4/2/2022»»Saturday

Blackjack Side Bet Strategy

4/2/2022
  1. What Is The Best Blackjack Strategy
  2. Blackjack Side Bet Strategy Guide
  3. Blackjack Side Bet Strategy Calculator
  4. How To Bet Blackjack Strategy

The Perfect Pairs side bet is a wager that a blackjack player places with the expectation of being dealt a pair as first two cards. There are three types of pairs that lead to a payout: a perfect pair – two cards of the same value and the same suit (e.g., 7♥7♥).

Ever wished you could simply pick up the cards on a blackjack table and swap them around to make the best possible hands? Well now you can, thanks to this exciting new version, Blackjack Switch.

  1. Popular examples include 777 or Perfect Pairs. 21 +3 Blackjack is a regular game which can be either European or US rules, which has a 3-card optional side bet. The idea is that you make a poker style hand with your first 2 cards in combination with the dealer’s up card. There are some big payouts possible.
  2. ALWAYS DOUBLE DOWN ON A HARD 11. You’ll always win more money if you double down on hard.

Today, I’ll explain exactly how Blackjack Switch works, what the rules are, and how to play on your PC, mobile or tablet.

Blackjack Side Bet Strategy

You’ll also get complete strategy tables that you can use to get the best returns whenever you play Blackjack Switch either online or at real world casinos. But first, let’s look at the best online casinos that offer real money Blackjack Switch in 2021.

Which Online Casinos Offer Blackjack Switch

Welcome Bonus

Bonus Policy and Terms of Service apply. The maximum bonus available from this bonus is £/$/€50 The wagering requirement attached to this bonus is 25x the bonus amount. Bonus funds won from bonus spins require a wagering requirement of 25x the bonus amount.

CasinoLuck

100% Welcome Bonus up to £50 + 50 Free Spins on Starburst

Terms & Conditions apply. 18+ New Players Only. Min deposit £20. Wagering requirement apply 35x Offer valid for 72h.

Blackjack Side Bet Strategy

Blackjack Switch is not available at all online casinos, even those that are considered the best for blackjack players. That’s why we’ve compiled this list to show you which sites do offer this variation.

The casinos listed above are all on our approved list, which means they offer quality service, fast and reliable payouts, good bonuses, and are mobile friendly. They also offer at least one real money Blackjack Switch game option.

Blackjack Switch Rules

In Blackjack Switch, you always play two simultaneous hands against the dealer, with equal sized bets. After the initial cards are dealt, you will have the option to swap over the top cards in each hand, which gives the potential to make better hands.

Of course, anything this good comes at a price, and there are some other rule changes that aren’t quite so good for the player.

For a start, a player blackjack pays only even money. What’s more, a dealer 22 results in a push instead of a win.

Main Game Rules

Here’s a full list of changes to the conventional blackjack rules:

What Is The Best Blackjack Strategy

  • Played with 6 Decks, shuffled after every game.
  • Dealer Hits Soft 17.
  • Dealer 22 is a push against any Player hand except for a Blackjack.
  • Dealer does not peek for Blackjack.
  • Blackjack pays 1:1 Even Money.
  • Player may split once per hand.
  • Player may double any two cards.
  • Player may double after splitting.
  • No surrender.

Most of these rule changes favour the dealer, and are designed to compensate the house for the fact that the player benefits from the option to switch. However, despite this, it’s theoretically possible to get close to 100% RTP over time with the correct strategy.

Supermatch Side Bet Rules

Blackjack Switch features the optional Supermatch side bet which is based upon the first four cards dealt to the player (2 cards for each hand).

There are no decisions to make regarding the side bet, other than whether to place it or not. Supermatch pays out as follows:

  • Four of a kind 10:1
  • Two pairs 8:1
  • Three of a kind 5:1
  • One pair 1:1

The side bet is independent of the main game and payouts are not affected by subsequent actions or cards dealt.

How To Play Blackjack Switch

First choose a casino to play at from the list above. Register for an account, deposit some funds and then go to their Table Games section where you will see Blackjack Switch listed amongst all the other games on offer. Click or tap to load the game.

