When Should You Surrender In Blackjack
Surrender is one of the most misunderstood rules in blackjack. On the surface, it sounds like a weak move; where one is allowed to give up one’s hand early in the game and in exchange for forfeiting half of one’s bet. The hand is never played out. Most players think it’s a sucker bet that favors the casino.
In these cases, you should not go for late surrender: When you play a single-deck Blackjack and the dealer stands on a soft 17, don’t play a late surrender when the dealer has a 9, 10 or an A and your hand is worth 15; When you play a single-deck game and the dealer has a 9 and your hand is worth 16. Of course, in this scenario, should the dealer have blackjack, the player loses the hand in full without having the opportunity to complete their surrender. Early surrender rules are better for the player, as we shall discuss in more detail when we look at how the rule affects the house edge in general.
In reality, it is one of the most powerful and, if played correctly, advantageous rules in blackjack, similar to the “fold” move in poker. It’s actually a great deal, when chances are, you would lose your entire hand by either standing or hitting (such is the case with a player 15 or 16 vs a dealer 10 in games where the dealer stands on soft 17).
These days, the most common version of surrender is “late surrender”, where the dealer checks for a blackjack, and you may only surrender if he doesn’t have it. If he does have it, you lose your entire bet without being given the surrender option. “Early surrender” games, where you are allowed to surrender before the dealer checks his hole card, are very rare in land casinos (not offered in Las Vegas), and we have yet to find this option anywhere online.
When should you use it? If the expectation is to lose more than 50%, you should surrender instead. If you are playing simple basic strategy (not counting cards), SURRENDER in the following games and conditions:
How to use surrender: After the first two cards are dealt and the dealer checks his/her hole card (in late surrender), on your turn, simply drag your pointer finger across the table in front of your cards. You can also say “surrender” to be extra clear. The dealer will take your cards and return half of your bet to you. This concludes your round.
If you use the surrender option correctly in basic strategy, your edge will increase .1%. To determine how other rule options change the casino’s advantage see our Blackjack House Edge Calculator. With counting cards, the edge goes up as the count goes up. Card counters also use surrender to camouflage their play, since most casino officials see it as scared play by amateurs. To find out which casinos are currently offering surrender, visit out Casino Rules & Conditions page. Under the ‘Surrender’ column look for the words ‘LATE’ or ‘EARLY’ which specify the type of surrender of offered.
The greatest advantage of surrender is found when using basic strategy to catch streaks in the game, as in the Easy Money Blackjack System™.
Blackjack is one of the most popular table games online and in land casinos. It has plenty of variations differing in rules and details. In some of the blackjack variations, there is a surrender decision available to the player. This move can be a lifesaver in the game if used correctly, especially if you know a good card counting method. Here are a couple of tips on how to use this move.
What Is Surrender?
Surrender is a solution that ends the game and saves half of the player’s bet. Most of the players ignore this move as they feel it’s useless. It is usually explained by the fact that you always have chances to win no matter which cards you get. Well, the thing is that in Blackjack, you also should consider the dealer’s upcard, as that is a crucial factor to consider.
Of course, you always have a chance to win no matter which combination you initially get. And still, experienced players always evaluate their chances, preferring to give up, when they are low. This can be a useful solution, as it allows you to cut your losses twice in bad games.
It has to be mentioned that casinos know how valuable surrender solution can be, and some of them forbid that move for Blackjack. Thus, for any player who wants to increase their chances of winning and improve results, it is a good idea to have a clear understanding of how to use this solution.
Blackjack Surrender Rules
As already mentioned, some Blackjack games support surrender solutions, and others don’t. Even among the games that support surrender, there can be different variations to the rules. Thus it is better to clarify them on the website if you play in an online casino or from a dealer if you play in a land casino. However, generally, the standard rules of Blackjack with surrender enabled look like this:
- Dealer stands on 17.
- Split is available, resplit is not.
