BlackJack "Switch" Question

**Casperwaits** · 01-31-11, 02:15 PM

I read in article about this in Gaming Today. Yes, your odds will be about 49% if I remember the article correctly. That game is dangerous.

**tbab** · 01-31-11, 02:15 PM

Thats a small sample.

**thefonzo** · 01-31-11, 02:38 PM

Thanks for the replies. yeah, I know it's a small sample, and I was just looking for confirmation that, over the long haul, the house still has a slight edge.

By "dangerous game", do you mean that the uneducated gambler may think he has an edge playing and lose his money foolishly?

**KGambler** · 01-31-11, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by thefonzo

Thanks for the replies. yeah, I know it's a small sample, and I was just looking for confirmation that, over the long haul, the house still has a slight edge.

By "dangerous game", do you mean that the uneducated gambler may think he has an edge playing and lose his money foolishly?

The house has a very slight edge, assuming you are playing the correct strategy. You are not playing the correct strategy.

Go to wizard of odds dot com and read his writeup on blackjack switch. He has a strategy table and also a calculator which tells you when to switch and when not to switch. His site is excellent.

**Extra Innings** · 01-31-11, 02:57 PM

The edge is worse than traditional blackjack....don't fool yourself.

**Grits n' Gravy** · 01-31-11, 03:29 PM

any new wrinkle or gimmick added to traditional blackjack is going to give the house a stronger edge than they already have.

all the new poker games throughout the casino pits have hold % of at least 25% for the house. these games are popular and make a lot of money. pushing regular blackjack tables off the floor. companies are trying to find new revenue streams for blackjack and the new gimmicks and side bets are being used to keep them profitable and on the floor.

**FourLengthsClear** · 01-31-11, 03:36 PM

I am not sure what variation of rules the SBR casino uses but switch blackjack actually has a similar, quite small, house edge to normal blackjack (between 0.3% and 1.1% depending on number of decks, doubling/splitting rules).

You should only be winning around 45% of hands so have been quite lucky so far.

**Fishscale** · 01-31-11, 03:37 PM

Just tried it, lost 106 sbr points in 7 hands. ******* ridiculous.

**frostno98** · 01-31-11, 03:48 PM

No strategy in Online casino's. Just as bad as playing live slot Machine as well.

**thefonzo** · 01-31-11, 04:32 PM

Originally posted by KGambler

The house has a very slight edge, assuming you are playing the correct strategy. You are not playing the correct strategy.

Go to wizard of odds dot com and read his writeup on blackjack switch. He has a strategy table and also a calculator which tells you when to switch and when not to switch. His site is excellent.

Actually, when I said basic strategy, I meant the wizard of odds switch strategy. Sorry for the confusion.

I could live until I was 100, and would probably never find an optimistic online casino gambler.

Wonder why

**chipper** · 02-01-11, 02:21 AM

If it's a new table game you can almost be assured that the house edge is fairly strong...

**thefonzo** · 02-01-11, 09:15 AM

It's fun for me because there is more strategy involved as far as constructing your hands. It is also less volatile, i.e. fewer big swings because you play slightly better hands because of the switch option, but you don't get the big payouts because BJ's are 1:1. Played last night again, and the results were closer to the norm, I'd say. Won just under 50%. Someone who is very solid with money management and uses a labby properly has a chance to turn a profit. I'm up $600 with my 52% record, with $2 base bets per hand. The key is to cut your losses when on a prolonged losing streak, and concede a small loss.

**Kaabee** · 02-02-11, 07:27 PM

why would you not double down? you are losing so much ev it's not funny.

**Flight** · 02-02-11, 07:45 PM

Originally posted by thefonzo

just using basic strategy, but not doubling down.

I'll reiterate what others said. This is wrong. Bet minimum and double if you have to. Same for splitting.

The best thing at blackjack tables is when a square bets $100 on a $10 table then draws 11 against 6 and says, wellllllllll I've already bet $100 so I guess I'll just take a hit instead of doubling, "safer" that way.

Over 5 years of playing blackjack, 95% of players play incorrectly. Casinos make plenty of money on blackjack don't kid yourself. Most players play at -10% EV, way better than roulette and other games because the bets are faster and at higher house edge.

**Flight** · 02-02-11, 07:47 PM

Sorry to get off topic. To get back on: I would not recommend blackjack switch over standard blackjack.

And +1 for wizardofodds being the best odds site ever created.