Is Surrender Good in Blackjack?

When playing blackjack, one of the most difficult decisions to make is whether or not to surrender. Surrendering is the act of forfeiting your hand and losing half of your initial bet. It can be a tough decision to make, but is it a good one

The answer, as with most things in blackjack, is that it depends. There are certain situations where surrendering can be a smart move, while in other situations it might not be worth it.

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PRO TIP:In Blackjack, it is important to remember that surrendering your hand can often be beneficial. Surrendering will allow you to keep half of your bet, rather than risking it all in a losing hand. However, there are certain situations where it may be more advantageous to take a chance and play on. Therefore, it is important to evaluate each situation carefully before deciding whether or not to surrender.

Let’s take a closer look at when surrendering might be a good idea:

  • When facing a dealer’s ace: If the dealer has an ace showing and you have a hard 16 or 15, surrendering might be your best bet. In this situation, the dealer has a strong hand and you’re unlikely to win. Surrendering will save you half of your bet instead of losing it all.
  • When facing a dealer’s ten: Similar to facing an ace, if the dealer has a ten showing and you have a hard 16 or 15, surrendering might be wise.

    The dealer has another strong hand and you’re unlikely to win.

  • In games with early surrender: Some casinos offer early surrender as an option. This means you can surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack. If this is available, it can be advantageous to use it in certain situations such as when you have a weak hand against the dealer’s strong upcard.

However, there are also situations where surrendering might not be worth it:

  • When holding pair of eights: Although holding two eights is not necessarily a strong hand, splitting them can often lead to two better hands. Surrendering in this situation would mean losing a potential opportunity to improve your hand.
  • When holding a soft 18 or 19: If you have a soft 18 or 19, surrendering might not be worth it.

    These hands have the potential to improve with another card, and surrendering could mean giving up that opportunity.

  • In games without surrender: Finally, if the casino you’re playing at doesn’t offer surrender as an option, then it’s not even worth considering. In this case, you’ll need to make the best decision based on the cards you’re dealt and the dealer’s upcard.

Overall, whether or not surrendering is good in blackjack is situational. In some cases it can be a smart move that saves you from losing all of your initial bet, while in other cases it might not be worth giving up potential opportunities to improve your hand. As with any blackjack strategy, it’s important to consider all of the factors before making a decision.