Blackjack Switch Strategy
About Blackjack Switch
- On further thought, the basic strategy chart would be very very complicated. Example: Let's you have a 10,6 on one hand and an 8 on your other hand. Well you have to consider exactly what composition is for that 8, as well as the dealer's up card. This would be the basic strategy chart just for that specific situation (10,6 and 8.
- Blackjack switch strategy can get complicated if you want to play perfectly according to the odds, but a good basic strategy follows. By using this ranking as far as what starting hands are best at switch: 1.
- Blackjack Switch Basic Strategy Mental clarity is important to be able to switch the top cards of each hand, as well as understand the card hand you could have by switching. Basic rules of switching include switching if you can take action on any hand or if you can make a winner stronger than a dealer’s face-up card.
- We have many single-deck blackjack and multi-deck blackjack games to help you practice your strategy. Not only will you find traditional blackjack, we also offer exciting variants like Blackjack Switch, Pontoon, and Spanish 21. You should also consider using a blackjack strategy trainer to confirm that you are making mathematically correct calls.
Blackjack switch is a blackjack variation with low house edge. The two main softwares offering the game are Playtech and Grand Virtual. However, game play is a bit slower because of additional switch decisions.
Blackjack Switch Rules
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.
During each round player plays two hands at the same time as in multi-hand blackjack. Player places two bets of equal size on both hands. Player is dealt two cards on both blackjack hands, and one of dealer’s two cards is visible as in regular blackjack. The twist is that before playing these hands the player may switch the top cards between the hands. For example player is dealt hands 8,7 and 4,A. The player may switch 7 and A to get 8,A and 4,7. After making the switch, the player plays both hands according to normal rules. The player may hit, double down and split on both hands. To compensate this advantage the dealer has the following benefits:
- Dealer 22 pushes all hands except player blackjack
- Blackjack pays 1:1 like a normal winning hand
- The dealer hits soft 17
Playtech software uses 6 decks for the game and Grand Virtual uses 8 decks. Other blackjack rules are: double on any 2 cards, double after split, re-split up to four hands.
Optimal Strategy
Basic Strategy Blackjack
The correct switch decision depends on the hand values and dealer’s upcard. Usually you try to improve both hands by switching. For example 8,7 = 15 and 4,10 = 14 is a worse combination than 8,10 = 18 and 4,7 = 11. You can also switch to make blackjacks and usually (but not always) the correct switch decision is to make a blackjack at the expense of other hand. This is because only blackjack beats dealer 22. To check the correct switch decision in each situation use the Blackjack Switch Calculator.
Play Strategy
After the switch decision had been made, use the following strategy table to play each hand:
Your Hand | Dealer’s Face-up Card | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
5-8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
9 | H | H | H | D/H | D | H | H | H | H | H |
10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | H |
11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H |
12 | H | H | H | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
13 | H | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
14 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
15 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
16 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
17+ | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
A,2 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
A,3 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
A,4 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
A,5 | H | H | H | H | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A,6 | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A,7 | S | S | S | Ds | Ds | S | S | H | H | H |
A,8 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
A,9 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
2,2 | H | H | H | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
3,3 | H | H | H | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
4,4 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
5,5 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | H |
6,6 | H | H | P | P | P | H | H | H | H | H |
7,7 | S | P | P | P | P | P | H | H | H | H |
8,8 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | H | H |
9,9 | S | S | P | P | P | S | P | P | S | S |
10,10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
A,A | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
H | Hit | |||||||||
S | Stand | |||||||||
D | Double if Possible, Otherwise Hit | |||||||||
Ds | Double if Possible, Otherwise Stand | |||||||||
D/H | D/H = Double with 6 decks (Playtech), hit with 8 decks (Grand Virtual) | |||||||||
P | Split (Pair) |
House Edge and Rule Variations
Using optimal strategy the house edge is 0.16% on Playtech and World Gaming software (6 decks) and 0.18% on Grand Virtual software (8 decks).
Variance and Results Over Bonus Wagering Requirement
Blackjack Switch has lower variance than regular blackjack because large number of rounds are pushes (one hand wins, the other one loses) and dealer 22 results in a push. The standard deviation per unit wagered is estimated to be around 0.85. The following table shows Chance of Gain, Risk of Busting and the Bonus EV for different wagering requirements and bet sizes when completing play-through on Black Switch. The bet sizes are expressed as bet per one hand and each round consists of two hands. See the return and variance calculator for other bet sizes and WRs.
Blackjack Switch: Blackjack Strategies with Better Odds
Being a highly popular game of skill with complicated and sometimes difficult strategies for playing, blackjack card game gained a worldwide popularity. Players love playing it in the land as well as in online casinos. In order to increase the blackjack odds, gamblers are highly advised to read blackjack books, watch educational movies. This way it would be easier for them to acquire the useful and helpful knowledge and apply it when playing.
It is also very important to learn the basic blackjack strategy and memorize the blackjack strategy chart to be more confident during the play. However, these tips are useful only for traditional blackjack. But nowadays many blackjack variations exist. For example, Pontoon, Spanish 21, Vegas Strip, Perfect Pairs, European Blackjack and Blackjack Switch. The latter is considered to be much more fun comparing to other types.
Main Idea
The main goal of the game is still the same as in traditional version and it is to get 21 points and beat the dealer. Players are playing only against the dealer and do not compete with each others. However, the main feature of this type of blackjack is that players are allowed to switch the second cards. Isn't it great? But it can be done only if player puts two equal bets at once. When player gets, for example, 5 and 10, and 7 and 10, after the exchange the hands will be 5 and 7, and also 10 and 10. After the switching player plays two hands separately. Moreover, the strategy is not difficult at all.
Blackjack Switch online, free
Blackjack Switch Rules
Blackjack Switch App
- Either 6 or 8 decks of cards are used for this type of blackjack;
- A dealer should hit on soft 17;
- In order to make the switch, players must make two initial bets of equal sum;
- The doubling is allowed for players even if they have only two cards;
- The dealer's 22 pushes to any points of the players' hands even to 21, except of blackjack;
- Doubling is allowed after splitting;
- The two playing hands can be split into the four hands;
- The payout for winning hand is 1:1.