Like any other type of online blackjack, your first step is to place some chips on the table. Note that when you are playing Blackjack Switch you always play two hands simultaneously, and yous stake must be the same for both of them. You can also place additional chips into the central circle on the table if you wish to play the Supermatch side bet.

When you’re ready, click or tap the Deal button to start the game.

After the initial cards have been dealt, if you played Supermatch, the result of this bet will be known and it will be settled and paid out at this point.

The main game now begins. You will have the option to switch the top or second cards dealt in each hand.

Sometimes it will be an easy decision. Consider the example above. Switching the Jack and the Two will give us a Six on the right and a Blackjack on the left, which is a no brainer.

In other situations, the right call might not be quite so obvious, but I’ll discuss optimum strategy a little later. For now, we’re just learning how to play.

If you’re not sure what the results of a switch will be, or if you make a mistake, then don’t worry You can use the switch button to swap the cards back again. You are not committed to the decision until you start to play the first hand.

So when you’re happy, click or tap on Hit, Stand, Double or Split to start playing the first hand, which is the one on the right. From this point, the game continues and is played in the same way as conventional blackjack, but following the rules stated above.

Blackjack Switch Strategy

There are two key elements to a successful strategy for Blackjack Switch. The first is deciding whether to make the switch or not, and the second is deciding how to play each hand, bearing in mind the changes to the rules and payouts in this variation.

We need to know both of these things if we are to be successful playing this game.

Switching Strategy: Should I Swap The Cards?

Blackjack Side Bet Strategy Guide

The best and certainly the simplest method of deciding whether to switch is the Cindy Liu Simple Switching Strategy.

Other strategies are available which give a marginally better return, such as the Snyder Strategy. However, the trade off is that they’re more complex and harder to remember.

Bearing in mind you have to remember the different basic strategy rules (below) for Blackjack Switch as well, I always feel simpler is better. The more chance you have of actually remembering the rules, the more you can put it to practical use.

So here are the basics:

  • If the dealer is showing a 7 or 8, try to balance the strength of your hands as much as possible, making the weaker hand stronger and the stronger hand weaker if necessary.
  • Against any other dealer card, concentrate on making one hand as strong as possible, even at the cost of weakening the other one.

Strong player hands are defined (in order of preference) as 21, 20, 19, AA, 11, 10, 9, 18, 8.

If you’re unable to make a strong hand, the next best options are: 17, 7 or any hand that should be split (according to the tables below). In particular, always keep your aces together unless you can make a 21, 20 or 19 by switching.

If you can remember these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to lowering the house edge, without having to remember too many complex rules.

Strategy Tables

The following Blackjack Switch strategy tables apply only after you have made your decision about whether or not to switch the cards (see above). Once this decision is made, you need to apply these rules to both hands.

Note that there are several changes to the normal blackjack basic strategy, due to the different rules in this variation of the game.

Hard Hands

PlayerDealer Card
Hard2345678910A
5 to 8HHHHHHHHHH
9HHHHDHHHHH
10DDDDDDDHHH
11DDDDDDDDHH
12HHHSSHHHHH
13HSSSSHHHHH
14 to 16SSSSSHHHHH
17+SSSSSSSSSS

Soft Hands

PlayerDealer Card
Soft2345678910A
A2HHHHHHHHHH
A3HHHHHHHHHH
A4HHHHHHHHHH
A5HHHHDHHHHH
A6HHHDDHHHHH
A7SSSDDSSHHH
A8SSSSSSSSSS
A9SSSSSSSSSS

Pairs

PlayerDealer Card
Pairs2345678910A
2,2HHHPPPHHHH
3,3HHHPPPHHHH
4,4HHHHHHHHHH
5,5DDDDDDDHHH
6,6HHPPPHHHHH
7,7SPPPPPHHHH
8,8PPPPPPPPHH
9,9SSPPPSPPSS
10,10SSSSSSSSSS
A,APPPPPPPPPP

Key:

  • H: Hit
  • S: Stand
  • D: Double
  • P: Split

Who Should Play Blackjack Switch?

