Fun 21 Blackjack Strategy

Super Fun 21 is a blackjack variant which adds many player-friendly rules. To offset these rules, most blackjacks pay even money.

• Using a Spanish deck, one in which all the tens have been removed, Spanish 21 is a fun variation of blackjack. Often found in land-based casinos, it is important to learn the various house rules in order to play the game effectively, hopefully seeing a profit in the long run.
• Blackjack, or 21, is based on a simple premise. The player is tasked with beating the dealer’s hand total without exceeding 21. An Ace +10-value card equals blackjack, or a natural, but any combination of more than 2 cards which totals 21 is simply called 21, not blackjack, and different payouts result.

The strategy for such blackjack variation as Spanish 21 was developed by many different blackjack experts, including Arnold Snyder and John Grochowski: actually, these two blackjack authors were the most successful ones who perfectly described Spanish 21 Strategy in a way understandable for average players.

This variant is found at about a dozen Las Vegas casinos. It is also spread in some regional markets. Games with the same rules but different names are available at online casinos.

Online casinos with Super Fun 21 include Playtech, where it is called Blackjack Super 21. Microgaming and RealTime Gaming spread the game, calling it by its standard name.

Below, you’ll find details on the differences between Super Fun 21 and traditional blackjack, how to play the game, and the optimal strategy. We also provide our top picks for where to play it.

Differences Between Super Fun 21 and Traditional Blackjack

There are many differences in rules between Super Fun 21 and a traditional blackjack game. The player always wins on blackjack. However, it only pays even money, unless it consists of two diamonds. In that case, it pays 2 to 1.

Here’s a list of the other key differences.

• Split aces may be hit or doubled
• Any pair may be split up to four times, including aces
• Surrender is offered after the player hits any number of cards
• Players may surrender after a failed double down
• There is a six-card charlie, meaning that a hand with six cards that does not bust automatically wins
• A hand of 21 with at least five cards pays two to one

Super Fun 21 is played at live and online casinos.

At a live casino, place the chips that you would like to bet in the circle in front of you.

At an online casino, click the denomination of chip that you would like to use. After that, click the virtual betting circle the number of times that makes it equal your desired wager. Then click the deal button.

All players and the dealer receive two cards. The cards dealt to the players are face up. The dealer has one up and one down.

Super Fun 21 Blackjack Strategy

If the player has blackjack, it is paid immediately. A suited diamond blackjack gets 2:1. All others get even money. A player blackjack wins, even if the dealer also has one.

If the dealer has an ace showing, insurance is offered. Players receive 2:1 if they bet insurance and the dealer has a blackjack.

If the dealer is showing a 10-value card, the house also checks for blackjack, but no insurance is offered. If the dealer has blackjack, the hand ends, and all players without a blackjack lose. Otherwise, the hand continues as normal.

Players then have the following options.

• Hit
• Stand
• Double down
• Surrender
• If the player is dealt a pair, split is also available

To hit, tap the table in front of your cards or click hit on the screen at an online casino. This will deal a card. You may hit until your hand wins or goes over 21. A hand of six or more cards that does not bust automatically wins. A five-card or more 21 pays 2:1 automatically.

To stand, wave your hand above your bet. At an online casino, click the stand button. This means no more cards are dealt to the hand.

Double down gives one more card to the hand before it is forced to stand. At a live game, place a chip stack equal to the original wager next to it. At an online casino, click the double-down button. This is allowed on any number of cards.

Surrender is where a player folds and receives half of the bet back. To do this, run your finger in front of the bet at a live game. At an online casino, click the surrender button.

Surrendering is permitted on any number of cards at Super Fun 21. You may also surrender after a double down if an undesirable card is drawn.

If the player is dealt a pair, split is offered. This is where the player can turn a pair into two separate hands, each containing one of the paired cards. The hands receive a new card. After that, the hand repeats like a fresh one where hit, stand, double down, and surrender are all available.

If the player receives another pair in a split hand, it can be split again. This is allowed up to four hands. Split aces may be re-split, hit, and doubled. Surrender is allowed after splitting.

