Blackjack switch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blackjack Switch is a variant of blackjack in which a player is dealt two hands and is allowed to swap the top two cards between hands. For example, if the player is dealt 10-5 and 6-10, then the player can swap the top two cards of each hand to make hands of 10-10 and 6-5. Natural blackjacks are paid 1:1 instead of the standard 3:2, and a dealer 22 is a push.
[edit] Basic strategy
Basic strategy for blackjack switch is listed below. Blackjack switch strategy is similar to traditional blackjack with a conservative style of play, including not doubling or splitting on mediocre hands.
Your hand | Dealer's face-up card | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
Hard totals | ||||||||||
17-20 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
14-16 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
13 | H | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
12 | H | H | H | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H |
10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | H |
9 | H | H | H | H | D | H | H | H | H | H |
5-8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Soft totals | ||||||||||
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
A,8, A,9 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
A,7 | S | S | S | D | D | S | S | H | H | H |
A,6 | H | H | H | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A,5 | H | H | H | H | D | H | H | H | H | H |
A,2-A,4 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
Pairs | ||||||||||
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A | |
A,A | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP |
10,10 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
9,9 | S | S | SP | SP | SP | S | SP | SP | S | S |
8,8 | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H |
7,7 | S | SP | SP | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H |
6,6 | H | H | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H | H |
5,5 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H | H |
4,4 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
2,2 3,3 | H | H | SP | SP | SP | H | H | H | H | H |
Key:
- S = Stand
- H = Hit
- D = Double
- SP = Split
[edit] Switch decisions
The decision of whether to swap cards or not will usually be obvious. In non-obvious cases, a general rule of thumb is to choose the option that allows the best single hand to be formed.