What Is Blackjack Switch

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Blackjack Switch is a variant that requires the player to bet on two hands. The switch part of this permits the player to trade cards between these hands. This generous deal has a couple of major differences to offset it.

This blackjack variant is spread at both live and online casinos. There are 18 Las Vegas casinos that offer it. Playtech online casinos also have it. Players on the east coast will find it at Bally’s in Atlantic City.

How To Play Blackjack Switch

  • Blackjack Switch Blackjack Switch, though considerably less common than classic Blackjack, can still be found in a number of land-based and online casinos. This fun variant allows for what would otherwise constitute as cheating - namely, switching cards between two hands.
  • Blackjack Switch is based on conventional Blackjack rules with a few twists and exceptions. Two hands, instead of just a single one, are dealt to the player and the player is initially allowed to 'switch' the second cards dealt between the two hands. This option allows for the player to make more Blackjack hands than in the classical version.

The game originated at Casino Royale. It is still there to this day and is in fact the best blackjack game to play at this venue.

Blackjack Switch is a casino gambling game invented by Geoff Hall and patented in 2009. It is based on blackjack, but differs in that two hands, rather than one, are dealt to each playing position, and the player is initially allowed to exchange ('switch') the top two cards between hands. What Is Blackjack Switch? Although you won’t find the game in many land-based venues, playing Blackjack Switch online is a great way to mix things up. With a few slight changes to the rules, the.

Differences Between Blackjack Switch and the Traditional Game

There are several differences between Blackjack Switch and the traditional version of the game.

For one, players must make two wagers to start the hand. The player may take the second card dealt from one hand and switch it with the other.

Blackjack pays even money. A switched hand that creates an ace and a 10-value card counts as 21 and is not paid as a blackjack.

If the dealer makes a 22, all players still in the hand push. The dealer can only bust on 23 and higher.

Once you find a Blackjack Switch table, it is easy to get started.

At a live casino, put two equal chip stacks into the circles in front of you.

Each bet must meet the posted minimum at the table. If the minimum bet is $10, BOTH hands must be at least $10.

What Is Blackjack Switch Plate

Online Blackjack Switch games typically have a minimum bet of $1.

At a Playtech online casino, click the denomination that you would like to play. Click one of the betting circles. The software will place the second bet simultaneously. Click deal to receive cards.

Each player receives two hands of two cards. The dealer receives one hand. The dealer gets one card up and the other down.

If the dealer has a 10-value card or an ace showing, the other card is peeked at. If the dealer has blackjack, the hand ends. Player hands of blackjack push. All others lose. Insurance is not offered in Blackjack Switch.

If the dealer does not have blackjack, it is time for the players to act. A player that is dealt blackjack receives even money. Players have the option to switch cards at this point. Notify the dealer at a live game on your turn if you would like to do this. At an online casino, click the switch button.

Hands then have the typical options of hit, stand, and double down. Split is offered if a hand has a pair. At online casinos, each action has a specific button on the table if it is available at the time.

To draw a card at a live table, tap the table in front of the hand that you would like to hit. You may draw until you bust or stand.

To stand, which means not draw any more cards, wave your hand over the bet. To double down, place an equal wager next to the existing one.

If you have a pair, you may split. Place an equal bet next to the hand that you would like to split. You may double down after splitting.

Once all players have acted, it is the dealer’s turn.

  • The dealer hits on 16 and lower
  • The dealer hits on soft 17 (an ace and other cards that equal 6)
  • The dealer stands on hard 17 and 18 and higher
  • The dealer busts on 23 or higher

If the dealer makes 22, it pushes all bets still in the hand. If the dealer makes 17 to 21, it is compared to each hand still alive.

If the dealer beats a player’s hand, the house wins the associated bets. If the player beats the dealer, even money is paid. If the dealer and player have the same value, the hand pushes and bets are returned.

Each hand and split are graded separately. It is possible to push one hand and win the other. You can also win both, lose both, and everything in between.

At an online casino, click the re-bet button to start a new hand with the same bet. If you would like to change your bet, you may add it before hitting deal.

