Blackjack Switch Odds & Strategy

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Blackjack Switch is a variation of regular blackjack but with a twist that dramatically chances the odds and the correct strategy. The big variation that makes Blackjack Switch unique is that Blackjack Switch rules allow the player to switch cards between two separate hands. In any other blackjack, that would be a cheating maneuver, but in the game of Blackjack Switch it’s perfectly legal.

To determine an appropriate Blackjack Switch strategy, the first thing to understand is the object of the game. And the object of Blackjack Switch is still the same as the object of regular blackjack: to obtain a higher point total than the dealer without going over 21 and going bust.

And to understand why Blackjack Switch odds are so much better than regular blackjack, think about being able to play with two hands where you can switch cards back and forth in order to make a better hand. The effect on the player's edge and the house edge should be clear and obvious.

Blackjack Switch Rules

Blackjack Switch is still basically blackjack, and Blackjack Switch rules are still basically blackjack rules.

Blackjack Switch Decks

Blackjack Switch Decks Blackjack Switch uses six or eight decks dealt out of a shoe. Card values in Blackjack Switch are the same as in regular blackjack, with an Ace as either 1 or 11 and face cards being 10. Number cards still retain their normal value.

How to Play Blackjack Switch

To learn how to play Blackjack Switch, a player should jump right into the action.

Blackjack Switch Wagers

First, he makes two "Blackjack Switch wagers" of equal size before being dealt his cards. The player is then dealt two cards for two hands. (The cards are face up just like in regular blackjack.) After the player has his cards, the dealer gets two cards, one face up and one face down.

The player then plays each hand, one after another, starting with the right hand and then moving to the left hand. Only the second card dealt out can be switched from either hand and must be switched before a player either hits or stands.

The player may hit, stand, or double as normal.

A player can even split, but in Blackjack Switch, he may split his cards into a possible of four separate hands. Once the player is satisfied with his hands, the dealer continues on to the game’s conclusion.

Blackjack Switch Edge - Rules Variations Which Affect The House Edge

Some other exceptions to the normal rules of blackjack affect the "Blackjack Switch edge". (When you're talking about Blackjack Switch odds, you're going to be mostly concerned with the house edge or the player edge, which is a percentage value that demonstrates how much a player can expect to win or lose on each Blackjack Switch wager over the long term. And when we say long term, we're talking about over thousands of hands. In gambling, anything can happen in the short term.)

Some of the exceptions which affect the house edge for Blackjack Switch include:

The dealer always hits if she has a soft 17. (If she has an ace that is counted as an eleven, she will always draw one more card.)
Blackjack Switch wagers pay out even money on a blackjack (a natural), instead of the standard 3/2 payout due to the increased odds of a player having two hands.
The rule of ‘if the player doubles and the dealer's first card is of value 10, and the dealer gets blackjack, the player loses only the initial bet’ is not applied to Blackjack Switch.

The Biggest Rule Change That Affects the House Edge in Blackjack Switch

In a normal blackjack game, if the dealer attained a score of 22 she would bust and the player would win the bet. But in Blackjack Switch, if the dealer gets a score of 22, instead of going bust, it is a push or a draw regardless of the player’s total. The only exception to this rule is if the player has blackjack which still wins.

Blackjack Switch "Ace Face" Rule

If the dealer's up card is an ace or a face card, the dealer will peek at their cards to check for blackjack. This is done before the player makes their move. If the dealer does have blackjack and the player doesn't, the dealer will reveal her cards and collect all bets, and the game round will be over with the dealer winning. Before the player switches cards, if either of their two hands makes up blackjack, that hand pushes against the dealer and the bet for it is returned to the player.

Blackjack Switch Casinos & Other Rule Variations

Blackjack Switch casinos offer other rules variations. For example, some Blackjack Switch casinos use varying number of decks. In other Blackjack Switch casinos, a player may take early surrender where they give up one bet and surrender both hands. If a player switches cards and gets blackjack, it is treated as a 21-point hand.

So a player should always be aware of what the variations are depending on where he plays Blackjack Switch.

As for house edge, they vary depending on the deck size used. For casinos that use six decks, the house edge is about 0.16%. If the casino uses eight decks, it is 0.18%.

Of course, this is only if the player uses a real Blackjack Switch strategy. Playing by hunches always increases the house edge.

Blackjack Switch Side Bet - Blackjack Switch Three of a Kind

Blackjack Switch often offers a side bet on the four cards which pays off for various combinations. A three of a kind in a Blackjack Switch pays off the side bet at 5 to 1, for example.

Blackjack Switch Las Vegas

Blackjack Switch can be found in various blackjack casinos. Some Las Vegas Blackjack Switch casinos include:

Harrahs
Tropicana

According to the Blackjack Switch page on the Wizard of Odds site, Blackjack Switch is also available in Russia. You can find an accurate Blackjack Switch strategy on his site as well.

Blackjack Switch Online

Blackjack Switch is also available online at Playtech casinos. But keep in mind that real money play at Playtech casinos is not allowed from the USA, so if you want to play Blackjack Switch online from the USA, you're out of luck.

Free Blackjack Switch

You can play free Blackjack Switch at any online casino which offers the game with their "play money" or "play for fun" mode. The only online casinos I know of which offer Blackjack Switch are Playtech powered, so if you live in the USA, free Blackjack Switch is the only variation of the game you can play anyway. On the up side, you can't losing any money at free Blackjack Switch. But on the down side, you can't win any money in a free Blackjack Switch game either.

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