Nintendo Switch Blackjack
4/13/2022 admin
Year of release: 2018, SeptemberGenre: Board GameDeveloper and Publisher: D3PublisherImage format: NSPGame Version: 1.0.0Interface Language: English RUSVoice: noPerformance checked: Yes (at 6.2 Atmosphere)Multiplayer: noAge Rating: 16+DownloadTorrent NSPThe Card Poker, Texas Holdem, Blackjack and Page One 0100eb600ab5e000v0.nsp 112.94 MBGdrive NSPThe Card Poker, Texas Holdem, Blackjack. Black Jack is a Multi Screen Game & Watch game released in 1985 by Nintendo. A Pocketsize version was also released. The model number for the game was BJ-60 (BJ obviously standing for Black Jack). The contents within the box include the Game & Watch unit, LR44 batteries, a caution leaflet, a ball/score leaflet, and battery stickers.
- Appendices
- Miscellaneous
- External Links
Introduction
Blackjack switch is a blackjack variant which allows the player to do what is normally considered a classic cheating manoeuver, trading cards between two hands. The player must make two bets of equal size and is allowed to switch the second card dealt to each hand. Of course, nothing good comes without a trade-off. In this case a dealer 22 results in a push against all non-busted hands and blackjacks pay even money.
The game goes by the name Blackjack Exchange at the Bregenz Casino in Austria.
Rules
- All rules are based on conventional blackjack unless otherwise noted.
- Six or eight decks are used.
- Dealer usually hits a soft 17. I hear in Ontario, Canada, the dealer stands on soft 17.
- The player must make two bets of equal size.
- Cards will be dealt face up.
- Dealer will peek for blackjack with an ace or ten up. If the dealer has a blackjack all player hands will immediately lose, except a player blackjack will push.
- The player may switch the second card dealt to each hand. For example, if one hand has 5,10 and the other has 10,6, the player may switch the 10 and 6 to have two hands of 11 and 20. The player may also switch cards to form a blackjack.
- If the player switches to a blackjack, it counts as 21 points.
- Player may double on any 2 cards.
- Player may double after a split.
- Player may resplit up to four hands.
- Winning player blackjacks pay even money.
- A dealer total of 22 will push against any player total of 21 or less. A player blackjack will still beat a dealer 22.
Russian Rules: Same as the rules above, except early surrender allowed (sometimes not against an ace), dealer does not take a hole card, and dealer stands on soft 17.
Playing Strategy
The following tables show the basic strategy under the 8-deck Las Vegas rules after the switch decision has been made. The reason for the differences compared to conventional blackjack strategy is the push on 22 rule.
If 6 decks are used the player should double 9 against a 5.
At this time I have not created a strategy for the Russian rules or Ontario rules.
Simple Switching Strategy
The following is the 'Cindy Liu Simple Switching Strategy,' appropriate under the Las Vegas rules. It is based on the following list of hands in order of strength:
- 21
- 20
- 19
- AA
- 11
- 10
- 9
- 18 or 8
- 8,8 with 2-8 up
Following is how to use it.
Against a dealer 7 or 8, balance the hands, by making the weaker hand as high as possible, using the above scale of hands, if you can.
Against any other dealer up card, maximize the strength of the higher hand, using the scale above, if you can.
If you can't achieve one of the desired hands in the list, then make the strongest hand possible from the following list, in order of strength:
- 7 or 17
- any hand that should be split
- any 12
- any 13
Exceptions:
- With A,A + 3,8 — keep the aces together.
- With A,A + 2,9 — keep the aces together if the dealer has 2-6
- With A,A + 2,8 — keep the aces together
The simple strategy, compared to optimal strategy, results in a cost of errors of 0.17%. It results in an error once every 18.6 hands, and an error with an expected value of more than 10% once every 82 hands.
Advanced Switching Strategy
The following is the 'Cindy Liu Advanced Switching Strategy,' appropriate under the Las Vegas rules. To use it, add up the points for each hand for both ways to play them, and play the one with the greater number of points. In the case of a tie, use the the simple strategy.
