In a gas-discharge switch at least two main electrodes are arranged at a distance d from one another for a low-pressure gas discharge, which main electrodes form in a switching chamber a cathode (K) and an anode (A) of a discharge gap for the low-pressure gas discharge which is triggered by increasing the electron density in the hollow cathode space, cathode (K) and anode (A) being rotationally symmetrical hollow bodies which are arranged axially with respect to each other, and at least the cathode (K) having at least one electrode opening for the discharge. According to the invention, the hollow cathode body (10) and the hollow anode body (16) enter each other from different sides and at least the hollow cathode body (10) is provided over at least a part of the circumference of its envelope surface with a circumferential slot (15). <IMAGE>
