Surrender is a maneuver that's available in a few types of variants of Blackjack which are found at both online casinos as well as brick-and-mortar casinos in Vegas, Atlantic City and other gambling meccas around the globe. Typically, the move is exercised when players feel that they have a hand which will not be worth playing out. As the name goes, ‘surrender' in blackjack means that a player can give up and move out of the round, if he has a weak hand that cannot possibly beat the dealer's. The advantage of this option is that instead of losing the entire wager amount, you will only lose 50% of your bet when you surrender. In some Blackjack games, surrendering allows you to forfeit your hand and take back 50% of your initial wager if you feel you are bound to lose to the dealer, provided it is allowed in the variant you are playing. Surrender, or late surrender as it most commonly called, is exactly what the name implies. It is basically an option which allows to the player to give up their hand and forfeit half of their original wager after the dealer checks to see if they have blackjack. Blackjack surrender is commonly called late surrender. It is what the name implies. With this option, you can give up your hand and then forfeit about half of your actual wager after the dealer will check to find out whether they have blackjack.
I know that we are always told, on this site and elsewhere, to use hand signals when playing blackjack. I'm curious to see if anyone else has had a similar experience.
IE, 'proper procedure:
Verbally say 'surrender'
Dealer acknowledges you want to surrender
Do hand signal for surrender [for surveillance]
I wonder if a different hand signal could be made (I'm sure it could be) to introduce a new signal for surrender, one that is easy but doesn't look like the hit signal. Perhaps every BJ seat can come equipped with a French flag, that must be waved when surrendering.
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If you must do only one, then just say 'surrender.' I'm sure I've written somewhere that surveillance must be able to see what you want to do. That is in general true, but if you give the hand signal only, the dealer will likely interpret it as a hit and an argument will ensue if you bust.
I've been scolded for only using the hand signal and for only saying surrender. So I usually just ask which they'd prefer the first time I surrender...
(And if the dealer tells me surrender is a bad play - THEN I get really mad. That happens far too often.)
We asked Geoff what the hand signal was for the free bet. He hadn't come up with one. I think he thought that the verbal request, combined with the dealer placing the FreeBet token, was good enough. So rather than asking the dealer or floor, we came up with one ourselves: Do the King Kong chest pound thing. As if that wasn't enough, we added doing it while grunting like a gorilla.
Blackjack Surrender Strategy Chart
Even though we were all having a good time, dealer included, for some reason it didn't catch on.
I always do both at the same time, saying 'surrender' quite loudly.
If you must do only one, then just say 'surrender.' I'm sure I've written somewhere that surveillance must be able to see what you want to do. That is in general true, but if you give the hand signal only, the dealer will likely interpret it as a hit and an argument will ensue if you bust.
And if you're worrying about getting thrown out, well, that won't happen if you only do it once, and anyway, consider how long it would take to get thrown out of every casino in the world. Hmm, maybe not all that long for every casino that offers surrender...
I think my moral purity is being corrupted by the Wizard's 'Are you a good person?' thread.
This happened to me back in 2013 when I was at the MGM Grand. I was playing blackjack and during my session, there were 2 instances where I elected to surrender, according to basic strategy. I used to appropriate hand signal in both cases. After the second time, the dealer said to me to just say the word 'surrender' and not use the hand signal since it almost looked like I wanted to hit.
I know that we are always told, on this site and elsewhere, to use hand signals when playing blackjack. I'm curious to see if anyone else has had a similar experience.
The dealer's advise of using only verbal signal is wrong. Hand signal should used because it can visually verified by surveillance camera in case of dispute.
My advice is to use both verbal and hand signals.
The dealer's advise of using only verbal signal is wrong. Hand signal should used because it can visually verified by surveillance camera in case of dispute.
My advice is to use both verbal and hand signals.
I have a special hand AND verbal signal for when the dealer hits his 16 with a 5 and beats my 20, but so far, neither has been well received.
- Page 1 of 2
Let's face it, sometimes we are just having an off day, with bad hand after bad hand. And sometimes, surrendering is our best bet; an occasionally viable tactic in games of blackjack which allow the player to do so. Surrendering, as we explain in our glossary of blackjack terms, refers to the offer in some games styles of blackjack (mainly American versions) which allows players to forfeit their hand in the current round and get back half of their original wager. The option to do so is offered by some land-based casinos, and the majority of online casinos.
