The #1 Player Guide to Blackjack Surrender

Frank Scoblete
Updated 22 February 2025
Senior Content Editor

Blackjack Surrender is much the same as the original game of blackjack, and is available at numerous real money online casinos, so players shouldn't have any trouble finding it. As the name suggests, blackjack surrender allows players to surrender half their bet should they deem their hand to be a losing one. This means that a bad hand will not be a complete loss as you're able to recoup a portion of your original bet.

How to Play Blackjack Surrender

Played in exactly the same way you would play blackjack with a few new little tricks players can choose to make use of. As usual, your main aim is to get 21 or be the closest to it. Here’s how you'll go about getting started online.

1

Find and Join a Blackjack Surrender Table

The first thing you'll need to do is choose a casino and join a table that offers blackjack surrender.The best part about playing blackjack surrender online is the fact that there will always be a seat at the table for you, unlike a land-based casino.

2

Decision Time

Place your first bet to get going and the dealer will then begin dealing the cards to each player. 2 Cards will be dealt to each player at the table as well as themselves. Should the dealer have a face up Ace in their hand, they are permitted to check whether they may have blackjack.

3

Be Ready to Stand

Once you've been handed all your cards, the next step is to decide whether you're going to hit (take another card), stand ( remain with your cards), split (separate your two cards if they are a pair) or surrender. Surrender should only be used on a hand that is terrible. All too often, players will surrender when they have a weak hand but they should have continued. Always use the surrender wisely.

4

Be Ready to Stand

Once you've been handed all your cards, the next step is to decide whether you're going to hit (take another card), stand ( remain with your cards), split (separate your two cards if they are a pair) or surrender. Surrender should only be used on a hand that is terrible. All too often, players will surrender when they have a weak hand but they should have continued. Always use the surrender wisely.

Blackjack Surrender Rules

Although the variation of blackjack surrender as an entire game is relatively new to casinos, the option to surrender has been in the original version of the game already. With that being said, there are a number of other slight changes to the game surrender that you'll need to keep in mind when playing.

Players are able to double down on their bets after splitting.
The late surrender feature allows players to surrender after the dealer has checked to see whether they have blackjack.
The dealer is obliged to draw till 16 and must also stick on all 17’s.
Players can use the early surrender which must be done prior to the dealer checking their hand for blackjack. This feature is not offered in many other blackjack variants.
Dealers will offer insurance which pays at 2:1.

Play Free Blackjack Surrender

There is no doubt that playing blackjack for free is a fantastic way to enjoy quality online entertainment without the need to open an account and sign up with a casino. If you're new to the game of blackjack, it is a brilliant tool to use in terms of getting to know the nuances of the game. Yes, the game of blackjack is super simple, however, the variations all come with their own little features which may take some getting used to.

Here are some of the features that exist in all free blackjack variants and will help give you an edge:

Pair Splitting

Players are able to split up their two cards should they be dealt a pair in the first round. This will give you double the chance of winning because you're basically playing two hands at the same time. Often players will split high cards such as pictures and aces.

Soft Totals

This refers to when a player has been dealt one ace in their hand. Due to the ace being both a 1 and 11, this hand is considered flexible and offers players a good chance of getting blackjack.

Hard Totals

Similar to the soft total, but differs in the fact that the high card is a picture card or ten. This offers no flexibility but is still a solid hand.

Late Surrender

Being able to retain half your bet once you're aware of the dealer’s hand can massively benefit players with a weak hand. However, don't use this option too frequently as you'll always have a chance even with a weaker hand.

Blackjack Surrender vs Other Versions

Even though blackjack surrender offers the perks of both an early and late surrender for players, in terms of payouts it’s on par with other variants of the game.

Blackjack variant Player payout Blackjack payout Live dealer Mobile availability RTP
Surrender1/13/2NoYes99.65%
Switch1/11/1NoYes99.87%
Perfect1/13/2NoYes99.58%
European1/13/2YesYes99.60%
Atlantic City1/13/2YesYes99.60%

Blackjack Surrender on Mobile

Blackjack Switch on MobileIf you're a player that doesn't have loads of time to play your favorite blackjack games whenever you want, then it's highly likely you're going to be using your mobile device to get your fix. Thankfully, these days, both developers and online casinos are fully aware that the mobile casino industry has exploded over the past few years. As such, almost all games you'll find at an online casino have been optimized for mobile devices.

Whether you're using a smartphone, laptop or tablet, you'll have the entire suite of games at your fingertips. Some online casinos will require you to download and install their software to enjoy their full complement of games, but this is not always the case. Check out our list of recommended casinos if you're looking for somewhere safe and secure to enjoy blackjack surrender.

Blackjack Surrender Tips

There is truly no fool proof way to ensure you're going to be beating the house, however, there are a number of ways you can give yourself a better chance of coming out on top.

Using Surrenders

So, using this feature can often help to ensure that you'll not be losing your entire bet which may seem like a good thing. Don't get carried away using it though as the game of chance will always offer players a slight percentage of a win, even with a weak hand.

Insurance

This may seem like a good idea at first, but dealers will often bait players into taking insurance in order to make sure that the house makes a little extra.

Track your Bankroll

The game of blackjack surrender is usually played at a quicker pace and as such, players can easily burn through their bankrolls without even realizing. Make sure you're always aware of your balance to avoid unnecessary disappointment.

Senior Content Editor
Frank Scoblete is a casino gaming expert with 35 books, over 6,000 articles, and extensive media experience, including consulting for films, TV, and hosting radio shows. He has also organized gaming festivals across the US and Canada, cementing his status as a leading authority in the field.
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Fact-checked by Reza Shojaei
Editor-in-chief

This page has been reviewed by Reza Shojaei, a pioneer in iGaming with over 15 years of experience. As the founder of CasinoTop.com and Value Marketing, he specializes in market analysis, player safety, and regulatory compliance. Reza’s collaborations with top operators and regulators reflect his commitment to fairness and innovation in online gambling.

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