The casino game of Blackjack Switch allows you to make a maneuver that would have gotten you escorted to a dimly lit back room in the old days while playing in a Vegas casino. This table game sanctions you to play two hands at once, and switch cards between hands for a better Blackjack hand result.
If you’re a seasoned Blackjack player that sometimes plays multiple hands at one time you probably had this scenario: After placing your wagers you were dealt two terrible hands, perhaps a fifteen (5,10) and sixteen, (10,6) against a dealer 9 up-card. You would love to switch the top cards from each hand to make a strong 20 (10,10) and an 11 (5,6) for an opportunity to double down. Of course this is cheating.
Well, now it’s legal because Blackjack Switch is here. This game is available in casinos everywhere. House rules may vary between jurisdictions.
How Blackjack Switch is Played
Six or eight decks are used in a continuous shuffle machine. Players must play two hands at once with an equal wager on each hand. Two cards are dealt face up on each hand as in regular Blackjack. The dealer shows one up-card.
Players then have the option to switch the top card in each hand to create a better hand. (As explained in the aforementioned.) After the switch is made the dealer checks his or her hole card for a Blackjack when a ten or ace is showing.The hands then play out as in regular Blackjack.
Most casinos hit soft seventeen. In some jurisdictions casinos stand on soft seventeen.
A player Blackjack is paid immediately on the original and only. A hand switched to make an ace/ten is counted as Twenty One. All doubling and splitting is allowed including double after split. Double down bets must be equal to the original wager.All pairs except aces may be re-split once.
House Rule Changes
As in every casino table game that offers more exiting player friendly options, a casino will change some rules to maintain a house edge, and Blackjack Switch is no exception. Here they are:
All Blackjacks pay even money instead of the usual 3/2. Also keep in mind that any hand switched to make an ace/10 is not a Blackjack.Therefore, the hand will not be paid out until the round is played out.
If a dealer draws to a 22 all remaining hands at the table push instead of a bust as in regular Blackjack.