If you have a hard hand of 14 and the dealer has an Ace on show, surrendering in order to retrieve half of your bet instead of quite possibly losing it all can be appropriate. Surrendering is a feasible option if you are dealt a poor hand and the dealer has a strong hand, but it has to be used in the right situation. Otherwise, it's money down the drain that could have won.
Available Surrendering Options
Surrendering is only available as a first decision of a two-card hand. It is usually only offered in hole-card games (but see below for variations), where the dealer draws two cards and may or may not peek at the hole (face down card), before players make their decisions. But in general, surrendering will usually only be available directly after the dealer has checked for blackjack.
The variations we speak of are early and late surrender. Late surrender, explained above, refers to being able to do so in hole card games, only after the dealer has checked for a blackjack. It is the most common option at all types of casinos. If the dealer checks and does indeed have a blackjack, surrendering is thus made unavailable.
Alternatively, early surrender is when you are allowed to surrender before the dealer checks (or if the dealer doesn't check at all) for blackjack in hole-card games, or in a no-hole-card game, where the dealer does not draw a second card until all players have acted. As you can see, early surrender is significantly more favourable to the player than late surrender is, which is why early surrender is not often available.
When to Consider the Move
As mentioned above, surrendering can be an appropriate play if used at the right time. It may seem like a cowardly move which is not progressive or beneficial in the long-run, and it is if not used correctly: you're wasting hands that have the potential to win. Only consider surrendering as a last possible resort on the very worst hands.
There are only a few hands in which surrendering can be considered (late surrender). If you are lucky enough to be playing with the rare early surrender option, this allows for more flexibility and you might consider surrendering medium to low strength hands if the dealer holds an Ace (and the hole-card has not yet been examined).
Poor Hands to Consider for Early Surrender
- You hold a total of 12 to 17 against a dealer's Ace.
- You hold a total of five to seven against a dealer's Ace.
- You hold a total of 14 to 16 and the dealer has a Ten.
- You hold a total of 16 and the dealer shows a Nine.
Poor Hands to Consider for Late Surrender
- Your hand totals a hard-15 and the dealer holds a 10-valued card or an Ace.
- Your hand totals a hard-16 and the dealer holds a Nine, 10-valued card or Ace.
- Your hand totals a hard-17 and the dealer holds an Ace.
Blackjack Surrender Rules
How to Surrender in Blackjack
At most land-based casinos, BJ tables will have rules on a placard for players to view, but it is still worth confirming with the dealer before playing, just to make be certain surrendering (or any other option for that matter) is available. Online casinos will typically label each game with the available options which can be checked before, during and after play.
Even though we were all having a good time, dealer included, for some reason it didn't catch on.
I always do both at the same time, saying 'surrender' quite loudly.
If you must do only one, then just say 'surrender.' I'm sure I've written somewhere that surveillance must be able to see what you want to do. That is in general true, but if you give the hand signal only, the dealer will likely interpret it as a hit and an argument will ensue if you bust.
No, no, no. You do the hand signal, but in an ambiguous manner. Then when the dealer gives you a card, you say nothing if it improves your hand, but if it busts you, you loudly proclaim that you gave the surrender, not the hit signal. Ideally, you have perfected your surrenderhit signal so that a reasonable person could interpret it either way.
And if you're worrying about getting thrown out, well, that won't happen if you only do it once, and anyway, consider how long it would take to get thrown out of every casino in the world. Hmm, maybe not all that long for every casino that offers surrender...
I think my moral purity is being corrupted by the Wizard's 'Are you a good person?' thread.
This happened to me back in 2013 when I was at the MGM Grand. I was playing blackjack and during my session, there were 2 instances where I elected to surrender, according to basic strategy. I used to appropriate hand signal in both cases. After the second time, the dealer said to me to just say the word 'surrender' and not use the hand signal since it almost looked like I wanted to hit.
I know that we are always told, on this site and elsewhere, to use hand signals when playing blackjack. I'm curious to see if anyone else has had a similar experience.
