When should you surrender in blackjack?
Surrender is the least-known and most misunderstood blackjack option. It feels like quitting, but on the very worst hands, waving the white flag and keeping half your bet actually loses you less money over time than playing on.
How surrender works
If a table offers surrender, you can give up your hand right after the deal and forfeit half your bet, keeping the other half. This is usually 'late surrender,' allowed only after the dealer checks for blackjack. Not every game offers it, so check the rules first.
The only hands worth surrendering
Under common rules, surrender a hard 16 against a dealer 9, 10 or Ace, and a hard 15 against a dealer 10. If the dealer hits soft 17, also surrender 15 versus Ace and a pair of 8s versus Ace. These are the spots where losing half beats playing a hand you will usually lose.
Why it saves money
On a 16 versus a 10, you win only about a quarter of the time. Surrendering caps your loss at half a bet instead of risking the whole thing. Used correctly on just a handful of hands, surrender trims the house edge a little in your favor.
Related questions
Do you hit or stand on 16 in blackjack?
It depends on the dealer's upcard. Stand on a hard 16 when the dealer shows a weak card, 2 through 6, and hit when the dealer shows a strong card, 7 through Ace. If surrender is offered, give up 16 against a dealer 9, 10 or Ace. A pair of 8s that makes 16 should be split, not played as a 16.
What is basic strategy in blackjack?
Basic strategy is the mathematically proven best decision for every possible hand you can hold against every card the dealer can show. It was worked out with computer simulations and is usually shown as a color-coded chart. Following it perfectly reduces the house edge to about 0.5%, without any card counting required.
What is the house edge in blackjack?
The house edge is the small built-in advantage the casino holds over time. In a good blackjack game played with correct basic strategy, it is only about 0.5% - one of the best odds in any casino. Poor rules like 6-to-5 blackjacks, and common player mistakes, can push the real edge to 2% or more.