Let's look at an example. Suppose you have 8+4 and A+8 against a dealer 6, where the underlined card is the second one dealt. So you can play (1) 12 and soft 19, or (2) 8-8 and soft 15. Which pair of hands is better? According to the table, the 12 is worth 0 points and the soft 19 is worth 1, for a total of 1. For the alternative, 8-8 is worth 1 and the soft 15 is worth 1, also for a total of 2. So the odds favor switching to 8-8 and soft 15. Note that the simple strategy would incorrectly advise the player to not switch. My Blackjack Switch appendix 1 shows that the combined expected value of 12 + soft 19 is -0.2108+0.3634=0.1526, and 8-8 + soft 15 is higher at 0.1461+0.0365=0.1824.
The cost of mistakes in the advanced strategy, compared to optimal strategy, is 0.08% only. The player will make an incorrect decision once every 24.5 hands, and a mistake with an expected value over 10% once every 250 hands.
I also have a printer friendly version (PDF) of both switching strategies, as well as the basic strategy.
Arnold Snyder Switching Strategy
The Big Book of Blackjack by Arnold Synder contains an easy and intuitive switching strategy. Out of respect for copyright, I won't say more than that about how it works. According to Cindy Liu, the Sndyer strategy results in a cost of errors of about 0.2% compared to optimal strategy. Besides that, I highly recommend the book for breaking new ground in blackjack, which is not easy to do any more.
Switching Calculator
My Blackjack Switch calculator, courtesy of Jing Ding, will advise when to switch in any situation. The calculator is based on the Playtech rules and an infinite deck assumption.
House Edge
Under the standard Las Vegas rules, with six decks, the dealer hits a soft 17, and a switched blackjack counts as 21 points, the house edge is 0.58%, assuming optimal strategy. Follow are the effects on the house edge of some rule variations:
- Eight decks: +0.02%
- Switched blackjack automatically wins: -0.40%
- Blackjack automatic winner: -0.21%
- Dealer stands on soft 17: -0.30%
The house edge under the Russian rules is 0.20%, assuming early surrender against an ace is allowed.
Side Bet
There is also a Super Match side bet based on the player's initial four cards. The following table shows the paytable, probability, and return of each hand:
Super Match Side Bet
| Hand | Combinations | Probability | Pays | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pair | 136401408 | 0.352205 | 1 | 0.352205 |
| 3 of a kind | 7577856 | 0.019567 | 5 | 0.097835 |
| 2 pair | 5941728 | 0.015342 | 8 | 0.122738 |
| 4 of a kind | 138138 | 0.000357 | 40 | 0.014268 |
| Nothing | 237219840 | 0.612530 | -1 | -0.612530 |
| Total | 387278970 | 1 | -0.025485 |
The lower right cell shows a house edge on the side bet of 2.55%.
C4
The Casino Bregenz in Austria offers Blackjack Switch under the name Blackjack Exchange. They add a side bet called the C4, which is based on the poker value of the player's initial four cards. The table below shows a house edge of 14.32%, based on six decks.
C4 — Six Decks
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four of a kind | 500 | 138,138 | 0.000337 | 0.168425 |
| Straight | 20 | 3,649,536 | 0.008899 | 0.177988 |
| Flush | 12 | 5,647,896 | 0.013772 | 0.165269 |
| Two pair | 10 | 5,871,528 | 0.014318 | 0.143177 |
| Three of a kind | 8 | 7,502,976 | 0.018296 | 0.146368 |
| All other | -1 | 387,278,420 | 0.944378 | -0.944378 |
| Total | 410,088,494 | 1.000000 | -0.143152 |
With four decks, the house edge of the C4 is 18.02%. With eight decks it is 12.40%.
Other Switch Pages
- Printer friendly basic and switching strategies (PDF).
- Appendix 1: Expected value table for each initial hand, for purposes of making accurate switching decisions.
Acknowledgements
My thanks to Cindy Liu for both her simple and advanced switching strategies, Jing Ding for his switching calculator, and to Gabor for his mathematical contributions.
External Links
- German translation of this article.
- Interview with the inventor of Blackjack Switch Geoff Hall
Written by: Michael Shackleford
Developer: Stage Clear Studios
Publisher: Headup Games
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Party, Arcade & Board Game
Release Date: August 7, 2018 (EU & NA)
Split, Hit, Stand, let’s play some Blackjack!
If you ever found yourself wondering what Super Street Fighter II Turbo would have been like if it was a game about blackjack, as opposed to fighting, the answer would most likely be Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors.