- If splitting Aces, you can only take one card afterwards. If you get 10 for any Ace hands, you get 21, not a natural Blackjack.
- For natural Blackjack, the payment is 3:2
- Double down enabled.
- 7 Card Charlie is enabled and is beaten only by natural Blackjack.
- The bet can be insured if the dealer has an Ace.
No matter which kind of Surrender Blackjack you are playing, there are common things that all players need to know:
- Surrender is only available on the initial hand. Sometimes you can surrender before the dealer opens the hole card, which is called early surrender. Sometimes, you can surrender only after the dealer opens the hole card, which called late surrender.
- The surrender option is useful when your chances of winning are less than 25%.
Peek Rule
The peek rule is about the situation when the dealer’s upcard values 10 or is an Ace. In such an occasion, a player can peek at the second card of the dealer’s initial hand, and the game is over if the hand values 21. For example, in case the dealer has an Ace upcard, you can watch the second one, and if it values 10, end the game, as it would be useless to continue it.
7 Card Charlie
As we all know, if the value of your hand exceeds or equals 21, the game is ended. 7 Card Charlie is a situation when you have 7 cards in your hand, and the sum equals or doesn’t exceed 21.
That means you win only if the dealer doesn’t have a natural Blackjack. For example, if you have 2, 3, Ace, 4, 3, 2, 4 – which equals to 19 with 7 cards, you win the game only if the dealer doesn’t have 21 with an Ace in hand.
When You Should Surrender in Blackjack
Generally, for Blackjack with surrender solution enabled, the dealer stands on 17. Thus, it would be best if you always surrendered on:
- Dealer’s Ace, 9, 10 if you have a hard 16 (except 8-8, when it is better to split)
- Dealer’s 10 upcard, if you have a hard 15.
This is the most basic strategy for the surrender solution that can be used by beginners. It has to be mentioned that the number of decks and availability of early or late surrender have a great impact on the way the surrender move has to be used. Continue reading below to get a more detailed description of the strategies depending on the Blackjack rules.
Early Surrender Strategy
Early surrender means that you can use the surrender solution before the dealer reveals the second card in their hand. Thus, due to proper card counting, you should surrender when:
- The dealer has an Ace
- You have hard 5-7, 12-17
- You have pairs 3-3, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8
Or:
- The dealer has a 10
- You have hard 14-16
- You have pairs of 7-7, 8-8
However, using these moves can be conditional, depending on the Blackjack game rules. Thus, there are exceptions to consider:
- Single deck Blackjack: do not surrender if the dealer has 10, and you have 10-4, 5-9
- Double-deck Blackjack: do not surrender if the dealer has 10, and you have 10-4
- Dealer hits on soft 17: surrender if you have a pair of 2-2 against the dealer’s Ace
- Double down after split allowed: do not surrender if the dealer has 10 and you have a pair 8-8
Let’s make an example.
Dealer: Ace
You: 6-7
As you can see, the dealer has an Ace, and the second card is not revealed yet. You have 6-7, which totals 13. You cannot split, as you did not get a pair of same cards. What you can do is either hit, double down or surrender.
In case you choose the surrender option, you will get half of your bet back. In case you double down or hit, your chances to win are less than 25%. Thus, the best option would be to surrender.
To make it more convenient, check this table for an early surrender strategy. Consider that it is eligible for games when:
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Double down after split allowed
Late Surrender Strategy
In most casinos, you can surrender your hand only when the dealer opens a hole card. That means that if the dealer has a 10 or an Ace as an upcard, and he opens a hole card that gives his hand a natural Blackjack, surrender is no longer available, and you will lose all of your bet. That is why it’s called late surrender. Games with the option of late surrender are less profitable for the player than the games with early surrender.
As for early surrender Blackjack, you can surrender before the hole card is revealed, so if the dealer has a natural Blackjack in the initial game, you can get at least half of your bet and avoid making double down as well.
