Surrendering in Blackjack: When and How to Do It

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The best (and worst) times to surrender in blackjack

Co-authored by Hunter Rising Reviewed by Ashton Wu

Last Updated: July 7, 2024 Fact Checked

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What is surrendering in blackjack?

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When to Surrender in Blackjack

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How to Surrender in Blackjack

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FAQ

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Tips

Whether you’re playing blackjack at a casino or online, the surrender rule can change up your strategies for the game. This optional rule lowers the house advantage for the dealer, so you’re less likely to lose money during a hand. Keep reading, and we’ll cover what surrendering means and how to decide if surrendering is the best option during your game.

Surrendering in Blackjack: Quick Overview

Surrendering allows you to take back half of your bet after you’re dealt your first 2 cards. Surrender if you have a hard 16 and the dealer has a 9,10, or Ace, or if you have 15 and the dealer has 10. Move your finger horizontally behind your bet to signal you want to surrender.

Section 1 of 4:

What is surrendering in blackjack?

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Surrendering lets you take back half of your bet if you have a weak hand. After you’re dealt in a round of blackjack, you have the choice to surrender on your turn. When you surrender, you drop out of the round and the dealer keeps 50% of your bet. You get the other half of your bet back to use again later on.^{[1]
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- If a table has an early surrender rule, then you immediately get half your bet back when you surrender.
- If the blackjack table has a late surrender, you only get half your bet back if the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack.

Section 2 of 4:

When to Surrender in Blackjack

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Surrender if you have a hard 16 and the dealer has a 9, 10, or Ace. A hard 16 means that you do not have an Ace. When the dealer has a 9, 10, or Ace, they have a high probability of hitting a blackjack. With a hard 16, most of the cards in the deck would make you lose or bust, so it’s better to surrender and recover some of your bet.^{[2]
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- When you have 16 in your hand from an Ace and a 5 in your hand, then choose to hit because you have a soft hand. For a soft hand, the Ace can count as 1 or 11, so you won’t risk busting.
- If you have a pair of 8s, then choose to split your hand. That way, you play 2 hands at the same time and you have better odds of beating the dealer.
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Surrender if you’re dealt a hard 15 and the dealer is showing 10. When the dealer has a 10 or face card, they have a high probability of getting 20 or blackjack from their next card. With a hard 15, you’re more likely to bust or get a lower total than the dealer.^{[3]
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- If you have a hard 15 and the dealer has an Ace, then surrender if they are required to hit on a soft 17.
Some casinos or blackjack tables require the dealer to hit when their hand has a total of 17. When their up-card is an Ace, they have a good chance of getting blackjack or reaching a higher total than you. With 17 or more points in your hand, surrendering protects you from busting or losing your entire bet.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Surrender in Blackjack

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Tell the dealer you’d like to surrender instead of hitting or standing. When the dealer gets to you, just say out loud that you’d like to surrender the round. The dealer will take your cards and half of your bet, but you get to keep the other half.
- If the blackjack table uses the late surrender rule, you won’t get your bet back until the dealer checks their face-down card. If they end up getting a blackjack, they keep all of your bet instead.

Section 4 of 4:

FAQ

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Draw a horizontal line behind your bet using your index finger to signal you want to surrender. Some dealers may ask you to say it out loud as well to avoid any confusion.^{[4]
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Not every casino or online gambling site offers the surrender rule for their blackjack games, so always contact the casino or read through the table rules before you make your first bet.^{[5]
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Not at all! While some die-hard blackjack players refuse to do it, surrendering during a game is a really advantageous play when you’re trying to save your money. Plus, you’ll be able to have fun and play for longer since you aren’t losing as many chips when you have a bad hand.

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Tips

If you’re playing at a casino, check ahead of time if they allow surrendering before placing any bets so you don’t lose more chips than you intended.

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