Blackjack Switch Guide

Blackjack Switch is based on conventional Blackjack rules with a few twists and exceptions. Two hands, instead of just a single one, are dealt to the player and the player is initially allowed to "switch" the second cards dealt between the two hands. This option allows for the player to make more Blackjack hands than in the classical version. Still, nothing comes without a price and the player’s natural blackjacks are paid only 1:1 instead of the usual 3:2. Also, when the dealer has 22 it is not counted as a bust but rather it pushes all players’ hands except a natural blackjack. The game uses six or eight decks.

How to play Blackjack Switch

The object of Blackjack Switch is for the total of your cards in either hand be closer to 21 than the ones in the dealer’s hands, without exceeding 21. The card values and the rules are the same as in standard Blackjack, so it is useful to go over regular Blackjack rules if you are unfamiliar with the game. You have two hands that you play with, in turn - first the right and then the left, after which the dealer plays his hand. Because of this you are always placing two equal size bets.

The game allows you to hit, split, double, take insurance just like in standard Blackjack. The main rules are as follows:

  • A player may "switch" the second cards dealt, the top cards of each hand. The player may switch to form a blackjack, although depending on where you play this is often counted as a 21 instead of a blackjack.
  • The dealer will always hit a soft 17 - meaning he will always draw one more card if he has 17 with an Ace counted as 11.
  • If the dealer’s up card is an Ace he will peek for blackjack.
  • If the dealer has blackjack all player hands lose apart from a player blackjack which will push.
  • The player may double on any two cards, the player may double after a split and may resplit up to four hands.
  • A winning blackjack hand pays 1:1 rather than 3:2 like in regular Blackjack.
  • A dealer’s total of 22 will not bust but will push against any player total of 21 or less, except if the player has a blackjack which still wins.
  • The Super Match side bet is the small circle area between the normal bet areas. You will win this side bet when your initial four cards contain pairs (pays out 1:1), three-of-a-kind (pays out 5:1), two pairs (pays out 8:1) or four-of-a-kind (pays out 40:1).

Blackjack Switch strategy

The Switch decision is at times obvious, especially if switching can change a stiff hand into a blackjack. Still, you have borderline and counter-intuitive cases and the switching strategy is hard to summarise. Often the best way to go about this is to choose the option that will form or preserve the best single hand. But the good news is that we have a calculator that can do all the hard work for you! It is located to the right - all you have to do is enter your cards for each hand along with the dealer's card and click the button to be told whether to switch.

Post switch strategy is a little different to normal basic strategy because of the dealer pushing with a hand totalling 22. See the chart below for reference.

Use this calculator to determine whether to switch, then play the hands as per the strategy table below.

Blackjack Switch basic strategy: post switch
Your
Hand
Dealer's Card
2345678910A
5-8 H H H H H H H H H H
9 H H H 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
14-16 S S S S S H H H H H
17-21 S S S S S S S S S S
A,2-4 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,8-9 S S S S S S S S S S
2,2 / 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
Your
Hand
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
Dealer's Card

How to use this chart:
Find the row corresponding to your hand using the leftmost column, then scan across until you reach the column matching the dealer's visible card. Then do what that cell says according to this key:

H
Hit
S
Stand
D
Double (if allowed) else Hit
DS
Double (if allowed) else Stand
P
Split

Strategy chart courtesy of Wizard of Odds.

Blackjack Switch house edge

It is useful to note that Blackjack Switch offers the lowest house edge of all the non-traditional types of Blackjack games. Under the standard rules the house edge is 0.58%. Keep an eye out for the following variations to the rules which can make a significant difference to the house edge, often in the player's favour (note negative values are better as they imply a lower house edge):

  • Playing with eight decks: +0.02%
  • Switched blackjack counts as a blackjack instead of just 21: -0.40%
  • If Blackjack is an automatic win: -0.21%
  • If the dealer stands on a soft 17: - 0.30%

Playing Blackjack Switch online

Blackjack Switch is available for play almost exclusively at online casinos that use software from Playtech. Unfortunately this means that it is hard to find a game of Blackjack Switch at other casinos, especially those that accept American players. If you would like to sharpen your skills, feel free to try our free Blackjack Switch game which is the same one offered by Playtech casinos.

Top 10 bonuses for playing Blackjack Switch

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