A Comprehensive Guide to Blackjack Switch

A twist to the classic blackjack game, “Blackjack Switch,” was first introduced by Geoff Hall in 2009. In blackjack switch, a popular blackjack variation, the game allows the players to play a normal game of blackjack but with two hands. 

Those who are well aware of traditional blackjack, blackjack history, blackjack card counting, and the blackjack calculator might take some time to come around to the rules and methods of blackjack switch. In a blackjack switch, the two hands are dealt to the two adjacent boxes, called a “double box.” The players have the option to switch the top cards of each hand in order to improve their chances of winning. 

Let’s take a deep dive to know how the game is played, the rules of blackjack switching, and the strategies that need to be adopted. 

Glossary for Blackjack Switch

Hard total: The total point count of a hand that contains no aces or that contains one or more aces that are each counted as one in value.

Hole card: The dealer’s hole card is the second card dealt to him.

Push: A void wager that is returned to the player

Soft total: The total point count of a hand that contains an ace that is counted as 11 in value.

Suit: One of the four categories of cards: club, diamond, heart, or spade.

Switch: A player’s one-time option to have the second cards dealt to that player’s two blackjack hands exchanged with each other pursuant to Section 7, thus creating two new blackjack hands.

Rules of Blackjack Switch

• Blackjack switch shall be played with six or eight decks of cards, with backs of the same colour and design and one additional cutting card.
• The card should have a point value; jack, queen, or king shall have a value of 10, and an ace shall have a value of 11.
• The cards shall be offered to players moving counterclockwise until a player accepts the cut or If no player accepts the cut, the dealer shall cut the cards.
• Prior to the first card being dealt for each round of play, each player at the blackjack switch shall make two equal wagers, one for each blackjack hand to be dealt to that player. 
• A dealer’s hand of 22 is considered a push against any non busted player hand. 
• The player can switch the top cards of each hand, but only before any other action is taken. 

The Gameplay of Blackjack

The objective of the blackjack switch game is to beat the dealer’s hand by having a hand value closer to 21 without going over.  

• Each player has to put two equal bets on the bet one for each blackjack hand to be dealt to that player,and each wager shall equal or exceed the posted minimum wager for the table
• The dealer deals two cards face up to each player’s hand and two cards to the dealer’s hand, one face down  and one face up. 
• The player can then choose to switch the top two cards of each hand. 
• Once the first card of any round of play has been removed from the shoe by the dealer, no player shall make, alter, remove, or otherwise handle any wager that has been made
• The players can take any of these actions, if it is a hit, take another card. For stand keep the current card, for double down double the bet and take one more.  The player can split if the two cards have the same value into two separate hands.
• Once the player has completed their actions on both hands, the dealer reveals their face down card and hits or stands. 
•  After each round of play is complete, the dealer shall collect all losing wagers, return any pushes, and pay off all winning wagers

Super Match Side Bet

The super match side lets players receive the payout based on the initial four cards they are dealt. The payout value is as .

Pair: If  the player’s four initial cards include a pair, then the payout is 1:1.

3 of a Kind: If a player’s four initial cards include three cards of the same rank, the payout is  5:1.

2 Pair: If a player’s four initial cards have a 2 pair, then the payout is 8:1.

4 of a Kind: If a player’s four initial cards include four cards of the same rank, the payout is 40:1.

Strategy for Blackjack Switch

Because of the unique rules of blackjack switch has a different strategy when compared to blackjack strategies. The optimal strategy is different from that of a traditional blackjack game. 

• Always switch if a player has a hard 17 or higher 
• Always switch if the player has a soft 18 and the dealer has a 2,3,8,9,10 or Ace. 
• Always hit a hard 12-16 if the dealer has a 7 or higher 
• Always stand on a hard 12-16 if the dealer has six or lower. 
• Look for tables with favourable payouts

Conclusion

If you want to try a new variant of blackjack, try out the blackjack switch. But be sure you learn the rules and strategies that need to be adopted.