How to Play Super Fun 21

A game which aims to bring an extra element of excitement to casino fans, Super Fun 21 is based on blackjack but gives players more options for play and more ways to win.

Where to Play Super Fun 21

Super Fun 21 is popular in many Las Vegas casinos as players explore a different take on blackjack and tackle new challenges to try and beat the dealer. If you’d like to play online, William Hill Casino offers Blackjack Super 21 alongside traditional Blackjack and other variants of the game.

Basic Rules

Like Blackjack, Super Fun 21 is played using between one and eight standard 52-card decks. The object of the game is to beat the dealer without going over 21 and you start by receiving two cards, with aces worth 1 or 11, face cards counting as ten and every other card worth its respective numerical value. Find out how to play standard blackjack here.

The key differences concern the bonus structure of Super Fun 21, with players able to win in more ways than with traditional blackjack. One of the most attractive features is that you win if your hand contains six cards and has a total of 20 or less, even if the dealer holds 21. For this reason, players are allowed to hit when they have any total of 20 or less. Also, a player’s blackjack always wins, regardless of whether or not the dealer also has 21. Players are also allowed to split any pair to a maximum of four hands, stand on any total they like, double down or surrender. A double down rescue is also available, letting players double their bet after receiving two cards but then surrender half of their doubled bet if they are not happy with the extra card.

However, to counter these advantages there are other rules which give the casino the edge it needs in every game. The main distinction is that the payout for a total of 21 is only 1:1 as opposed to the traditional 3:2 on Blackjack. The only exceptions are when you have a Blackjack in diamonds or a total of 21 with five cards, in which case the payout is 2:1. The dealer largely plays by the same rules as they would in Blackjack, except that they must hit any total of 16 or less and also hit on soft 17 (i.e. when they have an ace).

Etiquette

Super Fun 21 players should abide by general casino etiquette guidelines and make sure to be courteous towards members of staff and fellow players. While there is no problem with asking one or two questions or seeking help, it is important to know the rules before you start playing so that you do not frustrate everyone else at the table and impede the progress of the game.

Use just one hand when touching your cards and be careful to keep them in pristine shape. Place your wager at the appropriate time and then keep your hands away from your bet until the game is over. You may also want to learn about the hand signals for Blackjack before visiting the tables.

Strategy

There is a high element of luck involved in Super Fun 21 and the advantage, as always, lies with the casino, but it is a game that can be played with an analytical mind to boost your chances of success. Basic strategy for a single-deck game, which can then be adapted for multi-deck games, would be to use the system as follows:

• Hard Hands - On a 9, double against a dealer’s 2 to 6 and hit against a dealer’s 7 to ace. Double on any 10 or 11, hit or stand on 1 to 20 as with standard blackjack but surrender on 15, 16 or 17 against a dealer’s ace.
• Soft Hands - Double down as follows: 13 against dealer 5 and 6; 14, 15 and 16 against dealer 4, 5 and 6; 17 against dealer 2 to 6; 18 against dealer 3 to 6, 19 against dealer 16.
• Splits -  You should always split on ace-ace and 8-8, but never 4-4. Always stand on 10-10 and always double down on 5-5. For a 2-2, 3-3 or 6-6, split against a dealer’s 2 to 7, but hit against a dealer’s 8 to ace. For a 7-7, split against a dealer’s 2 to 8 but hit against a dealer’s 9 and surrender against 10 and ace. For 9-9, split against all but 7 and 10.

The lure of the bonuses can sometimes work against players when they decide to veer away from their set strategy and go hunting for a big payout, for example taking a sixth card when you are on 17 or 18 in the hope of landing on 20 or 21.

Insurance/Side Bets

A special side bet is sometimes offered in Super Fun 21, giving players the option to wager that they will get a blackjack in diamonds. This would only be available on the first hand after a shuffle and can offer a payout of 300:1, and reports of the bet being offered to players are rare.

Insurance is a more common side bet which works the same way in Super Fun 21 as it does in regular Blackjack. If the dealer’s up card is an ace, players are able to put down half of their original stake on a bet that the dealer has a blackjack. The payout is 2:1 on the insurance bet, but you lose your original wager, so in effect the outcome is that your money neither goes up nor down when the dealer has a blackjack. However, if the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack then you have lost the insurance bet and could still lose the initial bet, so insurance is probably best avoided.

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