When to surrender in blackjack
What is surrender in blackjack? One of the major draws of blackjack is the sheer simplicity of the game. Being dealt two cards and then trying to get a total higher than the dealers certainly seems simple enough. Of course, the first complication is that you can’t let your hand exceed 21. Do that and your bust, and you’re out of the game. However, when you start to get into the game a little more, it doesn’t take long to realize that there’s much more to it.
Blackjack has a host of rules that go beyond the basics and often these aren’t understood by newer players. One of these rules is that which allows surrender. This is a rule that’s present in numerous variants of the game and that means that it’s well worth learning.
You may be wondering what surrender in blackjack is and how you can use it in your game. We’ve taken a look at every scenario where this should be used so you can start benefiting the very next time that you play.
The reason that you’d want to use surrender is that, when done correctly, it brings the house edge down. This means that, over the long run, your chances of winning are increased. A good enough reason to keep reading? We think so.
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What is surrender in blackjack?
Before we start to explore when surrender should be used in blackjack, we need to be clear on what surrender is. The option to surrender arises when you’ve been dealt your initial two cards. You don’t take any action other than look at your card and the dealer’s upcard. Once you’ve done this, you can surrender your hand if you want to.
If you decide to surrender your hand, you get half of your bet back. The other half is kept by the house. At this point, you are out of the game and have no more involvement until the next round.
Getting just half of your bet back may not sound like the best deal in the world. After all, if you stand there’s always a chance that you’ll come out on top. However, when you get to know the game a little better, you’ll know that there are situations when you’re far more likely to lose than win. In these situations, surrender allows you to at least get something back.
When it comes to the right time to surrender in blackjack, much depends on how many decks are being used in the game. The other rules that are being used also have an impact. As you read on, we’re going to cover the two most common surrender blackjack rules and explain just when you should use them.
Early surrender in blackjack
There are some blackjack tables out there that will allow you to use something called early surrender. Early surrender means that you can give up as soon as you’ve been dealt your two cards. The decision is made before the dealer has the opportunity to peek at their cards and check for blackjack.
Is early surrender a good option? Well, there are certain scenarios where this can offer the player huge advantages. The scenarios are ones when probability tells you that the dealer is likely to have a blackjack or to beat you in another way.
Let’s take a look at some of the scenarios when early surrender is a good call:
- You have a hard 5, 6 or 7 and the dealer is showing an ace
- The dealer has an ace and you have hard 12 through 17
- You have pairs of 3s, 6s, 7s or 8s and the dealer has an ace
- The dealer has a ten and you have hard 14, 15 or 16
- You have a pair of 7s or 8s and the dealer has a ten
If you’re playing blackjack using multiple decks, you should follow the above exactly. However, if you’re playing a single deck game and the dealer has a 10, you shouldn’t surrender if you have 10 and 4 or 5 and 9.
Late surrender in blackjack
Early surrender isn’t always available at a blackjack table. In the majority of cases, you’ll have to wait for the dealer to check for blackjack before you can give up. This is known as late surrender.
When you’re playing at a table where late surrender is the only option, you should always give up when you find yourself holding 14 through 17. Here’s a look at some examples of hen late surrender is the right option:
You’re dealt 14:
- Surrender to a dealer’s 10 if playing a single-deck game
- In single deck, surrender two 7s against the dealers ace (if the dealer hits soft 17)
dealt 15:
- In both single and double deck games, you should surrender 9+6 and 10+5 if the dealer has an ace and if they hit soft 17
- Always surrender 9+6 and 10+5 if the dealer has 10
- If playing with 4-8 decks, always surrender 15 to a dealer’s 10 and ace as long as the dealer hits soft 17
16:
- If you’re playing with more than 4 decks then surrender to 9, 10 or ace
- Surrender to ace or 10 if you’re playing single or double-deck games
- Regardless of the number of decks, always surrender two 8s to the dealer’s ace if you’re not allowed to double after split
17:
- If the dealer hits soft 17 and you’re playing a single-deck game you should surrender 10+7 when the dealer has an ace
- No matter what variant, always surrender on 17 if the dealer has an ace and hits on soft 17
Final thoughts
At first glance, surrendering may not seem like the best option out there. However, there are times when the dealer is far more likely to win and the chance to surrender means that not all is lost. You can print this guide and keep it alongside you the next time that you play blackjack online. You’ll soon see the benefits that surrender has to offer.
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