Blackjack Switch at Top UK Casinos

Origins

While software developer Playtech crafted the online version of the game, Blackjack Switch was the invention of casino game developer, Geoff Hall. When playing a two-handed game of blackjack, he realised how often he would have ended up with two strong hands if you could have switched his top cards around. Hall debuted the game in 2000 and it has since gone on to become a hit at both online and land-based casinos.

Why play Blackjack Switch?

While switching won’t always increase your chances of winning, simply having the ability to switch presents players with a higher chance of landing blackjack. Just one switch could turn two bad hands into two strong ones. This makes blackjack switch arguably one of the most player-friendly blackjack games out there.

Let’s take a look at an example to illustrate how blackjack switch can improve your chances of winning:

• A player is dealt two hands. The first hand is a 5 and 10, the other hand is a 10 and 6.
• This means the hand values are 15 and 16, respectively. These aren’t desirable values, and are considered ‘stiff hands’ as they’re hands less than 17 points, yet likely to bust if the player opts to deal again.
• If the player opts to switch here, the 10 and 6 cards change hands, creating new hand values of 20 and 11. This clearly presents the player with a better opportunity of winning, in comparison to the original hand.

Rules

Aside from the obvious tweak to the original, there are a few rule changes to note when playing blackjack switch. As you might imagine, some of these changes come at the expense of the player, to offset the switching option, which strongly favours the player.

The most notable rules are as follows:

• Players are dealt two hands and must place equal bets per hand
• Players can switch the second cards dealt
• Switches can only occur before any hit, stand, double or split decision has been made
• Surrender is unavailable
• A winning blackjack hand pays out at 1:1, rather than 3:2 as seen in traditional blackjack
• If the dealer has a hand value of 22, this will not bust, but instead will push against any player hand that isn’t blackjack
• Players can double on any two cards and also double following a split or switch
• Players may resplit up to a total of four hands
• The dealer will always hit on a ‘soft’ 17
• A switched blackjack counts as 21 points, not blackjack

The rules of traditional blackjack will apply to the rest of the game – games are played with six to eight decks and you’ll still be able to double down and split! It’s always best to check out the rules at your chosen casino before playing though, as casino operators can change the rules at any given time.

House Edge

When playing with six decks under the rules outline above, the house edge is 0.58%. Look out for rule variations that involve deck size, switched blackjack rules and the dealer’s action on a ‘soft’ 17, as this can have an effect on the house edge.

Blackjack Switch strategy

The switch option changes a player’s approach to the game, so it makes sense to have a slightly different playing strategy in place.

Simply put, you should switch if this will give you a better overall hand. However, for complete beginners, this can be a difficult decision to make, especially when there’s money on the line. While you could simply rely on your best judgement and hope for the best, many turn to strategy guides and Blackjack Switch calculators to help guide their decisions at the blackjack table. Both options are easily available online.

Play Blackjack Switch online

Now that we’ve taken you through the basics of Blackjack Switch, you’re probably ready to give it a go yourself. We’ve got an awesome line up of the UK’s top rated Blackjack Switch casinos for you to choose from. All you need to do is compare, sign up and play. You’ll be able to claim your very own casino welcome bonus and kick your gameplay off with a bankroll boost.