In Spanish 21, the typical strategy involves playing similarly to traditional blackjack but with some important adjustments due to the differences in rules. The game is played with a Spanish deck, which removes all tens, resulting in a total of 48 cards per deck. Players often focus on the unique rules of Spanish 21, such as the ability to surrender at any time, double down at various points, and take advantage of bonus payouts for certain hands, like a five-card 21.