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Online Blackjack Switch Strategy

January 24, 2013

Blackjack Switch is an online blackjack variant developed by the software provider Playtech and live at Canada online casinos like Omni Casino. Players are dealt two hands and have to place separate wagers for each hand. Before they independently play each hand they can switch the second cards dealt to each hand. To decide whether or not to exercise this option calls for additional strategy, which is the subject of this article.

The objective of switching is to make the combined position of both hands stronger. The problem lies in measuring the strength of the hands. In a few cases the decision to switch will be obvious. Take the instance of the player being dealt 3 and K in one hand and 10 and 7 in the other. If the second cards are switched the hands become 3 and 7 and K and 10. Both these hands are strong hands. However in most cases the advantage obtained in switching will be marginal. Without assistance players will not be able to perceive this advantage and will not switch, thereby losing the advantage and settling for lower average returns. The assistance in Blackjack Switch comes from the strategy card. Canada online casino players can download it from the Internet and use it to execute optimum strategy in Blackjack Switch.

Every combination of the player’s dealt two-card hand and the dealer’s face up card has an expected value associated with it. The expected values range from -1 to +1. A value close to +1 for a combination indicates a high probability of eventually winning the hand. For example, a dealt blackjack will have an expected value of +1. A value close to -1 for a combination indicates a high probability of eventually losing the hand. The expected values for each combination have been obtained through computer simulations using techniques that involve advanced statistics. These values appear in the Blackjack Switch strategy card in the following manner. The dealer’s face up card is represented in the columns and the player’s dealt hand is represented in the rows. The corresponding cell contains the expected value for that combination.

The Playtech Blackjack Switch strategy card is used as follows. First the expected value of each dealt hand is read from the table and algebraically added to give the dealt combined expected value. Then the player assumes that the switch is made and the expected values are read from the strategy card for the switched hands. These are algebraically added to give the switched combined expected value. Only if the switched combined expected value is greater than the dealt combined expected value should the player make the switch. Otherwise the player should proceed without switching. Sometimes the advantage of switching is very small. But unless these are exploited the player will lose out in the long run.

To start with it will be inconvenient to read from the strategy card and make the additions and comparisons. Fortunately Playtech Blackjack Switch is an online casino game and the player can proceed at his own pace. With practice the player will be able to pick up requisite speed. There is another very important point to make. The player has to wager the main game using optimum strategy from the regular online blackjack strategy card. Otherwise he will fritter away the advantages from the switch.

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