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Blackjack Surrender Guide
Many card games offer the opportunity to cut your losses early, like folding in poker. It should come as no surprise then that some casinos offer a similar option to blackjack players. Blackjack surrender has not yet gained popularity in many establishments, but it can be a great option for conservative players that would rather take a small loss against bad odds than play through them and lose their entire wager. The proper use of blackjack surrender can further reduce odds associated losses and can extend the life of a smaller bankroll.
What Is Blackjack Surrender?
Because so few casinos offer blackjack surrender, and because it can only be used in certain circumstances, even some experienced blackjack players are unfamiliar with the term. Perhaps you thought the dealer was joking when they asked if you wanted to surrender, or maybe you just shrugged the comment off. Either way, blackjack surrender is growing in popularity (especially among online casinos), so now’s as good a time as any to familiarize yourself with the concept.
Blackjack surrender allows players to surrender their hand against certain dealer combinations. The benefit of blackjack surrender is that the player gets half of their original bet back, while of course the other half goes to the house. The option to surrender is only available after the dealing of the first two cards.
There are actually two forms of blackjack surrender offered, early surrender and late surrender:
Early Surrender
In early surrender, immediately after you accept the option to surrender the dealer will take half of your bet, return the other half, and retrieve the cards.
Late Surrender
In late blackjack surrender, the dealer will mark your wager (either by placing a dummy chip on your bet or by placing your wagered chips on top of your cards). They will then reveal their own cards. If they have a blackjack, the dealer still takes your entire bet, but if they do not you receive half back.
Obviously an early blackjack surrender is more beneficial to the players, but regardless of which type the casino offers, it is important to understand how and when it is best to use the option, as well as the Blackjack rules.
How to Play Blackjack Surrender
You must make the choice to surrender after receiving your second card. Once any other action is taken, you forfeit the right to surrender. You can indicate surrendering either by verbalizing your desire to surrender, or by gesturing.
Initially blackjack surrender was the only cue given aloud, but most casinos that offer it now prefer the hand cue, where the player moves their index finger from right to left on the layout. It is best to ask the dealer whether the casino offers surrender as soon as you sit at their table, and to determine whether they prefer the verbal or hand cue.
When to Surrender
As with any other move in blackjack, it is important to give the blackjack surrender option careful consideration before implementing it, especially since it represents an outright and immediate loss. For this reason, it is best to only use blackjack surrender when your odds of winning the hand are dismal.
The best example of when to use blackjack surrender is the dubious player 16 hand. Suppose you’ve got a large bet and the dealer hands you a rotten 10 and 6, only to turn up a 10 for themselves. Statistics show that the player’s odds of winning this hand are less than 25% whether they hit or stand, making the blackjack surrender option and the return of half of your wager very attractive (if not outright logical).
When Not to Surrender
Players on a losing streak often abuse the blackjack surrender option under the misconception that they are cutting their losses. In truth, blackjack surrender is only a good choice if your odds of losing the hand are more than 50% (since you’re handing over 50% of your bet anyway).
The only time you should take the blackjack surrender option is when you are holding a hard 16 against an Ace, 10, or 9; or when you’re holding a hard 15 against the dealer’s 10. Some players would argue that you should also surrender with a soft 15 or 16, but because of the duplicity of the Ace this is a waste.
Why does the casino offer this option? Easy money. Not only are they always getting at least half of your bet with the blackjack surrender, but many novice players will surrender hands they should have hit or stood on.
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