Player's Edge 21

Introduction

My first encounter with Player's Edge 21 was on June 5, 2015, at the Palace Casino located in La Center, Washington. This game closely resembles Spanish 21 except that it includes two unique rules: (1) having two face cards of the same suit and rank automatically wins, and (2) the insurance option pays 5 to 1 for suited blackjack.

Rules

The gameplay of Player's Edge 21 follows a blackjack format, but with these notable alterations:

1. This game utilizes six or eight Spanish decks, which comprise 48 cards — the standard 52 minus the four tens.
2. If a player has two face cards of the same suit and rank, that's considered an automatic victory, even against a dealer's blackjack.
3. Late surrender is allowed.
4. Players have the flexibility to double down at any point, whether on various cards, after a split, or following an initial double. A hand can be doubled up to three times.
5. Re-splitting aces allowed.
6. A player 21 always wins.
7. A player's blackjack triumphs over the dealer's blackjack.
8. Players can hit and double down even after splitting aces.
9. After doubling, players have the option to surrender, a move referred to as 'double down rescue,' where they forfeit an amount equal to their original wager.
10. A five-card total of 21 will pay out at 3 to 2, a six-card total at 2 to 1, and a seven or more card total at 3 to 1. These special payouts are not available after a double or split.
11. Achieving a 6-7-8 or a 7-7-7 with mixed suits yields a payout of 3 to 2, while the same suits pay 2 to 1, and spades pay 3 to 1. These rewards apply after a split but not after doubling.
12. For a suited 7-7-7 when the dealer shows a seven, a payout of $1000 is granted for bets ranging from $5 to $24, and $5000 for bets of $25 and above.
13. The insurance wager offers a payout of 2 to 1 for unsuited blackjacks and 5 to 1 for suited ones.
14. The Monster Match side bet's payouts depend on the total value of the initial two cards held by both the player and the dealer.

Strategy

The subsequent table illustrates the optimal strategy for Player's Edge 21, which mirrors that of Spanish 21 when re-doubling is permitted.

House Edge

The house edge under the previously mentioned basic strategy stands at 0.27%. Interestingly, the inclusion of two suited and ranked player face cards as automatic winners reduces the house edge by 0.15%.

Insurance

The following table provides insights into the probability and expected return for the insurance bet, calculated based on six decks. The lower right corner indicates a house edge of 5.92%.

When using eight decks, the house edge for the insurance bet increases to 6.01%.

Monster Match

The following table presents my findings on the Monster Match bet, based on six decks. This is a $1 side wager with a progressive jackpot available for a colored four of a kind.

The lower right corner of the Monster Match return table reveals that fixed wins provide a return of 53.68%.

Each $1,000 reflected in the meter translates to an additional 4.23% return. With a progressive reset value at $2,500, the combined return reaches 64.26%. The bet becomes favorable when the meter hits $10,944.43.

Written by: Michael Shackleford