Once the players have acted, the dealer exposes its hole card. If the dealer has 18 or higher or a hard 17, the house stands. If the dealer has 16 or lower or soft 17, it hits until the hand is 17 or over and can bust.

Once the dealer’s hand is resolved, it is compared to each player’s count.

• If the dealer has more points than the player, the house wins
• If the player has more points than the dealer, the player wins even money, except on a five-or-more-card 21. That pays 2:1
• If the dealer and player have the same count, the hand pushes. This means the player’s bet is returned

The ability to double down after hitting and winning on a six-card charlie changes the strategy when compared to a typical game.

Here’s how you should play your hands in all possible situations.

Fun 21 Blackjack Strategy

Always hit on hands up to 8. After that, follow the list below.

• 9: Double down against 3 through 6; otherwise, hit
• 10: Double down, except hit against 10
• 11: Always double down
• 12: Stand against 3 through 6; otherwise, hit
• 13 and 14: Stand against 2 through 6; otherwise, hit
• 15: Stand against 2 through six; surrender against 10 or ace; otherwise, hit
• 16: Stand against 2 through 6; surrender against 9, 10, and ace; otherwise, hit
• 17: Surrender against ace; otherwise, stand
• 18 and higher: Stand

• Soft 13: Always hit
• Soft 14: Double down against 6; otherwise, hit
• Soft 15: Double down against 5 and 6; otherwise, hit
• Soft 16: Double down against 4 through 6; otherwise, hit
• Soft 17: Double down against 3 through 6; otherwise, hit
• Soft 18: Double down against 2 through 6; stand against 7 and 8; otherwise, stand
• Soft 19: Double down against 6; otherwise, stand
• Soft 20: Always stand

There are a few hands where the strategy changes once a card has been hit.

• Hit 9 against a 3 on two cards
• Hit 10 against an ace on two cards
• The only correct doubles after hitting two cards are 10 against a 4, 5, or 6 and soft 19 against a 6
• On five cards, always hit 15 and lower and 16 against anything but a 5 or 6

• 2s: Split against 2 through 7; otherwise, hit
• 3s: Split against 3 through 7; otherwise, hit
• 4s: Split against 5 and 6; otherwise, hit
• 5s: Double down, except hit against 10
• 6s: Split against 2 through 6; otherwise, hit
• 7s: Split against 2 through 7; otherwise, hit
• 8s: Split, except surrender against an ace
• 9s: Split, except stand against a 7, 10, or ace
• 10s: Always stand
• Aces: Always split

Please refer to the following strategy chart for a visual summary of all these recommended actions.

Where to Play Super Fun 21

Super Fun 21 is spread at both live and online casinos.

Most Boyd Gaming properties in Las Vegas spread the game. These include the following.

• Gold Coast
• The Orleans
• Fremont
• Main Street Station
• Gold Coast
• Sam’s Town

Other Las Vegas casinos with the game include Golden Nugget, The D, and Tuscany. Super Fun 21 is not dealt in Atlantic City. However, it can be found in some regional markets in western states.

Most major online casinos offer Super Fun 21. Microgaming and RealTime Gaming call it by its given name. It is called Blackjack Super 21 at Playtech online casinos.

Fun 21 Blackjack Odds

For live casinos, we prefer The D for Super Fun 21.

That is because the game has a $5 or $10 minimum bet, and the atmosphere is as fun as it gets in a casino. Our online casino choice for Super Fun 21 is RealTime Gaming for US players and Microgaming ones for all others.

You can find our recommendations for the top RealTime Gaming and Microgaming online casinos on the following pages.

Super Fun 21 is just as it sounds. It is a nice change of pace.

Like most blackjack variants, its return is lower than standard versions of the game. The house edge for Super Fun 21 is 1.4% at most tables. That drops by 0.1% at a double-deck table.

We recommend sticking to normal blackjack games unless you are bored with them and want to try something different for a bit of extra fun.