Blackjack switch now in the UK

[newb99]

I've read that the GC have approved Blackjack Switch as a table game in the UK, and that some casinos have been offering it now for three weeks. With a BS OTT HE of just 0.18% it must be the best offer in a casino with the exception of taking the odds in craps. If it's dealt from a shoe it would seem to be an interesting opportunity.

Anyone tried it yet?

There's a 5 page posting in the BJ variations section of the forum somewhere.

[FLASH1296]

A really fine way to learn how to play this great BJ variation can be found in The Big Book of Blackjack by Arnold Snyder.

There is also good info to be found at wizardofodds.com

[newb99]

Thanks. I found The Wiz's pages on BJSwitch which I will consume in due course.

I'm told that the Empire in Leicester Square are one of the casinos that have chosen to offer it. Does anyone know whether it's shoe dealt or CSM ?

[SystemsTrader]

Originally Posted by newb99

With a BS OTT HE of just 0.18% it must be the best offer in a casino with the exception of taking the odds in craps.

Anyone tried it yet?

Newb BJ Switch is not a game to be taken lightly. In fact I would suggest most counters avoid it all together. The house edge would depend on the rules and finding a .18% game is doubtful. I believe only Casino Royale still has those odds and its CSM only. All of the other casinos in Vegas have changed the rules to a switched blackjack = 21 only and no longer the automatic blackjack winner. If your casino has a dealer H17 game this is also extra punishing. The H17 rule is twice as bad on HE than a regular blackjack game because of the dealer push on 22 rule.

Most casinos have a HE in around .58% and thats only if you can master both the basic strategy which has about 40 differences from regular blackjack and the switch strategy itself. If the UK has it with ENHC only thats even worse. The game also requires a large bankroll because of the two hands being played and the large spread needed to beat this game. The game is also very difficult to wong because most casinos only have 1 or 2 tables. As for Snyder's strategy while decent it is filled with errors which will drive up the HE again. His system is very basic and will leave you filled with questions and I wonder if he does this on purpose? Using his system alone isn't enough to beat the game.

[newb99]

I'll check out the ruleset that has been approved by the UK's Gambling Commission to see what can be offered.

Haven't looked at it in great detail yet, but I'l run with the advice from the WoO - whose take on things is usually 100%.

[bjcounter]

Casino Royale had a shoe game last time I was there (Nov.).

[ExhibitCAA]

No, Casino Royale no longer has a shoe game for BJ Switch, only CSMs.

SystemsTrader is correct that AS's strategy in BB of BJ is weak, and the claim that AS's WLPC system delivers a -0.25% game is not true, and is dangerous in the hands of APs, who might try blasting away at BJ Switch. I calculate that AS's strategy delivers around -1.2% for the rules he considers, which are hard to find anyway. And, no, AS does not do that on purpose; he does it because he is not a programmer and the BB of BJ is not written for professional players. Gotta give AS some props for being the first author to try to come up with something actually usable, as opposed to WoO's "strategy" of "add up the expectations of each pair of hands and select the better pair."

Geoff Hall isn't about to give you any useful information about his game. Over the years he has been a complete phony on these boards, pretending to be player-friendly or at least player-tolerant, without giving up ANY information that the player community doesn't already have.

WoO is your best starting point, but you should never take material out of context. WoO offers a fabulous website for the masses, but pros will generally require more accurate and detailed information.

[newb99]

Originally Posted by ExhibitCAA

. . . WoO is your best starting point, but you should never take material out of context. WoO offers a fabulous website for the masses, but pros will generally require more accurate and detailed information.

Thanks. I am one of the masses, and don't put in enough hours, or play for high enough sums of money, for the minutae of differences in OTT HE of the different games on offer to make any real difference. The reason this has caught my attention is that it's something different that doesn't have a HE of 2.5%+ which is heavily skewed by large but low probability payouts - three card poker comes to mind. Entertaining, but fatal for your wallet!

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by ExhibitCAA

Geoff Hall isn't about to give you any useful information about his game. Over the years he has been a complete phony on these boards, pretending to be player-friendly or at least player-tolerant, without giving up ANY information that the player community doesn't already have.

Funny how people can draw such opposite opinions lol.

For the last 7 years, I have never found him to be anything but open, approachable, genuine, and friendly and one who has gone to great pains, who took the time when he did not have to, yet, for some reason, answered in detail every single question I, as an utter and complete stranger to him, have ever asked him about BJS.

Looking forward to sharing as much with you after you have invented a new game from scratch and collaborated with a prominent math guy over many different rule-sets and then, somehow, successfully market that game on both the internet with a HA of less than 0.001 and in casinos around the world, with HA's beginning from 0.18% or so, maybe less, while trying to balance both the casino and player's interests.

Maybe Geoff will correct me but I have the feeling his first trial in AC failed after a couple months. He then persevered to Vegas, with maybe a rule change or two, and it stuck there. I think lol. Then maybe, somehow, got it accepted in Russia with a game with rules so player-friendly, I almost flew to St. Petersburg lol.

I give him all the credit in the world for inventing and marketing the most player-friendly game (Playtech internet game) I have ever experienced.

[Geoff Hall]

Wow, I find that statement by ExhibitCAA rather insulting and, in my opinion, completely untrue. I'm glad I have some backers regarding the times I have posted information, whether valuable or not. I even corrected the WOO's Basic Strategy charts as he had used infinite deck and had the decisions based on 6 decks.

As for 1.25%, using AS's strategy, then I have evidence to the contrary. Even an 'average switcher' will only add around 0.5-0.6% to the base house edge.

However, I'm sure people must realise that I'm not going to work hard producing count tags for various count systems. If counters flock to a new installation and beat the game then it's obvious that the game will get taken out. Achieving a fine balance of player-favorability and casino demands is not easy - Harrah's, Las Vegas being a prime example of removal due to being attacked by a card counting team.

The UK version is a good game for players mainly because it's a 'Stand Soft 17' game in the main. The ENHC does not hurt the player as much as in a regular game due to the strategy changes involved in Blackjack Switch. Furthermore, the casinos are allowing players to take 'Even Money' when an Ace is showing (Player has 'Blackjack') which gives more back to the player.

I'm closely monitoring the hold %'s of the game and, obviously, so are the casinos. The game is 0.xx%, according to my calculation, although the 'Even Money' rule brings that down further. Not as much as Casino Royale but not a long way off either. Anyone who wants the exact figure can PM me on this site and I'll be more than happy to reply to those who feel that my contibution is a little more than phoney.