Everything You Need To Know About Blackjack Switch

Blackjack switch is a blackjack variant patented by inventor Geoff Hall in 2009. The variant allows the player a classic cheating maneuver, in which the player switches cards between two hands. The player makes two equal bets and can switch the top two cards between the hands. Due to this, the blackjack variant pays equal money and a dealer 22 pushes all non-busted hands except natural. The variant is also known as Blackjack Exchange in Austrian casinos. So, there are several variants of this game..

History

The inventor of this blackjack variant, Geoff Hall was a card counter who was fed up of being dealt 2 weak hands all the time. He felt that the game could be improved significantly if the top 2 cards were allowed to be switched. Hall developed this idea and showcased it at a 2000 G2E Las Vegas conference. In February 2001, Blackjack Switch was installed in a casino in Iowa. Hall then modified the game to include the 'Push on 22' rule. After the inclusion of this rule, Blackjack Switch was installed in Four Queens at the end of 2003 and has since become popular around the world. Blackjack switch can also be found on online casinos.

Blackjack Switch Rules

All the rules for blackjack switch are the same as in blackjack unless noted. The table uses 6-8 card decks, with the dealer standing at a soft 17. After placing two equal-sized bets, the cards are dealt face up, with the dealer peeking for a blackjack with a ten up or ace. If he hits a blackjack when dealing, all player hands lose.

The switch allows the player to exchange cards before each hand. If he switches to blackjack, he gets a score of 21. The player can double on two cards and after a split. He can re-split up to 4 hands with the blackjack paying even money.

Strategy

There are both basic and advanced strategies for blackjack switch. They cover the switch and the decision on either standing, switching the card, drawing a further card or doubling. The switching strategy is hard to summarize. Sometimes, the switch is obvious due to the largest difference in advantage, but sometimes, you can break-up a natural by switching.

Compared to traditional blackjack, there are fewer occasions where a split or double is rewarding in blackjack switch – instead, there are more instances where it's correct to hit risk or go bust.

There are also advanced blackjack switch strategies such as the Cindy Liu Advanced Switching Strategy, which is legal under Las Vegas rules. There's also a blackjack switch calculator online under Playtech rules with an infinite deck assumption.

Blackjack switch allows a side bet as well (also known as Super Match). This type of bet rewards three-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind, pairs and two-pairs in the 4 starting cards of the player's first two hands. Depending on the deck, the rewards are different. For a 6-deck table, the side bet pays 1/1 for a pair, 5/1 for three-of-a-kind, 8/1 for two pairs and 40/1 for four-of-a-kind. This bet, however, stops the player from making a meaningful switch as it raises the house edge.