Surrender in Black Jack
Let’s talk about the option to “surrender” your hand in black jack, if and when to do it, and how surrendering at certain points in the hand can actually increase your statistical advantage in the game if you do it at the right times.
First of all, what is “surrendering?” This is basically giving up your hand and half your bet after your cards and the dealer’s cards have been dealt. Why would somebody do that? If the dealer has an Ace, for one, or a various other number of combinations against your cards that would put you at a mathematical disadvantage right off the bat.
I’ve told you before it doesn’t make much sense to take insurance when you play online black jack, but what about surrendering your hand? Surely if I feel strongly about one, I must feel the same way about the other one, right?
Wrong, there are times to surrender your hand. If you’re in the game for the long haul especially. If you pick your dealer-player hand combinations carefully, you can decrease the house advantage by surrendering.
There are two types of surrendering, but many casinos will only offer the second type. The first is “early” surrender, which allows you the ability to decide whether you want to surrender your hand before the dealer checks his hole card to see if he has a blackjack. The second is called “late” surrender, which only allows you the option of surrendering after the dealer checks. Early surrender reduces the house advantage the most, but for the most part you’ll have to take what you can get.
So, in a regular, say six-deck game, if the dealer shows an Ace, you’re surrendering on anything between 12 and 17 (including pairs, do NOT split them ) is a smart move. If the dealer shows a value of 10, you’re going to want to surrender on 14-16. If the dealer shows a 9, surrender on 15 or 16.
I know it’s going to be difficult, especially for new players, to buy into the idea of “giving up” on your hand before you even play it, but there are certain combinations in blackjack that put you at a greater disadvantage, and likely will result in you losing the hand anyway. Surrendering early allows you to half your losses, and live to fight another hand.