Match Play 21 Guide
- Blackjack Match The Dealer Payouts
- Blackjack Match Play
- Play Blackjack For Fun
- Free Match The Dealer Blackjack
Match Play 21, also known as Spanish 21, is a variation of Blackjack. Played with no Ten cards, other combinations drive the payout table. Try your luck at something quite different. With plenty of bonus hands and high payouts, this intriguing casino table game is certainly not your father’s Blackjack.
How to Play Match Play 21
Players will call in to the radio station and play Blackjack against the radio announcer. Players will need to have the higher hand without going over 21. Winners will receive two (2) 5 Blackjack certificates.
The object of Match Play 21 is to come as close to 21 without going over, while still beating the Dealer.
Player’s Turn
Prior to receiving any cards, place your bet by clicking on the chips. You are dealt two cards face up. The Dealer is also dealt two cards, one up; one down. Click Hit to add another card to your hand. Click Stand to stop adding cards.
Match Play 21 Blackjack. Match Play 21 is a casino style game of blackjack using 8 decks of cards and offering a bonus bet. The biggest difference between Match Play 21 and the standard version of 21. One popular Blackjack variant that is available at a wide variety of online casinos is known as, ‘Match Play 21.’. However, despite the seeming popularity of this game many online players might be surprised (if they don’t normally frequent land-based casinos) not to find the game available. Little might some of these players know that the game of, ‘Match Play.
Surrender is allowed in Match Play 21. If you look at your cards and don’t think you can win, you can surrender half you bet and stop playing your hand. Insurance is also available – if the Dealer’s up card is an Ace, you can bet that the Dealer will get a blackjack. If they don’t, your bet is collected. If they do, you get double your insurance bet back.
Dealer’s Turn
Depending on the hand, the Dealer will hit or stand based on rules that the Dealer must follow.
You Win When
If the total value of your hand is closer to 21 than the Dealer, you win. You also win if the Dealer goes over 21 and you stayed below 21. If your total exceeds 21, you lose the amount you wagered.
There are special winning 21 hands that focus on lucky number seven.
- Match Play 21: You have Triple 7 and so does the Dealer
- 7-7-7 all spades
- 6-7-8 all spades
- 21 on 7 or more cards
- 7-7-7 all of the same suit
- 6-7-8 all of the same suit
- 6-card hand equaling 21
- Any 7-7-7
- Any 6-7-8
- 5-card hand totaling 21
- Any other 21
Game Features and Bonus Rounds
Bonus Hands (Do not apply when doubling or splitting.)
- Match Play 21 pays 40:1
- 7 or more cards totaling 21 pays 3:1
- 7-7-7 of Spades pays 3:1
- 6-7-8 of Spades pays 3:1
- 7-7-7 all of the same suit pays 2:1
- 6-7-8 all of the same suit pays 2:1
- 6-card hand equaling 21 pays 2:1
- Any other 7-7-7 pays 3:2
- Any other 6-7-8 pays 3:2
- 5-card hand totaling 21 pays 3:2
Jackpot Information
There is no jackpot in Silver Oak Casino’s Match Play 21 game.
Additional Rules
- 8 Match Play decks are used – the four Tens have been removed from each deck, but all other face cards remain
- Cards are re-shuffled after each hand
- Dealer must hit on a soft 17
- Your 21 always wins (except against a Dealer Blackjack)
- Your Blackjack beats a Dealer Blackjack
- You can double down on any number of cards, but only once during a round of play, and you will only receive one card
- You can surrender after doubling down and then surrender the double down portion of the wager
Strategy & Tips
Double on two card hard hand totals of 9, 10, or 11.
History
Match Play 21 Blackjack has also been called Spanish 21. It is very similar to Triple Sevens Blackjack.
Glossary
The potential of winning when playing Match Play 21 Blackjack is much greater when you know the terms associated with the game.
Bet: Click on the chip that you want to wager.
Blackjack: Two cards totaling 21.
Bust: Total value of your hand exceeds 21. If you bust, your bet is lost. If the Dealer goes bust, you automatically win.
