What is Super Fun 21?

Super Fun 21 lives up to its name with a long list of bonus rules that feel great in the moment. The catch is buried in the fine print: giving up the classic 3-to-2 blackjack payout costs more than all those perks are worth, so it is fun but not a bargain.

Quick answer: Super Fun 21 is a single-deck variant loaded with player-friendly extras: a player blackjack always wins, a diamond blackjack pays 2 to 1, you can surrender at any point, double on any number of cards, and a six-card hand of 20 or less wins automatically. The trade-off is that a regular blackjack pays only even money instead of 3 to 2.

The generous perks

Super Fun 21 is packed with extras: your blackjack always beats the dealer's, a blackjack in diamonds pays 2 to 1, you may surrender even after hitting or doubling, and you can double on any number of cards. A six-card hand totaling 20 or less wins automatically.

The hidden cost

Here is the fine print: a regular blackjack pays only even money, not 3 to 2. Since blackjacks come up often, that single downgrade outweighs all the bonuses, leaving a house edge around 0.9% with perfect play - higher than a good standard game.

Who should play it

If you love lots of rules and frequent little bonuses, Super Fun 21 delivers a lively, forgiving game. Because everything here is free play chips, the higher edge does not cost you anything - just enjoy the ride. It shares the auto-win idea with five-card Charlie games.

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Related questions

What is a five-card Charlie?

A five-card Charlie is a bonus rule where holding five cards without busting - any five-card hand totaling 21 or under - wins automatically, often beating even a dealer's 20 or 21. It is not offered at every table, but where it exists it noticeably helps the player and rewards drawing extra cards on stiff hands.

What is Spanish 21?

Spanish 21 is a popular variant played with a 48-card 'Spanish' deck that removes all four 10s (but keeps the Jacks, Queens and Kings). To make up for the missing tens, it hands players generous perks: your 21 always wins, a player blackjack beats a dealer blackjack, and there are bonus payouts for special 21s like 7-7-7.

What's the difference between blackjack variants?

Variants differ in the number of decks, whether the dealer hits soft 17, the blackjack payout, and any bonus rules or special hands. Some changes help players (like Spanish 21's bonuses), some help the house (like even-money blackjacks). The core goal - beat the dealer without busting - stays the same across all of them.