This fact is one of the reasons strategies for late surrender and early surrender differ. When it comes to the games with late surrender strategy enabled, there are two main factors affecting your choice upon surrender solution:
- Actions of the dealer on soft 17(hit or stand)
- Number of decks (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8)
For the late surrender strategy, an advanced or basic strategy can be used. Basic strategy only considers:
- value of the player’s initial hand
- value of the dealer’s upcard (whether it is 9, 10 or Ace)
- number of decks
The advanced strategy considers not only the value of the player’s card but also the exact combination of the cards in hand.
Here is how the basic strategy upon surrender decision-making looks if you get a hard 15-17 in four or more deck blackjack:
Blackjack Surrender Hand Signal
- Do not surrender if the dealer gets 9 or Ace standing on soft 17
- Surrender if the dealer gets 10 or Ace and hits on soft 17
If you get a hard 16:
- Always surrender
- Exception: you get 8-8 and double down after the split is allowed
If you get hard 17:
- Never surrender if the dealer has 9, 10
- Surrender if the dealer has an Ace and hits on soft 17, do not if he stands on soft 17
As late surrender decision-making in Blackjack varies slightly due to factors such as the number of decks or the dealer’s moves on soft 17, it is better to see what the basic strategy should look like in the table:
Here is how the advanced strategy looks in the table (double down after split allowed):
Blackjack Surrender Chart
The chart below is designed to show you the best solutions upon the initial hand. It is best applicable for those who want to use the surrender solution in games where this option is enabled. Here you can see three separate tables, when you get pairs, Ace, and hard value in the initial hand.
Tips for Surrender
Surrender is a player’s solution that must be used wisely. It is best to learn all about the other solutions available to you, before you get to advanced usage of surrender, as all in all, it is more about cutting your losses, not winning a game. Below, you can see valuable tips on this solution, which you can use for your good:
- Surrender solution is not always available in casinos – clarify this with the dealer if you are playing in a land casino, or read the rules of the Blackjack game you play. Usually, if surrender is supported, it is pointed out in the game description or on the casino website.
- The surrender solution can be a very valuable move for players, so some of the casinos, both land and online, do not allow it.
- This option is valuable for those who count cards, and when you know how to use other Blackjack solutions, otherwise there is a high chance that advanced usage of this move will be useless for you.
- The solution is valuable in the long run, so those who want to play and adhere to a specified strategy can benefit the most from the exploitation of the surrender move.
- Even if the surrender solution is available, there still can be variations enabled, so check the rules thoroughly. For example, some casinos only offer early surrender (player can surrender after he/she saw the dealer’s upcard valuing ten or Ace, others offer late surrender (even if the dealer has an Ace or ten, the player should wait until the hole card is revealed, and in the case that it gives a hand natural Blackjack, the surrender option will no longer be available).
- Depending on the rules of the land casino you play in, the surrender option can be either chosen verbally or with a signal. Clarify that with the dealer.
Surrender FAQ
How to Surrender in Blackjack?
Is Surrender Allowed in Las Vegas Blackjack?
Other Blackjack Strategies
Along with the surrender, there are also other solutions – hit, stand, double down, and split. Wise usage of these combinations and card counting can bring you better results than using only one of them.
Double Down
Double down is a solution that allows you to increase the bet after you receive your initial hand. Afterwards, you can only take one card. The bet can be increased by 100% or up to 100% -it depends on the game variation you play.
Split
Split is a move that allows you to get two hands instead of one. When you get a combination of cards with the same value (8-8, 9-9, etc.), you can do a split. Afterwards, you place an additional bet for the second hand, and each hand is played solely, so you can win with one hand and lose with the second one.
Hit & Stand
Hit is a solution to take one more card. The hit move can be made as many times as you want until the value of the hand makes or exceeds 21.
Stand means that you stop taking more cards. Choose this option when you think that you already have received the best combination in the round. Hit & Standare the basic moves in Blackjack.