Online Blackjack Variations: Blackjack Switch

An interesting variation on blackjack that only the online casinos could have made possible is blackjack switch. In the same way that Jeopardy capitalized on the quiz show scandal by giving the answers as part of the game, online blackjack switch takes advantage of a popular cheating method, switching cards, by including it in the rules.

Blackjack Switch Basics

In blackjack switch, each player puts up two bets of equal amounts and receives two hands. Standard blackjack rules apply, except that before acting on his hand, the player has the option to switch his two second cards.

So if the player has one hand of K 5 and another hand of 6 Q, the player can flip the Q and 5, turning two bust hands of 15 and 16 into two superior hands of 20 and 11. Only the second cards may be switched, so if the second hand came out Q 6, the player would be out of luck.

Concessions in Blackjack Switch

In order to make up for the advantage of being able to switch cards, the Internet casino dealer has an advantage in that he can draw to 22. If the dealer makes 22, the hand is a push against anything but a player blackjack.

In addition, a blackjack in blackjack switch only pays even money, not 3-to-2 as in traditional blackjack. Insurance is not an option in blackjack switch. If the dealer has an ace, he will look to see if he has blackjack and win all bets except a player blackjack when he does.