What is Surrender in Blackjack and When to Use It?

August 27, 2024
7 Minute Read

Sometimes a blackjack hand is just not worth continuing with. The odds are just stacked too heavily against some hands and that’s where the blackjack surrender rule comes into play. This unique rule allows players to save some of their wager rather than losing more.

But when should you surrender in blackjack? What are some of the advantages of taking advantage of the surrender option. Keep reading to learn more about this rule.

What is Blackjack Surrender? 

Players at a blackjack table in a casino, engaged in a game with chips and cards on a green felt surface. The focus is on the hands of the players as they make their decisions

Blackjack surrender is blackjack term and a rule offered at some casinos in which players can give up their hand in exchange for losing only half of their original wager.

This can be a favorable rule for players when utilizing a basic blackjack strategy to make the best mathematical play to reduce the house edge – whether at land based casinos or when playing blackjack online.

Types of Surrender in Blackjack

There are two two types of surrender: early surrender and late surrender. Here are some key the differences between these types of surrender.

  • Early surrender – This rule allows players to give up their hand after seeing the first two cards and before the dealer checks for blackjack with an ace as an upcard. It is rare to find this rule at most land based casinos nowadays as it thins the house edge as much as an additional 0.6%. Players only lose half their bet rather than the full bet.
  • Late surrender – In this surrender option, players can only surrender on their first two cards after the dealer has checked for blackjack. While this isn’t as great as early surrender, the rule may drop the casino edge another 0.1% depending on the game rules.

Surrender is a great option for players and allows them to lose less in the long run when dealt a weak hand.

Rules for Blackjack Surrender 

Ready to play some online blackjack or head off to a casino table for some blackjack? Here’s a look at surrender rules in blackjack.

Early Surrender Rules

You can surrender your hand on your first two cards even before the dealer checks for blackjack. You’ll only lose half your bet in the process and won’t lose to a potential dealer blackjack.

Late Surrender Rules

In this surrender rule, you’ll only be able to surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack. This means that a dealer blackjack beats your hand and you’ll lose the original bet. If the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, you’ll only lose half your wager.

How Blackjack Surrender Affects Gameplay?

Blackjack already has a low house edge and that’s one of the reasons that makes it so popular with gamblers. Those who use correct basic strategy can reduce the house to below 2% and knowing when you should surrender in blackjack can help in that effort. Here’s a look at some key advantages.

Reducing Losses

Players will reduce their losses to dealer hands that are likely to beat theirs and you can have full control of your blackjack bankroll. Those using a basic strategy chart will know when surrender is the best option. Reducing losses over the long run gives players a better chance at finding a winning session.

Strategic Decision-Making

Surrender gives players another decision to make, and knowing when and why surrender is available in blackjack is key. Basic strategy will be your friend in this regard. In general, when your hand has less than a 50% chance of winning, you should consider surrender. A blackjack chart gives you the best mathematical decision, much like how understanding blackjack side bets can enhance your overall strategy and potential payouts.

When to Surrender in Blackjack?

A close-up of players at a casino table, with chips and cards on a red felt surface. The players are focused on the game, with a blackjack hand visible in the center of the table.

Using basic strategy offers the best chance of winning and using surrender effectively. Some hands just aren’t worth playing mathematically based on the dealer upcard.

For example, if the dealer shows a 9 or 10, you would only surrender with a 16 in a game with four decks or more. In this scenario, you would also surrender 15 unless in a single deck game because the blackjack odds of the dealer hole card bing a 10 or other favorable card is high. With surrender allowed, you’ll want to check out and save half your bet.

Whether the dealer stands on soft 17 or not also presents a couple options. If the dealer is forced to hit soft 17, you should always surrender a 16 no matter how many decks are in play – saving a bit of your money wagered. If the dealer hits soft 17, you’ll want to surrender 15, 16, and 17 no matter the number of decks.

Surrender vs. Other Options

Knowing when to double down, hit, stand, and split is a crucial part of playing blackjack. In some instances, the best mathematical play may not be surrender and you may just want to hit or stand. These may be the best mathematical plays based on basic strategy.

At other times, taking advantage or the early surrender rule works in a player’s favor and saves a potentially losing bet. The blackjack surrender rule is the rare time where you can actually get some of your bet back from the casino.

Also remember that surrendering early is an even better rule for players. To make things even easier, it might be best to consult a basic strategy chart to consider your surrender options. Similarly, understanding when to take insurance in blackjack is crucial, as it can also impact your overall strategy and potential winnings.

Conclusion

Knowing the ins and outs of the game rules helps dramatically when heading to the blackjack tables. When you play blackjack, surrender can be a great rule for players – allowing you to escape with some of your money when the dealer has a strong hand. This certainly works to the player’s advantage and can really thin the house edge.

Are you looking to jump in a game? Perhaps you’d like to play blackjack with BTC at Lucky Block casino? This can be a great option to learn the ropes and get in the action.

Learn more on blackjack:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between early and late surrender?

In early surrender, players can get out of the hand before the dealer even checks for blackjack. In late surrender, player can only get out after the dealer checks for blackjack. In both instance, players will only forfeit half their bet.

When should I use surrender in blackjack?

Surrender should be used when the dealer is more likely to have a strong hand. This can mean with a hand like 15 or 16 you would usually surrender against the dealer’s 9 or 10. Follow basic strategy to learn the best times to surrender.

Does surrendering affect the house edge?

Yes, the house edge can drop even more – especially if a casino allows for early surrender. Early surrender can reduce the house edge by as much as an additional 0.6% while late surrender will at least knock that down by 0.1%.

Can I use surrender in all blackjack games?

No, surrender is not allowed at every blackjack table or every blackjack variant. The rule isn’t as common as it used to be, but some higher limit games at land based casinos may offer the rule. Online casinos like Lucky Bock, however, may allow surrender at even lower stakes.

How does surrender impact my overall winnings?

This gives players a better chance to win in the long run. Any rule that lowers the house edge gives players a better chance at winning, especially those who become adept at basic strategy.

Why surrender in blackjack?

Surrender in blackjack allows you to forfeit half your bet and exit the round when you have a weak hand likely to lose, reducing your overall losses in the long run.

Tom Middleton

Tom is a crypto gambling expert with more than a decade of experience in the industry and Master’s Degree in Journalism. He has written thoroughly researched guides and reviews for several major publications.

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