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    Cruise Ship Blackjack

    BoMan Posted on
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    Hello all!

    Just returned from a cruise on "C" and they had a version of blackjack that I had not seen or played before so was unsure how to speed count it. They added two more decks than their normal six deck tables (8 decks in shoe) but removed all Kings from the shoe. The main "advice" I heard from the others at table and some dealers I got to know was that you would typically try more hits on 12’s and 13’s and maybe 14’s depending on how the cards where coming out. Any advice on how to play/speed count this type of game? Btw, they offered very liberal rules (doubling anytime even after receiving the third card, surrenders, splits up to 5 times, any 21 was automatic even pay prior to dealer playing their hand, double odds on "real" blackjack, etc.). I did try searching this site first but did not find any hits. Thanks!

    Replies:

    Posted by: Skinny on August 10, 2014, 7:52 pm

    That sounds like Spanish 21. Except in Spanish 21 they remove the 10’s instead of the Kings. But essentially you are playing with a 48 card deck that has 4 cards with a face value of 10 removed.

    Posted by: sevenout on August 11, 2014, 2:19 pm

    I agree, sounds like Spanish 21. Great game actually, but basic strategy is vastly different. Wizard of Odds has good info on the game.

    Very popular in card rooms here in WA.

    Posted by: BoMan on August 11, 2014, 4:57 pm

    Thanks Skinny and Sevenout. I did read up on it in Frank’s SC Blackjack book and on Wizard of Odds website last night. However, it doesn’t seem that there is info out there on SC’ing the game though like the normal game. Any suggestions on that or where to start the SC. I would assume it would be different than the regular 8 deck game.

    Posted by: Skinny on August 11, 2014, 5:54 pm

    Speed Count would not work as designed and I don’t know of any modification to accommodate Spanish 21.

    Posted by: sevenout on August 13, 2014, 2:16 pm

    You would have to use old fashioned counting techniques for this game since the deck is unbalanced.

    Katirina Walker has a well written book on the subject.

    Posted by: BoMan on August 13, 2014, 4:21 pm

    Thank you both for the info. I appreciate it!

    BoMan
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