 is composed of 2 cards; use double down vs. 5 if the 17 is composed of 2 or 3 cards; also use double down vs. 6 if the 17 is composed of 2, 3 or 4 cards;
• S 18: the D shows 9, 10 or Ace - your hit; stand vs. 2, 3, 7 or 8; avoid hit vs. 2, 3 or 8 if the 17 is composed of 4 or more cards; avoid hit vs. 7 with 6 or more cards; use double down vs. 4, 5 or 6; avoid hit vs. 4 with 4 or more cards; and avoid hit vs. 5 or 6 with 5 or more cards.

Splitting pairs strategy

Split Aces, avoid split 4's, 5's or cards with value equals 10. In other cases use the strategy given below:

• Pairs of 2's or 3's (further just P): the dealer (further just D) shows 3 through 7 - your split;
• P of 6's: the D shows 4, 5, or 6 - your split;
• P of 7's: the D shows 2 through 7 - your split;
• P of 8's: the D shows the Ace - surrender; your split vs. other variants of face-up cards;
• P of 9's: the D shows 3 through 6, 8 or 9 - your split.