Today, Blackjack Switch is widely available across landbased casinos worldwide but you can also enjoy it online on gambling sites powered by the software supplier Playtech. Read on for further clarifications on its rules, house edge, and strategy. The Rules of Blackjack Switch. Blackjack Switch is a variation of the highly popular casino game of Blackjack. In this game, the player gets two hands and is allowed to switch the top two cards between hands.

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 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.

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.

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

H = Hit D = Double S = Stand

Soft Hands – With an Ace

H = Hit D = Double S = Stand

Pairs

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

Featured Gambling Guides

Blackjack Switch is a variant that requires the player to bet on two hands. The switch part of this permits the player to trade cards between these hands. This generous deal has a couple of major differences to offset it.

This blackjack variant is spread at both live and online casinos. There are 18 Las Vegas casinos that offer it. Playtech online casinos also have it. Players on the east coast will find it at Bally’s in Atlantic City.

The game originated at Casino Royale. It is still there to this day and is in fact the best blackjack game to play at this venue.

Differences Between Blackjack Switch and the Traditional Game

There are several differences between Blackjack Switch and the traditional version of the game.

For one, players must make two wagers to start the hand. The player may take the second card dealt from one hand and switch it with the other.

Blackjack pays even money. A switched hand that creates an ace and a 10-value card counts as 21 and is not paid as a blackjack.

If the dealer makes a 22, all players still in the hand push. The dealer can only bust on 23 and higher.

Once you find a Blackjack Switch table, it is easy to get started.

At a live casino, put two equal chip stacks into the circles in front of you.

Online Blackjack Switch games typically have a minimum bet of $1.

At a Playtech online casino, click the denomination that you would like to play. Click one of the betting circles. The software will place the second bet simultaneously. Click deal to receive cards.

Each player receives two hands of two cards. The dealer receives one hand. The dealer gets one card up and the other down.

If the dealer has a 10-value card or an ace showing, the other card is peeked at. If the dealer has blackjack, the hand ends. Player hands of blackjack push. All others lose. Insurance is not offered in Blackjack Switch.

If the dealer does not have blackjack, it is time for the players to act. A player that is dealt blackjack receives even money. Players have the option to switch cards at this point. Notify the dealer at a live game on your turn if you would like to do this. At an online casino, click the switch button.

Hands then have the typical options of hit, stand, and double down. Split is offered if a hand has a pair. At online casinos, each action has a specific button on the table if it is available at the time.

To draw a card at a live table, tap the table in front of the hand that you would like to hit. You may draw until you bust or stand.

To stand, which means not draw any more cards, wave your hand over the bet. To double down, place an equal wager next to the existing one.

If you have a pair, you may split. Place an equal bet next to the hand that you would like to split. You may double down after splitting.

Once all players have acted, it is the dealer’s turn.

• The dealer hits on 16 and lower
• The dealer hits on soft 17 (an ace and other cards that equal 6)
• The dealer stands on hard 17 and 18 and higher
• The dealer busts on 23 or higher

If the dealer makes 22, it pushes all bets still in the hand. If the dealer makes 17 to 21, it is compared to each hand still alive.

If the dealer beats a player’s hand, the house wins the associated bets. If the player beats the dealer, even money is paid. If the dealer and player have the same value, the hand pushes and bets are returned.

What Is Blackjack Switch

Each hand and split are graded separately. It is possible to push one hand and win the other. You can also win both, lose both, and everything in between.

At an online casino, click the re-bet button to start a new hand with the same bet. If you would like to change your bet, you may add it before hitting deal.

There are two strategies to learn for Blackjack Switch. One is related to how to set the hands. The other is how to play them once they are set.

Here is a list of hand rankings for Blackjack Switch.

• 21
• 20
• 19
• Pair of aces
• 11
• 10
• 9
• 8 or 18
• Pair of 8s against a 2 through 8

Using the above rankings, play the hand according to the following rules.

• Against a 7 or 8, make the weaker hand as high as possible on the list above
• Against all other dealer cards, make the higher hand as strong as possible
• If none of the above applies, play for a 7 or 17, any split hand, 12 or 13
• Keep a pair of aces together if unable to make a 20 or 21

How To Play Blackjack Switch

Once the hands are set, follow the strategy below for how to play it out.

A hard hand is one that either does not contain an ace, or if it does, one that can bust.

• 4 to 8: Always hit
• 4 to 8: Always hit
• 10: Double down against 2 through 8; otherwise, hit
• 11: Double down against 2 through 9; otherwise, hit
• 12: Stand against 5 and 6; otherwise, hit
• 13: Stand against 3 through 6; otherwise, hit
• 14 through 16: Stand against 2 through 6; otherwise, hit
• 17 and higher: Always stand

A soft hand is one with an ace that cannot bust.

• Soft 13 through 15: Always hit
• Soft 16: Double down against 6; otherwise, hit
• Soft 17: Double down against 5 or 6; otherwise, hit
• Soft 18: Double down against 5 and 6, hit against 9, 10 and ace; otherwise, stand
• Soft 19 and higher: Always stand

Split is offered when dealt a pair. Play pairs according to the following list.

• 2s and 3s: Split against 5, 6 and 7; otherwise, hit
• 4s: Always hit
• 5s: Double down against 2 through 8; otherwise, hit
• 6s: Split against 4, 5, and 6; otherwise, hit
• 7s: Split against 2 through 7; otherwise, hit
• 8s: Split against 2 through 9; otherwise, hit
• 9s: Split against 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9; otherwise, stand
• 10s: Always stand
• Aces: Always split

The below chart summarizes all the above information on how to play your hands once they are set.

Where to Play Blackjack Switch

There are 18 Las Vegas casinos that spread Blackjack Switch. The locations are as follows.

• 4 Queens
• Aria
• Bellagio
• Casino Royale
• Encore
• Excalibur
• Luxor
• Mandalay Bay
• MGM Grand
• Mirage
• Monte Carlo
• New York New York
• Palazzo
• Palms
• Paris
• SLS Las Vegas
• Venetian
• Wynn

Blackjack Switch is also spread in Atlantic City at Bally’s, and Playtech online casinos spread the game.

For low rollers, our picks for Blackjack Switch are 4 Queens and Casino Royale. Both casinos spread the game with a $5 minimum bet. 4 Queens is on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Casino Royale is where Blackjack Switch originated. It is between Harrah’s and Venetian on the Strip.

Players looking for a luxury experience will want to move up to $15 and play it at Wynn on the Las Vegas Strip.

What Is Blackjack Switch Game

Playtech is the only option for Blackjack Switch at online casinos. We recommend Bet 365 because of its long history of taking care of players in terms of customer service and withdrawals.

Summary

Blackjack Switch is a great change of pace with a low house edge of about 0.65%, depending on the level of effort that you are willing to put into learning strategy.

The advanced strategy may be impossible to learn for some people as there are some exceptions beyond the basic one. This complex strategy may be a turnoff to some players. For online ones, it is easy enough to have the list handy, though.

For those willing to learn the game, we feel this is a good way to take a break from traditional blackjack tables.