Developed as an original title by Stage Clear Studios and published by Headup Games, Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors graced the likes of Steam with its presence on March 3, 2017 (the very same day that saw the release of the Nintendo Switch,) and is described as being a game that pays tribute to a “well-known fighting game from the ‘90s.”
Although Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors does more than just pay tribute, it reeks of Super Street Fighter II Turbo on almost every level. From the game’s name to its visual style, which is a dead-ringer of Super Street Fighter II Turbo, to even the game’s 12 playable characters, Street Fighter is everywhere un this game, but just because imitation can warrant success on some occasions that is not to say the same can be said for Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors.
As a game all about blackjack, which features an endless mode (Simply Blackjack,) where you can just keep going until you lose all of your credits, the actual gameplay is minimal. Each round begins with you placing a bet, cards are then dealt with the opponent player’s cards revealed to you and you can then choose to Stand (stay with what you’ve got,) or Hit (draw a card which could help you edge towards 21, or go beyond it and lose.)
In the event you’re playing Single Player Combat though, you can also choose to double down and wager even more money. You will also have to play through 10 rounds against an opponent, whom you don’t need to outright take all of their chips to beat them, but you do need to at least finish the game with more cash then they possess.
You will however, need to make sure you always beat the dealer, should you wish to win back the chips you wager twice over. (In other words, it doesn’t matter if the other player has a better hand than you, you’re not playing against their hand, you’re playing against the dealer’s hand.)
In the event you happen to gamble away everything you have and lose, you will be defeated and forced to endure a bit of trash talk before choosing to continue and try your luck again, from the beginning of the fight. Should you be the one who emerges victor when the 10 rounds or over, or your opponent, (1 of the games’ 12 characters,) loses everything sooner, you get to trash talk them in return.
Nintendo Switch Blackjack Games
Pretty much, the gameplay is what you would expect from a game about blackjack and yes, Splits are available, as is a bigger payout when you happen to find yourself with blackjack(an Ace card and any card that has a value of 10, such as 10, Jack, Queen and King, regardless of suit.) The battle aspect is even compelling a little bit, especially the trash talk, but the reality of the Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors battles, is they are lacklustre at best.
Half the time of playing Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors, I didn’t even have to try and beat my opponents as I found I was able to win a match, just be beating $50 every round, as the AI opponent would beat wildly and make themselves come undone by their own hand.
Sure, sometimes it would be them who emerges the victim, thanks to winning big, but the AI could do with some serious balancing as they come across as being more foolish, as opposed to unpredictable and no, the fact that you can press R whilst playing to do an emoji, does not justify the poor AI Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors has to offer.
However, if such a thing does not deter you, maybe you’ll stick around for the characters themselves. Each one has a backstory, there are 10 that you can play through Single Player Combat with and, not only do they have their own piece of trash talk for every character, but they have their own motives as to why they need to win the 11 fights. Only the very best will be able to jet over to Vegas and showdown against the Godfather Tony.
As for the 2 characters you can’t play as during the story, they can be used in Simply Blackjack, but you will need to unlock them with one requiring you to beat Don Santos with Mark and the other requiring you to gather a total of 100,000 chips.
Having played through the story a couple of times, it didn’t take long before the mode got a little too repetitive, but for those who do lose interest in Single Player Combat, there is still a Party Mode that up to four players can play together. It follows the same rules of gameplay as presented in other modes, but all of the action is presented on one screen and everyone takes it in turns placing their bet and making their move.
Party Mode can get a little long-winded at times, but as far as Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors, it is the best feature the game has, but even then that’s not really saying all that much.
Conclusion:
As a card player myself who has a penchant for blackjack, while Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors does allow would-be gamblers to play the card game of their choice, on the go, without the need of carrying coin and cards, I can’t help but feel Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card Warriors could have done with some more originality.
I like Street Fighter and the devs did a good job of recreating most of the game’s essence, but even though this is a Switch title that costs just $7.99, it is a bit of a hard sell to recommend it as being a game that players should go all in for. It’s a nice package and a decent game, but I can’t help but wished it had a little more to it to justify investing more of my time into it.
Nintendo Switch Blackjack
Pleasant
*Review Key Provided by Headup Games
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Tags: eShop, Headup Games, Nintendo Switch, review, Stage Clear Studios, Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition – The Card WarriorsNintendo Switch Blackjack Switch
Categorised in: eShop, Nintendo Switch, Reviews, Switch Reviews
This post was written by Solid Jack
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