There are two strategies to learn for Blackjack Switch. One is related to how to set the hands. The other is how to play them once they are set.

Here is a list of hand rankings for Blackjack Switch.

  • 21
  • 20
  • 19
  • Pair of aces
  • 11
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8 or 18
  • Pair of 8s against a 2 through 8

Using the above rankings, play the hand according to the following rules.

  • Against a 7 or 8, make the weaker hand as high as possible on the list above
  • Against all other dealer cards, make the higher hand as strong as possible
  • If none of the above applies, play for a 7 or 17, any split hand, 12 or 13
  • Keep a pair of aces together if unable to make a 20 or 21

Once the hands are set, follow the strategy below for how to play it out.

A hard hand is one that either does not contain an ace, or if it does, one that can bust.

  • 4 to 8: Always hit
  • 4 to 8: Always hit
  • 10: Double down against 2 through 8; otherwise, hit
  • 11: Double down against 2 through 9; otherwise, hit
  • 12: Stand against 5 and 6; otherwise, hit
  • 13: Stand against 3 through 6; otherwise, hit
  • 14 through 16: Stand against 2 through 6; otherwise, hit
  • 17 and higher: Always stand

A soft hand is one with an ace that cannot bust.

  • Soft 13 through 15: Always hit
  • Soft 16: Double down against 6; otherwise, hit
  • Soft 17: Double down against 5 or 6; otherwise, hit
  • Soft 18: Double down against 5 and 6, hit against 9, 10 and ace; otherwise, stand
  • Soft 19 and higher: Always stand

What Is Blackjack Switch Stand

Split is offered when dealt a pair. Play pairs according to the following list.

  • 2s and 3s: Split against 5, 6 and 7; otherwise, hit
  • 4s: Always hit
  • 5s: Double down against 2 through 8; otherwise, hit
  • 6s: Split against 4, 5, and 6; otherwise, hit
  • 7s: Split against 2 through 7; otherwise, hit
  • 8s: Split against 2 through 9; otherwise, hit
  • 9s: Split against 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9; otherwise, stand
  • 10s: Always stand
  • Aces: Always split

The below chart summarizes all the above information on how to play your hands once they are set.

Where to Play Blackjack Switch

There are 18 Las Vegas casinos that spread Blackjack Switch. The locations are as follows.

  • 4 Queens
  • Aria
  • Bellagio
  • Casino Royale
  • Encore
  • Excalibur
  • Luxor
  • Mandalay Bay
  • MGM Grand
  • Mirage
  • Monte Carlo
  • New York New York
  • Palazzo
  • Palms
  • Paris
  • SLS Las Vegas
  • Venetian
  • Wynn

Blackjack Switch is also spread in Atlantic City at Bally’s, and Playtech online casinos spread the game.

For low rollers, our picks for Blackjack Switch are 4 Queens and Casino Royale. Both casinos spread the game with a $5 minimum bet. 4 Queens is on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Casino Royale is where Blackjack Switch originated. It is between Harrah’s and Venetian on the Strip.

Players looking for a luxury experience will want to move up to $15 and play it at Wynn on the Las Vegas Strip.

Playtech is the only option for Blackjack Switch at online casinos. We recommend Bet 365 because of its long history of taking care of players in terms of customer service and withdrawals.

Summary

Blackjack Switch is a great change of pace with a low house edge of about 0.65%, depending on the level of effort that you are willing to put into learning strategy.

The advanced strategy may be impossible to learn for some people as there are some exceptions beyond the basic one. This complex strategy may be a turnoff to some players. For online ones, it is easy enough to have the list handy, though.

For those willing to learn the game, we feel this is a good way to take a break from traditional blackjack tables.

What Is Blackjack Switch Games

What

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Gamblers who’ve ever thought it would be nice to swap their cards around from one hand to the next should play “blackjack switch”. In this game, the player is dealt two blackjack hands. After the deal, the gambler is allowed to switch the upcard between these two hands, increasing the strength of one or both hand combinations. This is a tremendous advantage to a blackjack player.

