Super Fun 21
Double on any number of cards and win automatically with six cards totalling 20 — at a 6:5 blackjack payout.
Varies Wikipedia gives no figure for the main game. The 6:5 payout costs about 1.4% on its own; the liberal doubling and automatic wins give part of it back.
About Super Fun 21
Super Fun 21 was patented by Howard F. Grossman in 1999 (U.S. Patent 5,979,897). It is standard blackjack with a long list of player-friendly rules — and one expensive one.
You may double down at any point, however many cards you already hold, and split a hand up to four times. Six or more cards totalling 20 win automatically, five or more cards totalling 21 pay double, and a player blackjack beats a dealer blackjack.
The cost is the blackjack payout: 6:5 instead of 3:2, a change Wikipedia puts at about 1.4% in the standard game.
vs
Six cards totalling 20: an automatic win, whatever the dealer holds.
Rules at a glance
| Deck | Standard 52-card decks |
|---|---|
| Dealer on soft 17 | Varies by casino |
| Double down | At any point, on any number of cards |
| Splitting | Up to four times |
| Surrender | Varies by casino |
| Blackjack pays | 6:5 — and beats a dealer blackjack |
| Six cards totalling 20 | Win automatically |
| Five or more cards totalling 21 | Pays double |
Rule sets vary between casinos and between online operators. Always check the table or the game's rules screen — the blackjack payout and the dealer's soft 17 rule move the house edge more than anything else on this page.
What makes it different
Double at any point
A hard 11 built from three or four cards can still be doubled.
Six-card 20 wins
Six or more cards totalling 20 win automatically.
Five-card 21 pays double
Five or more cards totalling 21 pay 2:1.
6:5 blackjack
The price of all of the above — though your blackjack always beats the dealer's.
How basic strategy changes
These are the decisions that differ from the standard chart. Everything not listed here is played the same way.
| Hand | Standard play | In Super Fun 21 | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
   vs
Hard 11 over three cards |
Hit — doubling not allowed | Double | Doubling is allowed at any point, and 11 against a 6 is one of the best doubles in the game. |
Drill the underlying decisions first with the basic strategy trainer, or look up any single hand in the strategy calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What does a blackjack pay in Super Fun 21?
6:5 instead of the standard 3:2. A player blackjack does beat a dealer blackjack, though.
Can you double down on more than two cards in Super Fun 21?
Yes. You may double down at any point, however many cards you already hold.
What are the automatic wins in Super Fun 21?
Six or more cards totalling 20 win automatically, and five or more cards totalling 21 pay double.
Sources
Rules and figures on this page are taken from Wikipedia:
- Super Fun 21 — Wikipedia
- Blackjack — Variants and related games — Wikipedia