• 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.
  • Read our expert Blackjack Strategy guide to learn how to win. We cover basic & advanced strategies + Download our FREE Blackjack Strategy Charts!
  • Blackjack switch is a blackjack variant which allows the player to do what is normally considered a classic cheating manoeuver, trading cards between two hands. The player must make two bets of equal size and is allowed to switch the second card dealt to each hand. Of course, nothing good comes without a trade-off.

BASIC BLACKJACK STRATEGY FOR PAIR SPLITTING The factors that determine the basic strategy for pair splitting are the number of decks of cards and the playing rules. Note: When casinos offer the more liberal DAS, you will be splitting more hands than when the rules specify NDAS. Additional Blackjack Switch rules If the dealers face up card is an Ace, players can buy insurance. Plus the game allows players to make an extra bet of Super Match and win if the first two cards are a pair (pays 1 to 1), three of a kind (pays 5 to 1), two pairs (pays 8 to 1) or four of a kind (40 to 1).

The exciting aspects of blackjack casino games are that they have easy rules. It should be noted, though, that there are divergent variations of this game. There exist some critical aspects of the game that differ from one casino to another. These differences can have an impact on the right procedures bettors can use to beat the dealer. Today, the article is looking at the blackjack versions and what differentiates one from the other.

Overview of the Blackjack Variants

The blackjack game is a fantastic and strategy—based casino game commonly played. However, we should note that though many people stake on it, they are not familiar with the many variants of the game. These unique individual differences that separate one variant from the other give the game an appealing look and spices up the betting experiences of bettors.

Players’ interests in the game of blackjack will have totally disappeared, if not for the introduction of variants with innovative features.

Blackjack Variant Types Available

There are about over 20 blackjack versions depending on where you play the game; we will be taking a peep at some below.

American Blackjack

A widely played blackjack in most US casinos, dealers of this version are allowed to hole cards on different stages. They also get the hole card before bettors can start to bet.

European Blackjack

In this kind of blackjack, the dealer only receives the hole card when the player has decided to wage. Common in European gambling arenas and online casinos, this variant of casino offers some various strict rules.

Chinese Blackjack

Asian bettors particularly love this type of blackjack because it specially offers good profits. In this game, hands should reach at least 16, and dealers in this Asian version of blackjack must show hands before hitting.

Spanish 21

Strategy

Blackjack Switch Basic Strategy Games

A right kind of blackjack is mostly offered in Spanish-speaking communities. This version provides better flexible gaming rules and enormous bonuses.

Vegas Strip Blackjack

This game was labeled after an exotic area, Las Vegas, where casinos and clubs are located. You will find most card players in that area prefer this to other versions.

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack switch is popular because it allows bettors to play two hands in separate ways. These gamblers can swap and switch the cards they are dealt with favorable ones in the shoe.

Features That Distinguish Blackjack Variants

Key features differentiate one blackjack variants from others; we will be looking at some of them in this section.

Basic
  • Splitting Times

Splitting in blackjack is how the cards are arranged on the deck. The American versions allow splitting about three times in the game; for the European, it is just once.

  • Number of Decks

The decks that blackjack is played differ from one blackjack type to another. The range is between 2 and 8. Decks are important to players because they determine you are winning or losing chances.

  • Double Down Conditions

Double down betting differs from one blackjack to another. The European versions allow up to 12 times to double down. While some are very rigid, others allow stakes to increase to up to 100%.

  • Surrender Options

Surrender in blackjack is a feature that allows the bettors to leave the game early. While some versions allow early retirement; some only accept late exit.

The post is about the various blackjack versions and features that distinguish them. Most of the information above applies for Live Balckjack as well however there are some interesting changes, so it’s best to visit the Live Blackjack page for more information

Switch


The game of Blackjack has been around in casinos since the early 1700s. Back then, when it first appeared in France, there was just 1 basic version – nowadays there are plenty more.

This article covers Blackjack Switch – whereas most of the rules are the same as standard Blackjack. There are some notable differences, the main ones being that you need to pay for 2 hands of an equal amount and you can ‘Switch’ the 2nd card of each hand if you wish in order to get a better chance of winning.

Due to this obvious advantage for the player, the casino is always going to adjust something in favour of the house to counteract this. In this version of Blackjack, if the Dealer gets 22, any remaining hands that don’t have Blackjack are ‘pushed’ and the bets returned. A player Blackjack pays at even money.

Blackjack Switch Basic Strategy Example

Blackjack Switch Rules

As mentioned above, most the rules are the same as a standard game of Blackjack, we assume you know the basics if not these can be found in a separate article.