Deal: Clicking Deal begins the round of play after your bet has been placed. In this variation of Blackjack, you and the Dealer are both dealt two cards face up.
Double: Clicking Double, doubles your bet, and one additional card is dealt to your hand. Your hand automatically stands, and play continues.
Hit: Clicking Hit adds another card to your hand.
Blackjack Match The Dealer Payouts
Split: If your first two cards are of the same value (such as 7-7 or 10-J), they can be split into two separate hands by clicking Split and doubling your bet. Note: Splitting Aces can only have one additional card can be dealt per hand. After splitting Aces, hands totalling 21 are considered 21s, and not Blackjack.
Match Play 21: You have Triple 7 and so does the Dealer.
Stand: Keeps your hand as dealt, and the Dealer begins their round of play.
Definitions
Blackjack Match Play
This page shall address the value and optimal usage of promotional, match-play, and non-negotiable chips. Before going further, let me define what each of these chips are.
Match-Play Chips
These are the same as promotional chips, except the player must match the match-play bet with real money. They are often not chips at all, but coupons found in fun books. Usually, the player will keep a match-play chip, in the event of a push. Rules can get complicated with blackjack. A blackjack will always pay 3 to 2 on the cash bet, but may only pay even money on the match-play portion. I believe that paying 3 to 2 on both is the norm. If the player doubles or splits, usually the player will only match the cash wager portion, but sometimes the player must match both portions. Match-play chips are usually restricted to even money bets, including blackjack.
Promotional Chips
Promotional Chips are for one bet resolved only. These chips are sometimes offered in mailers to existing players, as an incentive to return to the casino property. Win or lose, the promotional chip is taken from the player after the bet is resolved. If the player wins, he keeps the winnings only. On a tie, the player usually keeps the chip. In blackjack, the player may double or split with real chips or cash. Usually, promotional chips may only be used on even money bets, which include blackjack.
Non-Negotiable Chips
Sometimes called a 'non-neg,' these act like real chips, except the player may not cash them in. Any winnings generated from these chips are paid in cashable chips, and the player keeps the non-neg chip. There are usually no restrictions on how these can be played. In Macau, these are ubiquitous in high limit baccarat rooms, sometimes known as 'dead chips.'
The following table shows the value of each kind of chip in various games and bets. The values are expressed as a percentage of the face value of the chip. The table assumes the player keeps any chip in the event of a push. For blackjack, the other rules assumed are as follows.
- Six decks
- Double after split allowed
- Resplitting aces allowed
- Surrender not allowed
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2 on all chips
- On a match play, player may double or split only cash portion of wager.
Chip Value Table
| Game | Bet | Match-Play | Promotional | Non-Neg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baccarat | Banker | 46.98% | 48.15% | 97.63% |
| Baccarat | Player | 47.95% | 49.32% | 97.31% |
| Baccarat | Tie | 61.77% | 76.12% | 84.13% |
| Big Six | 1 | 33.33% | 44.44% | 80% |
| Big Six | 2 | 38.89% | 55.56% | 76.92% |
| Big Six | 5 | 42.59% | 64.81% | 74.47% |
| Big Six | 10 | 55.56% | 74.07% | 80% |
| Big Six | 20 | 51.85% | 74.07% | 76.92% |
| Big Six | Joker/Logo (40 to 1) | 50% | 74.07% | 75.47% |
| Big Six | Joker/Logo (45 to 1) | 68.52% | 83.33% | 84.91% |
| Blackjack | 46.2% | 51.4% | 99.15% | |
| Craps | Pass | 47.88% | 49.29% | 97.21% |
| Craps | Don't Pass | 47.9% | 49.3% | 97.23% |
| Craps | Place 6,8 | 51.52% | 53.03% | 97.22% |
| Craps | Place 5,9 | 52% | 56% | 93.33% |
| Craps | Place 4,10 | 53.33% | 60% | 90% |
| Craps | 1-way Hop | 69.44% | 83.33% | 85.71% |
| Craps | 2-way Hop | 72.22% | 83.33% | 88.24% |