As you might imagine, other rules are stipulated to mitigate that advantage. The house edge on this game can be as low as 0.20% (using the “Russian” rules), so it’s a solid version of twenty-one players should know about. As always when playing 21, know how the various rules affect the house edge or you could end up playing at an inferior table.

Basic Rules

This Stack of Chips Was Won by a Blackjack Switch Player

Unless otherwise noted, all rules of switch are based on the classic blackjack rules. In most casinos, either 6 or 8 decks are used. Switching from six to eight decks increases the house edge by 0.02%. In most land-based gaming venues, the dealer hits on a soft 17, but you will occasionally hear of the dealer standing on a soft 17. Players’ cards are dealt face up, while the dealer peaks for a blackjack if a ten or ace is showing. When the dealer holds a natural blackjack, all player hands lose automatically. If a player has a natural blackjack, then that hand is a push.

What Is Blackjack Switch

The player can double on any two cards. The player also may double after a split. Resplits can be performed up to four hands.

Dealer 22

To offset the advantageous rules of the game, any time a dealer holds a 22, this is a push if the player holds a 21 or less. If the player holds a natural twenty-one, then a dealer twenty-two still loses.

1:1 Payouts on Natural 21

Another rule in the favor of the house is the 1 to 1 payout on a natural twenty-one. In the classic version of the game, this is seen as the worst rule you could play under. In this variant, the rule only offsets advantages, so it’s acceptable. Still, when considering strategy, understand that blackjacks pay much less.

Switching Rules

When the player switches cards to a combined twenty-one, this is considered a “21”, but not a natural. In this scenario, a dealer 21 would beat this hand.

Switch Tip

One other deviation from the classic game rules is that players make two equal wagers in blackjack switch. This brings me to an important suggestion. Players must remember they must bet equally on both hands. If they neglect one hand to make the other unbeatable, they are still only breaking even. When switching cards, the player must try to build two strong hands.

Strategy Tips

Because of the dealer-22 rule, some hands you would stand on in convention twenty-one require you to hit. In other words, you have to be more aggressive, because the dealer isn’t going to bust as often. Anytime the dealer is showing a 7 or higher, that’s considered a strong hand and you’ll need to play accordingly. If a 3 through 6 is showing, the dealer’s hand looks weak. If the dealer is showing a 2, this isn’t as weak as you’d expect, because 22 isn’t a bust.

When you hold an 18 through 20 and your total beats the dealer’s upcard total (assuming the other card is a 10), then you should place strong bets. For instance, if you hold a 19 and the dealer is showing 8, this is considered advantageous for you.

When to Stand

Stand anytime you have a hard 17 or higher. When you have a hard 12 through 16, hit when the dealer has a 7 through ace. Hit a hard 13 or 14 versus a 2. Hit a hard 12 versus a two, three, or four. Stand any other time you have a hard hand against a 2 through 5.

Stand on a soft 19 or 20. Always stand on a soft 18 when against a 2 through 8, but hit on a soft 18 versus a nine through ace. When you have a soft 17 or below, always hit before doubling. Double down when you have a 10 or an 11 against a 2 through 6. Double down on a 9 when against a dealer-6. If you have an ace-6 or ace-7, double down against a 5 or a 6. When you hold an ace-5, double against a dealer-6 only.

Switching to a Stronger Winner

When switching, it’s sometimes good to switch to a stronger winning hand. For instance, let’s say you hold an 18 and a 14, but you have a chance to switch to a 19 and 13. This second combination is considered better. Nineteen is a much stronger hand than eighteen. At the same time, 13 and 14 are virtually identical hands, because in either case, you’re probably hoping for the dealer to bust out.

House Edge

Blackjack switch is a game any jaded classic twenty-one players should try. Not only do the switching rules add a whole other dimension to the game, but the house edge is lower than classic 21, if the rules are the same. You’ll find it a challenge to learn a whole other set of dealer rules. Players will come to hate the dealer twenty-two rule, because it’s going to break your heart several times a session. Players at land-based casinos and online casinos should be able to find the game. Microgaming, Playtech, and most other major online casino software companies have their own version of the game.