Blackjack Switch was only invented in 2001, and the first version with the current “push on 22” ruleset was first seen in Four Queens casino in 2003. This makes Blackjack Switch a relatively new game on the scene in gambling terms, but it’s clearly one that is becoming very popular, having spread to many Vegas casinos and now online as well.

It is an enjoyable variation of blackjack that is suitable for experienced and intermediate players who have already mastered basic strategy and are keen to take their game to the next level.

The Supermatch side bet also gives an extra twist and provides an opportunity for more adventurous gamblers to get bigger payouts from this game.

Because of the extra decision making required, I would not recommend Blackjack Switch for complete beginners. If you’ve never played before, or very rarely, then Classic or Single Deck Blackjack is the best place to start.

But once you feel ready, I’d certainly recommend giving this a try.

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Push Your Luck Blackjack Side Bet

I came across the Push Your Luck (PYL) blackjack sidebet yesterday (while browsing, not IRL), and I wondered if it was exploitable in any way. PYL is a simple side bet. You make the bet before you start your blackjack hand, and if you end up pushing your main bet, you win 10:1 on the side bet. The max bet is 1/2 your main bet, and its usually limited to $25.

Blackjack Side Bet Strategy Calculator

PYL has been out there for a while, but it’s new to me. It’s pretty simple to code up in my analyzer, which finds the optimal play for the combined (main + side) bet. I don’t know why, but I always expect these bets to be +EV, or somehow exploitable. I’m kind of optimistic that way.

Well, I was very surprised to find the house edge of the side bet is very low. Even when you max the side bet (@ 1/2 your main bet), the house edge of the combined (main + side) bet is only 0.76% for a 6 deck game with good rules (DAS, SP4, SPA4, H17). That’s like a cost of 0.25%, and you’re getting 10:1 odds! Here’s the auto-generated strategy table:

Push Your Luck (PYL) Max Bet Basic Strategy
HandDealer Upcard
2345678910A
Soft Totals
soft 21SSSSSSSSSS
soft 20SSSSSSSSSS
soft 19SSSSSSSSSS
soft 18SSSSSSSHSS
soft 17SSSSDSHHHH
soft 16HHHDDHHHHH
soft 15HHHHDHHHHH
soft 14HHHHHHHHHH
soft 13HHHHHHHHHH
Hard Totals
hard 20SSSSSSSSSS
hard 19SSSSSSSSSS
hard 18SSSSSSSSSS
hard 17SSSSSSSSSS
hard 16HHSSSHHHHH
hard 15HHHHSHHHHH
hard 14HHHHHHHHHH
hard 13HHHHHHHHHH
hard 12HHHHHHHHHH
hard 11DDDDDDHHHH
hard 10DDDDDHHHHH
hard 9HHHDDHHHHH
hard 8HHHHHHHHHH
hard 7HHHHHHHHHH
hard 6HHHHHHHHHH
hard 5HHHHHHHHHH
Pairs
A-APPPPPPPPPP
10-10SSSSSSSSSS
9-9SSSSSSSPSS
8-8PPPPPPPPPP
7-7PPPPPPPPPH
6-6PPPPPPHHHH
5-5DDDDDDHHHH
4-4HHHHHHHHHH
3-3PPPPPPPHHH
2-2PPPPPPPHHH

With a max PYL bet, the game gets a little wild where you’re hitting the majority of your under-17 hands, even against low dealer upcards. People must have a fit at this game. But it looks kind of fun, because you’re trying to get a nice 10:1 payout. It’s a good reason to play crazy.

I thought with such a low house edge, and with a 10-to-1 multiplier, the game would be easily countable. However, the EORs are pretty tame, and are very similar to standard blackjack:

Max Bet Push Your Luck (PSL) EORs
CardEOR
Deuce+0.076%
Trey+0.069%
Four+0.056%
Five+0.082%
Six+0.122%
Seven-0.066%
Eight-0.057%
Nine-0.008%
Ten/Face-0.031%
Ace-0.142%

How To Bet Blackjack Strategy

You’ll probably need the proper index plays for (not) hitting your under-17 hands on +EV counts. I looked at the strategy for a small +EV count, and the borderline decisions shift towards standard plays. If I get around to learning the lingo for index plays, I’ll post them here for PYL.