| EZ Baccarat | Banker | 48.27% | 49.42% | 97.72% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | Even money | 42.11% | 47.37% | 90% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | Column | 57.89% | 63.16% | 92.31% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 6-way | 73.68% | 78.95% | 93.75% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 5-way | 71.05% | 78.95% | 90.91% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 4-way | 78.95% | 84.21% | 94.12% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 3-way | 81.58% | 86.84% | 94.29% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 2-way | 84.21% | 89.47% | 94.44% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 1-way | 86.84% | 92.11% | 94.59% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | Even money | 45.95% | 48.65% | 94.74% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | Column | 62.16% | 64.86% | 96% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 6-way | 78.38% | 81.08% | 96.77% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 4-way | 83.78% | 86.49% | 96.97% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 3-way | 86.49% | 89.19% | 97.06% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 2-way | 89.19% | 91.89% | 97.14% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 1-way | 91.89% | 94.59% | 97.22% |
Strategy
Match-Play Chips
If restricted to even money bets, then the player will get the most value betting Match Play chips on the Banker bet in EZ baccarat, at 48.27% of face value. If that game isn't an option, then the second best bet to use a Match Play chip is the Player bet in baccarat, at 47.95% of face value. If unrestricted, then the player should make a long-shot wager, preferably on a single number in roulette.
Promotional Chips
If restricted to even money bets, then the player will get the most value betting promotional chips in blackjack, at 51.2% of face value, give or take depending on the table rules. If unrestricted, the player should make a long-shot wager, preferably on a single number in roulette.
The following basic strategy table is for promotional chips, under the rules above. If the player is faced with a real money only decision, as a result of splitting, he should revert to conventional basic strategy. The row for a soft 21 is for a 2-card soft 21 after splitting tens, not a blackjack.
Non-Negotiable Chips
Play Blackjack For Fun
Whether restricted or not, the player should bet these in blackjack, where the value is 99.6% of face value, give or take depending on the table rules. If restricted to baccarat, as is the case in Macau, they are best used on the banker bet. I have in-depth coverage of the non-negotiable chips in Macau on my companion site, Wizardofmacau.com.
Other Coupons
The free ace coupon may be used as an ace, in lieu of the first card dealt, in blackjack. According to my blackjack appendix 14, the expected value of an ace as the first card is 50.4% of the amount bet, assuming liberal six-deck rules (dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed, re-splitting aces allowed). These statistics are on a per hand basis, and include pushes. The probability of a push in blackjack is 8.5%. I have not calculated the conditional probability of a tie, given the first player card is an ace. Assuming the push probability is still 8.5%, and the player keeps the coupon on a push, the value of a free ace is 55.1% of face value, under the same liberal rule assumptions.
First Winning Blackjack Pays 2 to 1
The probability of a winning blackjack is 4.53%, in a six-deck game. On average, they come along once in 22.06 hands. The house edge under liberal six-deck rules is 0.29%. So, the player can expect to lose 22.06 × 0.0029 = 0.064 bets waiting for a blackjack. The coupon obviously is worth half a bet. So, the value of a 2 to 1 blackjack coupon is 50% - 6.4% = 43.6% of the amount the player may bet per hand.
First Winning Suited Blackjack Pays 3 to 1
The probability of a winning suited blackjack is 1.13%, in a six-deck game. On average, they come along once in 88.26 hands. The house edge under liberal six-deck rules is 0.29%. So, the player can expect to lose 88.26 × 0.0029 = 0.256 bets waiting for a suited blackjack. The coupon is worth 1.5 bets (the 3 to 1 payoff less the 1.5 you would get normally). So, the value of a 3 to 1 suited blackjack coupon is 1.5 - 0.256 = 1.244 bets, or 124.4% of the amount the player may bet.
Further Reading
For an outstanding in-depth treatment of these and other types of chips and coupons, I highly recommend the 21-page paper 'Beyond Coupons' (PDF) by James Grosjean. Grosjean and I have some disagreements about the strategy and value of the value of match play and promotional chips in blackjack. I have the greatest of respect for Grosjean, so I could be wrong about those.
Free Match The Dealer Blackjack
Written by: Michael Shackleford