Not every casino offers this rule – when they do, you better know how to use it.
Surrendering Your Hand
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beating blackjack
Video Categories
- Video Categories
- Section 1 – Card Counting Concepts
- Section 2 – Understand the Game
- Section 3 – The Importance of Rules
- Section 4 – Beating Blackjack: Basic Stategy
- Section 5 – Beating Blackjack: Card Counting
- Section 6 – Beating Blackjack: Deviations
- Section 7A – Beyond the Basics
- Section 7B – Beyond the Basics – General
- Section 8A – Advanced Blackjack – Cover and Team Play
- Section 8B – Advanced Blackjack Play – Casino Relations
- Section 9 – Advanced Blackjack – Beating the Game
Why in this video did you say that basic strategy says that you surrender a Hard 17 against a dealer’s Ace? In the basic strategy posted on your website it in fact says the only time you would surrender on a dealer’s up card Ace is when you have a Hard 16.
Kevin,
In the video, Ben’s talking about Basic Strategy for an H17 game (dealer Hits soft 17). When we posted the new charts, we decided to put one Basic Strategy chart, rather than separate charts for both H17 and S17 games, and we went with the S17 chart, as it’s the most common Basic Strategy out there (although H17 games are becoming more common). Sorry for the confusion.
In most of the videos, you use a hit ‘soft 17′ chart for basic strategy. With a stand ‘soft 17′ game holding a .2% higher chances for the player as well as the most common, I was wondering why he refers to the hit ‘soft 17′. Is that the type of game you personally look for? If not, what would be a typical game (the rules) that you would play?
Also, I was curious when you surrender. The S17 Chart says to hit when a player has 16 vs. 9,10,Ace and 15 vs. 10. Below that on the fourth chart labeled ‘surrender’, it says to surrender with those four combinations. Which do I do?
In combination with the deviation chart, it says to surrender (hard totals) when a player has 16 vs. 9,10 when the count is 0+ or higher, and player holding a 15 vs. 10 when the count is 3 or higher. Below the hard total chart, there are five deviations to incorporate. For instance, the hard total chart says to deviate 15 vs. 10 at a 3 or higher, the surrender chart says to deviate when the count is 0-.
I am looking for a solid understanding of how to use the basic strategy chart for surrendering and also a better understanding of the deviation chart in regards to surrendering.
Thank you for helping me to understand. I have watched all of the videos over and over and have learned an abundent amount of information.
Matt
Matt,
1. Stand on soft 17 is superior. However, it’s becoming less common. It still exists in lots of places, but I would say that 70% of casinos have H17 games.
2. If you’re able to surrender, you would always do that, before hitting or standing. But if that’s not an option, you’ll go to the basic strategy for hitting or standing.
For example: You have a 16 v. 10. Your first thought is, “can I surrender?” If the casino offers surrender, and the count is 0 or higher, you’d surrender. If the count is below 0, you’d hit. If the casino doesn’t offer surrender, then you’d ask yourself, “Should I deviate from basic strategy?” Since the deviation number is 0, then you’d hit if the count is below 0, and stand if the count is 0 or higher.
@ Colin
In your 1st post you said S17 is more common to use for Basic Strategy but in the second post you say H17 games are in 70% of casinos?
I’m confused which is it?
Almost every Basic Strategy chart you find will be a S17 basic strategy chart, because, historically, that’s what most casinos offered. But in the last 20 years, H17 is becoming more and more common. I’d say that roughly 70% of blackjack tables are H17 nowadays. But it really depends on what part of the country you’re in.
My advice is to memorize the Basic Strategy chart we have (which is S17), then, learn the deviation chart for the game you will most commonly play. If you’re going to be somewhere with both games, like Vegas, you’ll want to learn both deviation charts. But start with one.
Amazing! Exactly what I was looking for!
Hi guys! I’ve found out that on some Spanish casinos the house let you surrender whenever you want expcet “when the first card of the dealer is an Ace” how should I interpret that? as an early surrender but without the possibility of surrenderring againts an Ace? Is this a common rule? Thank you and congrats for the site!
Bolson,
It depends what the other rules are… what’s the complete list of rules?
Hi colin, thanks a lot for answering.
Here are the rules:
- 6D
- S17
- DAS (it doesn’t say anything about this so I guess it is permitted)
- Double on any first two cards except the pair of Aces
- ENHC (dealer doesn’t peak)
- Surrender allowed except when the dealer shows an Ace
- When splitting Aces, only one card allowed
I’ve been reading on different BJ forums and ended up a bit discouraged… it seems that Europe is no longer a good place for counters as CSMs are all over the place and even playing perfect BS the rules give an average %0.63 advantage to the house. I wonder if it’s worth the effort of mastering the techniche…
Thank you guys for your time and regards from the basque country!
Bolson,
I wouldn’t be worried about a .63 casino edge. That’s pretty average for what we’ve played here in the US. The bigger issue would be if they’re all CSM’s. If not, and they have an OK cut (less than 2 decks), then it’s totally beatable!
-Colin