• All rules are the same as standard Blackjack unless mentioned below
• The game uses either 6 or 8 decks of cards depending on the casino
• The Dealer ‘hits’ on soft 17 (a 17 containing an Ace and therefore being worth either 17 or 7)
• The Player needs to place 2 bets of equal size, either both, 1 or none of these bets can be winners
• Player cards will be dealt face up
• Dealer ‘peeks’ for Blackjack if they have an Ace or a 10 as their upturned card (after Players have a choice of Insurance if the upturned card is an Ace). If they have Blackjack, all hands that didn’t take Insurance will lose except Player Blackjack which will ‘push’. Insurance pays 2 to 1.
• The Player can choose to ‘Switch’ the 2nd cards of their hands around to make 2 new hands. For example, if they are dealt 10, 6 and 5, 10 the 2nd cards – in this case, 6 and 10 – can be swapped giving them 10, 10 and 5, 6 instead, a much better position to be in
• If the Player ‘Switches’ to form Blackjack, this counts as 21 as opposed to Blackjack
• The player may ‘Double’ on any 2 cards, including after ‘Switching’
• The player may ‘Double’ after a ‘Split’
• Player may ‘Resplit’ up to 4 times
• A Player Blackjack pays even money

Above is an example of the layout for a Blackjack Switch game. You will see that it looks a lot like a standard Blackjack game except that the Player has to have 2 hands with the same initial bet.

Blackjack Switch Rules
RTP:99.42%
Blackjack Pays:1 to 1
Number of Decks:6 or 8
Dealer Rule:Hit on soft 17
Dealer Peek:Yes
Insurance:Yes
Surrender:No
Split:Yes
Re-Split:Yes
Double:Yes
Double after Split:Yes
Hit Split Aces:Just Once
Side Game:Yes
Multiple Hands:No – must have 2 hands of equal bet

Switching Strategy

One of the hardest aspects of the Blackjack Switch is when to Switch and when to leave the hands as they are.

By following the chart below, you won’t go far wrong.

Blackjack Switch Basic Strategy

If the Dealer has a 7 or 8 upturned, try and balance the hands by making the weakest hand as strong as possible, using the table below if you can.

If the Dealer has any other upturned card, make the strongest possible hand from the table below to give yourself the best possible chance of winning at least 1 hand.

1. 21
2. 20
3. 19
4. AA
5. 11
6. 10
7. 9
8. 18 or 8
9. 88 if the Dealer has between a 2 and an 8

If you cannot make any of the above hands either by leaving the hands as they are or ‘Switching’, make the strongest possible hand out of the following:

1. 7 or 17
2. Any hand that should be Split according to the chart below
3. Any 12
4. Any 13

Hitting or Standing strategy

As the Dealer ‘Pushes’ any remaining hands if they get 22, the strategy for Blackjack Switch is considerably different to a standard version.

The table below shows the action you should take in each instance after a Switch has or hasn’t been made.

Hard Hands – No Ace

Dealers Upturned Card
Your hand2345678910A
5 to 8HHHHHHHHHH
9HHHHDHHHHH
10DDDDDDDHHH
11DDDDDDDDHH
12HHHSSHHHHH
13HSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHHH
16SSSSSHHHHH
17-21SSSSSSSSSS

H = Hit D = Double S = Stand

Soft Hands – With an Ace

Dealers Upturned Card
Your hand2345678910A
A, 2HHHHHHHHHH
A, 3HHHHHHHHHH
A, 4HHHHHHHHHH
A, 5HHHHDHHHHH
A, 6HHHDDHHHHH
A, 7SSSDDSSHHH
A, 8SSSSSSSSSS
A, 9SSSSSSSSSS
A, 10SSSSSSSSSS

H = Hit D = Double S = Stand

Pairs

Dealers Card
Your hand2345678910A
2,2HHHSPSPSPHHHH
3,3HHHSPSPSPHHHH
4,4HHHHHHHHHH
5,5DDDDDDDHHH
6,6HHSPSPSPHHHHH
7,7SSPSPSPSPSPHHHH
8,8SPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPHH
9,9SSSPSPSPSSPSPSS
10,10SSSSSSSSSS
A,ASPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSPSP

H = Hit D = Double S = Stand SP = Split

Blackjack Switch Tips

Due to the Switching element of Blackjack Switch, we suggest you play for free first to get the hang of when to Switch and when to keep your hands. Even if you are a Blackjack expert, this version is considerably different and adds an element of strategy not found in any other version. All good internet casinos should allow you to play for free before parting with your own funds.

Remember that if the Dealer gets 22, all Player hands except for Blackjack ‘push’. Again, this is different from any other version and therefore takes some getting used to.

As with all casino games, ensure you play within your means and remember that in Blackjack Switch, you need to place 2 bets of an equal amount at the start of a game, this is before extra bets for Doubling and Splitting are taken into account. Therefore, factor this into your thinking when deciding how much to bet per hand – we would advise you to start a session with enough for around 40 games.

Blackjack References:

Blackjack Rules, Strategy & Tips
Card Counting in Blackjack
Play Real Blackjack Online


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