Canal 21

Introduction

In Panama, there's a version of blackjack known as Canal 21. Different casinos often refer to it by unique names. For instance, while The Crown labels it Canal 21, other establishments tend to add their own casino name followed by '21.' For example, the Majestic casino calls it 'Majestic 21.'

Rules

Below are the basic rules for blackjack as practiced in Panama, which also apply to Canal 21:

• Dealer hits soft 17.
• Dealer does not take a hole card.
• In the event that a player decides to double down or split their hand and the dealer reveals a blackjack, the player only loses their initial wager.
• Players have the option to surrender early, with the exception of facing an ace.
• Players can double their bets with any two initial cards they receive.
• Doubling is also permissible for three-card totals ranging from 9 to 11.
• Player may double after a split.
• Any pair, including aces, can be split by the player, and this can be done for up to four separate hands.

Now, let’s look at the specific rule adjustments that apply to Canal 21.

• Four decks.
• Blackjack pays even money.
• Suited three of a kind pays 20 to 1.
• Unsuited three of a kind pays 3 to 1.
• 6-7-8 Suited pays 5 to 1.
• Unsuited 6-7-8 pays 3 to 1.
• 7-card 21 pays 5 to 1.
• 6-card 21 pays 3 to 1.
• 5-card 21 pays 2 to 1.

Regarding three of a kind hands, it's important to note that they don't necessarily need to consist solely of the player’s individual cards. For instance, the combination 2Q22 would be valid.

Strategy

Before diving into all the variations specific to Canal 21, I recommend reviewing the fundamental strategy outlined on my page about it. Panamanian blackjack .

While many bonuses might necessitate adjustments to strategy, compiling an exhaustive list of every variation from the basic strategy would be quite lengthy and laborious.

Analysis

Cindy Liu, a gaming mathematician I employed to evaluate this game, determined that Canal 21 has a house edge of 1.20%. In contrast, the standard blackjack rules in Panama have a significantly lower house edge of just 0.12%. Therefore, I advise treating Canal 21 as a risky bet and to steer clear of it.

Acknowledgements

Cindy Liu conducted a thorough analysis of this particular game.

Written by: Michael Shackleford