Late Surrender

Late Surrender in Blackjack: The Four Hands Worth Giving Up, and Why Each One Qualifies

Under standard six deck rules with the dealer standing on soft 17, late surrender is correct on exactly four two card situations: hard 16 against a dealer 9, 10 or Ace, and hard 15 against a dealer 10. Every other hand should be played out. Used correctly, the option reduces the house edge by roughly 0.08%. The derivation below shows why these four hands qualify and why hands that look similar do not. Rule assumptions Rule Setting Decks 6 (figures computed on an infinite deck model, see method) Dealer soft 17 Stands Hole card Dealer peeks for blackjack with Ace or 10 showing Surrender Late, first two cards only, after the peek Double Any first two cards, double after split allowed Split Once; split Aces receive one card Blackjack pays 3:2 The chart Player hand Dealer 9 Dealer 10 Dealer A Hard 16 (not 8,8) Surrender Surrender Surrender Hard 15 Hit Surrender Hit 8,8 Split Split Split Against any dealer upcard from 2 to 8, …