The dealer's advise of using only verbal signal is wrong. Hand signal should used because it can visually verified by surveillance camera in case of dispute.
My advice is to use both verbal and hand signals.
The dealer's advise of using only verbal signal is wrong. Hand signal should used because it can visually verified by surveillance camera in case of dispute.
My advice is to use both verbal and hand signals.
I have a special hand AND verbal signal for when the dealer hits his 16 with a 5 and beats my 20, but so far, neither has been well received.
- Page 1 of 2
Let's face it, sometimes we are just having an off day, with bad hand after bad hand. And sometimes, surrendering is our best bet; an occasionally viable tactic in games of blackjack which allow the player to do so. Surrendering, as we explain in our glossary of blackjack terms, refers to the offer in some games styles of blackjack (mainly American versions) which allows players to forfeit their hand in the current round and get back half of their original wager. The option to do so is offered by some land-based casinos, and the majority of online casinos.
If you have a hard hand of 14 and the dealer has an Ace on show, surrendering in order to retrieve half of your bet instead of quite possibly losing it all can be appropriate. Surrendering is a feasible option if you are dealt a poor hand and the dealer has a strong hand, but it has to be used in the right situation. Otherwise, it's money down the drain that could have won.
Available Surrendering Options
Surrendering is only available as a first decision of a two-card hand. It is usually only offered in hole-card games (but see below for variations), where the dealer draws two cards and may or may not peek at the hole (face down card), before players make their decisions. But in general, surrendering will usually only be available directly after the dealer has checked for blackjack.
The variations we speak of are early and late surrender. Late surrender, explained above, refers to being able to do so in hole card games, only after the dealer has checked for a blackjack. It is the most common option at all types of casinos. If the dealer checks and does indeed have a blackjack, surrendering is thus made unavailable.
Alternatively, early surrender is when you are allowed to surrender before the dealer checks (or if the dealer doesn't check at all) for blackjack in hole-card games, or in a no-hole-card game, where the dealer does not draw a second card until all players have acted. As you can see, early surrender is significantly more favourable to the player than late surrender is, which is why early surrender is not often available.
When to Consider the Move
As mentioned above, surrendering can be an appropriate play if used at the right time. It may seem like a cowardly move which is not progressive or beneficial in the long-run, and it is if not used correctly: you're wasting hands that have the potential to win. Only consider surrendering as a last possible resort on the very worst hands.
There are only a few hands in which surrendering can be considered (late surrender). If you are lucky enough to be playing with the rare early surrender option, this allows for more flexibility and you might consider surrendering medium to low strength hands if the dealer holds an Ace (and the hole-card has not yet been examined).
Poor Hands to Consider for Early Surrender
- You hold a total of 12 to 17 against a dealer's Ace.
- You hold a total of five to seven against a dealer's Ace.
- You hold a total of 14 to 16 and the dealer has a Ten.
- You hold a total of 16 and the dealer shows a Nine.
Poor Hands to Consider for Late Surrender
- Your hand totals a hard-15 and the dealer holds a 10-valued card or an Ace.
- Your hand totals a hard-16 and the dealer holds a Nine, 10-valued card or Ace.
- Your hand totals a hard-17 and the dealer holds an Ace.
Blackjack Surrender Rules
How to Surrender in Blackjack
At most land-based casinos, BJ tables will have rules on a placard for players to view, but it is still worth confirming with the dealer before playing, just to make be certain surrendering (or any other option for that matter) is available. Online casinos will typically label each game with the available options which can be checked before, during and after play.
To surrender at an online table, click the corresponding surrender button. To do so at a land-based BJ table, wait until you have the dealer's attention after receiving your cards, and verbalise your intentions (with a possible follow-up hand signal). There is no standard hand signal for surrendering, but players will usually move a finger from right to left on the table above their cards (drawing an imaginary line). We suggest making your surrendering intentions clear by first saying so, because signalling a surrender with your hands can be sometimes be misinterpreted as a hit, so verbalisation is really the best way to go.
Blackjack Surrender Signal
Once recognised, the dealer will remove your cards from the table, take half your bet and return the other half to you. Essentially, you have forfeited the opportunity to play out your hand and the casino keeps half of your bet while the other half acts as a push/stand-off/tie; whatever you want to call it.
