Blackjack Switch, also known as blackjack exchange, is one of the many variants of the game. During this version of the game, you are allowed to do what is considered cheating in other variations – switch cards between two separate hands.
Another notable difference in this game is that the dealer doesn’t bust on a hand of 22, but you do. Instead, a hand of 22 pushes against a hand of 21 or lower. The winner in this instance will be the person holding a hand of 21 or closest to it, which could very well be the 22 hand.
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Blackjack Rules
You might already be familiar with the rules of the game, but we’ll briefly recap on some of the important ones. After the dealer has handed you your first two cards, you have to make a decision on whether to hold, split or surrender the cards you have been dealt. The option to split your hand is where this variation of the game stems from. And, while other versions of the game state that you cannot exchange cards from one hand to another, this version of the game says you can. Hence the name blackjack switch. The other rules that apply include:
- All standard rules of the game apply unless the casino or dealer states otherwise
- The dealer must use between 6 and 8 decks of cards
- Because you are working with two separate hands, you must make two separate bets of equal size
- All cards are dealt face-up
- You can split cards up to four times
- Winning blackjack awards even money
- You can double on any two cards and after a split
Blackjack Switch Calculator
Some casinos make playing the game even easier by offering a blackjack switch calculator. The calculator is really easy to use and is designed to give suggestions on when to switch depending on the cards you’ve been dealt. Each casino may have its own unique version of the calculator as far as design goes, but the buttons featured on the calculator should be the same. You will see four card spaces numbered 1-4. In the block next to the number, you should see a drop-down list of numbers from 1-10 for each, including an Ace. You manually insert the card value you receive each time you get dealt a card. The switch button will then display a “yes” which means switch, or a “no” which means don’t switch.
The calculator is there as a guide, it’s not compulsory to use. Its recommendations make sense strategically, so there should be no reason to ignore them.
Blackjack Switch Strategy
So, what kind of strategies can be used in a game of blackjack switch? The game seems fairly easy, but it’s not always easy to identify the best time to switch cards, especially if it’s your first time playing the game.
In most instances, you will switch cards to and from the had that looks most promising. In this instance, you might end up with one strong hand and one weak hand. This basic blackjack switch strategy works, but not always.
One of the simpler strategies is called Cindy Lui and is a good starter for beginners. Below we have the best possible hands that you can make in the game, and we’ve listed them in descending order. We mention what to do with each hand thereafter.
- 21
- 20
- 19
- AA
- 11
- 10
- 9
- 18 or 8
- 8,8 with 2-8 and up
If the dealer has a hand equal to 7 or 8, we suggest you balance your two hands as best as possible. This means making your weaker hand as high as you can.
If the dealer has any other hand, try to maximize your strongest hand as best you can using the list of hands above as a guideline on what to aim for next.
If it seems impossible to form any of the hands above, try to go for some of the lower hands we’ve listed below. This will be your plan B if all else fails.
- 7 or 17
- any hand that should be split
- any 12
- any 13
Payouts, Odds, and House Edge
Now that you have all the fundamentals handled, you might want to know what the house edge in the game is, what the odds of winning are, and how much you can expect to win playing this game.
You’ll be happy to know that the blackjack switch has a house edge of only 0.58% if you make all the right gameplay and strategy decisions. This is lower than the house edge in other versions of the game. However, the low house edge results in differences in payouts when compared to the standard version. When you play blackjack switch, and you happen to build a natural blackjack hand, you will be paid 1:1 as opposed to 3:2 like in regular blackjack. So, the house edge is low, but so is the expected return, sadly.
Play Blackjack Switch Online
Blackjack Switch is available now at any of the casinos we list. You have the option of playing the game for free, but there’s no fun in that. Real money games are where it’s at. You can also access the game on mobile by searching for the casino directly from your web browser. Alternatively, you can download the blackjack switch app. Downloading the game software onto your desktop or mobile phone makes for convenient gaming anywhere at any time.
What’s even more exciting is that you can play real money games on your mobile too! Whatever winnings you accrue will be credited to your casino account. The games work just the same on mobile, so you don’t have to worry about the sound or quality of your blackjack switch game being affected. The only difference is the size of the display, and understandably so.
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