When to Surrender in Blackjack?

Blackjack is becoming one of the most popular casino table games. Players that come into the game with a strategy could have a good chance of winning real money. After all, it’s one of the few casino games where there isn’t a house edge.

Another reason gamblers prefer blackjack is that the rules are more lenient. This gives players an advantage in the game. One of the best options to avoid a major loss is playing blackjack surrender. Below, we’re going to discuss what the blackjack surrender rule is and how it works. Keep reading to learn more about when you should surrender in blackjack.

How Do I Surrender in Blackjack?

The surrender rule in Blackjack is a rule offered by some online casino operators and local casinos. Before you can play, you need to check the rules of the game to confirm you’re allowed to use this option. The blackjack surrender can be played when your hand and one of the dealer’s cards have been revealed. It’s a good idea to use this option if you believe you’re going to lose the round.

What Exactly is the Blackjack Surrender Rule?

Basically, surrendering in blackjack is an option to forfeit the game before the cards are dealt so you don’t lose your entire bet. After your hand and the dealer’s first card have been revealed, you have the optional rule to choose surrender in blackjack.

What will happen is, you will have half your bet returned to you and your cards will be folded. You won’t have the option to continue with this round of the game.

Early Surrender vs Late Surrender Rules

There are 2 different types of surrender rules. Early surrender option and later surrender option. Always make sure you know which options are available before you play. The later surrender in blackjack is more common, especially with online casinos. Let’s take a look at the difference between the two.

Early Surrender

An early surrender takes place before the dealer can check for a blackjack. The player will decide to surrender their hand after seeing only 1 card present in the dealer’s hand. This is a common tactic when a player decides that the cards they’ve been dealt are unlikely to result in a win.

Most players will choose the early surrender in blackjack if the dealer has an ace card up. However, it’s not a good strategy to use it every time you see the dealer with an ace card up. After all, there’s no guarantee that their other card is a 10 or face card. If you have a hand that could possibly win, then you shouldn’t do an early surrender. The early surrender rule does mean you’ll lose half of your bet.

Ideally, you should do an early surrender if the dealer has an ace and your hand has 12 through 17. Additionally, you should also call it if you’ve been dealt a low hand of either 5, 6, or 7. It’s not always a good basic strategy to use this option when the dealer has a 10 or face card. However, it can be good if you’re holding a 14, 15, or 16 in your hand.

Late Surrender

Most games will offer the option for late surrender in blackjack. This is when you can surrender your hand after the dealer has checked for a blackjack. It is recommended to use this option if the dealer holds an ace or ten and you’re holding either 14, 15, 16, or 17.

Exceptions to Surrender Rules

It’s a common basic playing strategy to surrender in blackjack if the dealer has a good-looking hand and you are holding a hand with 14 through 17. This is because your odds of going over 21 if you get another card are higher. The odds of you losing at this point are much higher than a win. That’s why it can be a good idea to accept the surrender. After all, losing half of your wager is better than losing the entire sum.

The only exception to this rule is when your hand consists of a pair. If you’re playing blackjack online and get dealt a pair, you will have the option to split them. It’s a good idea to split if you’ve been dealt a pair of 8s. This will give you the chance to play out two new hands.

Conclusion – When To Surrender In Blackjack

The ideal time to surrender in blackjack is when your odds of losing against the dealer are high. This option is generally available when the dealer’s first card is an ace. If you’re holding 14, 15, 16, or 17 in your hand, your odds of beating the dealer are low. By using surrender in blackjack, you will only lose half of your initial bet.