Understanding Online Blackjack Optimum Surrender Strategy

• Published: May 7, 2015
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Many multi-deck online blackjack variants offer a surrender option. This article first explains how this blackjack move works and then states the optimum blackjack strategy for the surrender move.

The surrender option works slightly differently in American blackjack variants and in European blackjack variants. In American blackjack the hole card is dealt for the dealer. If the dealer’s face up card is a ten value card or an ace he checks for blackjack in the usual manner. If the dealer has a blackjack then you lose without having a chance to exercise the surrender option. In all other cases you can surrender your hand and get back half your wager. This is referred to as late surrender. In European blackjack the hole card is not dealt and therefore the dealer does not check for blackjack. You can exercise the surrender move immediately. This is referred to as early surrender.

The attraction of getting half the wager back is so high that newbie online blackjack players use the surrender option indiscriminately, without realizing that they are needlessly losing half the wagered amount. For best returns in online blackjack it is necessary to know the optimum surrender strategy. Three factors determine whether you should surrender or not. If the dealer’s face up card is not a nine, a ten value card or an ace the play on regardless of any situation. If the dealer’s face up card is a nine, a ten value card or an ace then look at the next factor.

The next factor is the rule that determines when the dealer stands and the final factor is your two-card hand value. If the dealer has to stand on soft 17 and the dealer has a ten value face up card, you should surrender only on a hand value of 15 or 16. In this case if the dealer has a nine or an ace, you should surrender only on a hand value of 16.

If the rules state that the dealer has to hit on soft 17, the dealer’s position becomes stronger and you will need to surrender more often. The optimum blackjack strategy for surrender in this case is as follows. If the dealer has an ace, you should surrender only on a hand value of 15, 16 or 17. If the dealer has a ten value face up card, you should surrender only on a hand value of 15 or 16. If the dealer has a nine, you should surrender only on a hand value of 16.