Blackjack is for a reason one of the most popular casino games today, and while for some it’s about the simplicity of the rules, for others is about the house edge and the RTP ratio, which is much higher in comparison to other games of chance. No matter which is the reason why someone chooses this game, the main goal is to win some money. The first and most important thing is to understand the game itself and learn the rules, but it is only the beginning of the journey. Understandably, applying certain tactics and strategies will further increase our win percentage, but there is something that not that many folks know about that can help you win more money, and that’s surrender.
What does surrender mean?
Even though this is not a gambling tactic per se, it is a trick that can drastically help us in terms of the house edge, and the great thing is that it is not illegal. Namely, the system works so that we can forfeit and give up half of your initial bet once we see the cards if they do not seem like a winning hand. Okay, this might not sound like that big of a deal, but those familiar with the rules and who have some experience playing blackjack understand pretty well how huge this can be. Of course, timing is everything in gambling, but once you see the cards and think that you got a bad hand, that option to surrender will mean that you will lose much less money when you do not have good cards. As for the system, there are two types of surrender, early and late surrender, and the first one is much better, as even those who lack experience can benefit from it.
1. Early surrender
One thing that makes this one a much better tactic for players is the timing, as it is an option to surrender half of the bet before the dealer checks the hole card. Understandably, this gives players a much better chance to win more often and lose far less money, as they can use it when the dealer has an ace-up card. The bad thing is that this is mostly banned, as it can be a real nightmare for the casinos and their house edge, but you can still find it in some mortar casinos. Because of that, it is necessary to ask the dealer in time whether it is available or not to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
On the other hand, even if you find this possible at some websites, make sure to thoroughly go through the rules and policies, as the chances are huge that they have introduced some other changes in order to reduce the impact this tactic might have over the house edge. If you don’t have time to do so or don’t know where and what to look for to check whether surrender is possible at some website, you will be glad to know that all the info you might need you can find at Mobile Casinos.
2. Late Surrender
There is no big difference between early and late surrender, as the only difference is the moment when it happens, and for the late one, it is after the dealer deals all cards and checks whether they have a blackjack. Everything else is the same, and the player will lose only half of the initial bet, but this tactic is less effective than the first one, and because of that, it is more likely that it will be allowed in more casinos. Deciding whether to use this technique is never easy, and it is necessary to have some experience in playing so you can make the best possible decision, but every beginner should know that if the chances of winning the hand seem to be less than 50%, surrender is always a better option. It is also not allowed in some casinos, so it is always a good idea to ask the dealer in time, as they will gladly explain all the rules to every new player.
Learn the signals
Playing blackjack in land-based casinos differs from doing it in online ones because it is necessary to learn some signals to understand other players and show the dealer your intentions. While in online casinos, it is easy to realize whether there is a surrender option or not, as it will be visible once you start playing, in land-based ones, you need to search for a sign or simply ask the dealer. They will explain to you whether it is allowed and which of the two options mentioned before is available, so there will not be any misunderstandings, and the game will be less stressful. Another thing to ask the dealer is which hand signal to use, as not all land-based casinos use the same one, so it is better to check in time, as the dealer will not react to another signal, which can result in losing more money than planned. In most cases, it will be enough to use the pointer finger to draw a horizontal line and say the word “surrender,” but it can vary from one casino to another, so ask before losing money due to a mistake.
Final thoughts
As you can see, surrender can be a great tactic for every blackjack player who wants to play longer and try to win some money, as by deciding to do that, they will always save half of their initial bet that they can use in the next hand. However, perfect timing is everything, and it can be pretty difficult for beginners to realize when to do that, but the great thing is that after spending some time playing, they will gain more experience and learn when to surrender and when to continue playing. It is much easier to play in online casinos because the surrender option is visible, and we cannot see other players and the dealer, which makes it less stressful, so it is a great option for beginners. However, playing in a land-based casino is a unique experience, so make sure to try it at least once in a lifetime.