The game of Blackjack has been a casino staple for centuries now. Over the years, the casino gaming world has seen the introduction of several exciting Blackjack variations that come with interesting twists and allow players to place side wagers.
Blackjack Switch is an innovative Blackjack variant that allows players to trade cards between two hands. Here’s a comprehensive guide that’ll help you in getting started with Blackjack Switch at our new online casino.
Basics of Blackjack Switch
The gameplay action of this Blackjack variation takes place on a regulation-size Blackjack table. Usually, Blackjack Switch is played with six standard 52-card decks. But you can also find Blackjack Switch games that use more or fewer card decks.
Unlike the standard Blackjack game where there’s a single betting spot, the Blackjack Switch table carries two betting spots. Here, the player must place identical bets on each betting spot. Also, each hand is played independently in Blackjack Switch.
Playing rules for Blackjack Switch
Here’s a look at some common playing rules for Blackjack Switch:
Most Blackjack Switch games involve the use of six or eight card decks.
- The dealer needs to hit on soft 17.
- Players need to place two identical wagers of equal size.
- Doubling down after splitting is permitted.
- Players can opt to re-split up to four hands.
- The dealer will peek for Blackjack if their face-up card is an Ace or 10.
- The player can choose to place the insurance wager if the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace.
- If the player switches to create Blackjack, it counts as 21 points.
- A dealer point total of 22 pushes against any player point value of 21 or less. But a player Blackjack can still beat a dealer 22.
How do you play Blackjack Switch?
Now that you know the basics and gameplay rules of Blackjack Switch, below is a step-by-step guide to playing the game online:
Step 1: The cards are dealt
As with Blackjack Split and other standard Blackjack games, the main aim here is to get the perfect point total of 21 or the closest to it. After loading the game, you’ll be dealt two hands of two cards each. At this point, the dealer will draw one hand for themselves.
Step 2: Choose your preferred
After this, it’s time to mix and match your initial cards to form the best starting hands. Blackjack Switch offers you the option to switch two of your cards to form two new hands. You’ll then continue playing with the standard Blackjack wagering options – double down, split, hit and stand.
Step 3: Finish up your hand
Once you feel that you’ve got the best point total, it’s time to stand. After this, all you need to do is hope that your point total will beat the dealer’s total value.
Step 4: Dealer plays their hand
The dealer then takes their turn to play their hand. Finally, a comparison between your hand and the dealer’s hand is made. If you win, you’ll receive a payout as per the game’s paytable.
Odds, payouts and house edge in Blackjack Switch
When playing Blackjack Switch, the odds may increase in your favour. But for that, you need to make optimal moves in every round. In Blackjack Switch, the payout for having the perfect point total (a Blackjack) is 1:1. This is lower than traditional Blackjack which pays 3:2 to winners.
As for the house edge, it stands at 0.58% in six-deck Blackjack Switch games (given that you make use of a basic playing and switching strategy). The top Blackjack players often choose to play Blackjack Switch games where the dealer stands on soft 17 as the theoretical casino advantage is 0.28% there.
Is card counting possible in Blackjack Switch?
When playing Blackjack Switch at a land-based table, some players might want to count cards to gain an advantage. But it’s important to note that counting cards require strong analytical skills and a good memory. Also, the fact that Blackjack Switch requires players to wager on two hands makes card counting a bit more difficult than traditional Blackjack.
In the case of online Blackjack games, the cards are reshuffled after every gameplay round. So, counting cards won’t help you much when playing Blackjack online. Instead, we recommend you focus on other Blackjack strategies such as bankroll management and making the most of online and live Blackjack bonuses. Have a responsible Blackjack Switch experience there!