Spanish 21 Blackjack | Casino de Montréal

Blackjack tables can be easily identified by their green playing surface.

First, find a spot that isn’t already occupied. Although players are allowed to occupy several spots at the table, they must give up a spot for a new player if there are no other available spots. A special marker is used to indicate spots reserved for players who have temporarily left the table. These spots may be used until the absent player returns.

Place your money on the table. Never hand it to the dealer. The dealer will exchange your money for value chips and you may place your bet in the betting spot indicated on the table before the first card is dealt. Initial bets cannot be made, changed or withdrawn after that point.

You must respect the minimum and maximum limits indicated at the table when placing your bets.

Spanish 21 is played with 1 to 8 decks of 48 cards, with Number 10 cards removed from each deck. Aces count as 1 or 11, face cards count as 10, and all other cards are counted at face value. A blackjack occurs when the first two cards of a hand are an Ace and a face card, i.e. a two-card hand with a total value of 21, the highest possible score at blackjack.

The dealer deals the cards from a shoe. Only the dealer may touch the cards. The dealer deals one card face up to each player and one card face up to himself. The dealer then deals a second card face up to each player, and a second card face down to himself.

• Surrender: if you are not satisfied with your two first cards. By surrendering, you remove yourself from the current round of play and lose half of your initial bet.
• Hit: i.e. draw one or several additional cards to improve your hand without going over 21.
• Stand: if you are satisfied with your hand.
• Split a pair: i.e. two cards of the same value, including aces, up to a maximum of four hands. Each hand is then played separately. Each time you split a pair, you must wager an additional amount equal to your initial bet. There can be no blackjack on split pairs. Bonus 21 payouts apply, if applicable, on split pairs. Super 7 bonus payouts do not apply to split pairs.
• Double down: i.e. wager an additional amount equal to or less than your initial bet, in accordance with the limits indicated at the table, to receive on your hand, only one additional card, you may not double down if your hand is a blackjack or totals a hard 21. You may, however, double down after splitting a pair. Bonus 21 and Super 7 bonus payouts do not apply to doubled down hands.
• Double down rescue: i.e. if you are not satisfied with the value of your hand after a double down and your hand count does not exceed 21. You therefore remove yourself from the current round of play, retrieve the amount you added as a double down and lose only your initial bet.
• Take insurance: if the dealer’s face up card is an Ace. In this case, you may wager a sum equal to one-half of your original bet on the insurance line. If the dealer draws a blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2 to 1. If the dealer fails to draw a blackjack, you lose your insurance bet.

Some games enable you to place additional bets. Ask the dealer about your options.

Winning hands

• Your blackjack always wins, even if the dealer has a blackjack.

• If your hand count totals 21, your bet wins.

• If your hand count totals 20 or less and is higher than the dealer’s hand, your bet wins.

• If your hand count totals 20 or less and the dealer’s hand exceeds 21, your bet wins.

Losing hands

• If your hand count exceeds 21, you lose your bet.

Push hands

• If your hand and the dealer’s hand tie at 20 or less, your hand is a push; it neither wins nor loses and you may take it back.