Make No Cheap Way Out: Blackjack Surrender
Some casinos allow a playing option whereby the player can give up his game round after receiving one's pair of cards. This playing option is known as blackjack surrender. This option costs only 50% of the player's original bet.
Because blackjack surrender reduces house edge, it is becoming less and less popular an option in many casinos. However, if the option is available, blackjack surrender must still be used wisely even if it is built, in principle, to advantage the player.
There are two known types of blackjack surrender: the early surrender and the late surrender.
Early surrender allows the player to give up one's hand before the dealer checks to see if he has a blackjack. Most casinos rarely allow early blackjack surrender because it highly benefits the player while greatly reducing house edge.
If it is allowed, however, correct use of early blackjack surrender is still essential, and should not be used merely as easy way out. When, then, is it a wise option?
Use blackjack early surrender against a dealer's up card of Ace when your hand totals 12 through 17. This rule applies as well to a pair of cards that amount to that value range.
Use it against a dealer's up card is a 10 and your hand totals 14, 15, or 16.
Use it against a dealer's up card of 9 or 10 or an Ace while your hand totals 16.
When you have a pair of 3s, you might as well give up your game when a dealer's up card is an Ace.
The variant of early surrender, the late blackjack surrender, is more common. However, is still rarely available in most casinos.
In late blackjack surrender, the dealer checks his concealed card. The option is then made available after it is known that the dealer doesn't have a blackjack.
When should you opt to give up your card?
Take the late blackjack surrender when you have a hand of 15 and the dealer's up card is a 10.
Use the option as well when your hand is 16 while the dealer's up card is 9, 10, or an Ace.
The two variants of blackjack surrender, the early and late surrender, when any or both are offered by the house, must be used wisely. Blackjack surrender must not be used as an easy way out of a deadlock. The player must consider must consider the likelihood of losing against the dealer. The player's losing percentage must be at around 75% and more. Considering this percentage in relation the player's quarter chance of winning, the player's net gain would roughly amount to the surrender amount of 50% the original bet. So even if blackjack surrender is available, play wisely, play bravely.