Blackjack Surrender House Edge
Blackjack Surrender Explained Posted July 7, 2013 by Ken Smith. Among the many questions I answer by email, blackjack surrender is a common topic. Because surrender is not offered at all casinos, and is rarely advertised or posted even when it is available, many beginning players don’t know much about it. The Strategy Of Surrender. Using surrender properly reduces the edge of the casino by 0.07%. Blackjack is a game of percentages and edges. The only way you will ever be a consistent winner at the game of blackjack is to use every means at your disposal to reduce the house edge. That means using surrender when it is wise to do so. In a game where you can only hope to gain a 1% edge over the house, a 99% game isn’t good enough. You need to know these strategy charts backwards and forwards, doing a handstand, in a hurricane, giving your drink order to a waitress, while listening to Count Von Count serenade you on Sesame Street. Download Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart.
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There are many great blackjack games in Las Vegas, even on the Strip.
However, there are also many tables that should be avoided.
Below is the list of the worst blackjack games in the market. This list has been compiled as part of my annual survey of LasVegas table games.
There is some good news this year. There are only a few entrants into the list.
The worst games from last year are still on the wall of shame with only one new participant.
Golden Nugget takes the top spot for a second straight year.
It has a pit of four tables in the front of the casino where Bonus Spin Blackjack is spread. This $1 side bet is typically optional. At Golden Nugget, it’s mandatory. Even worse, the table onlypays 6:5 on a blackjack. The minimum bet is $5.
The Bonus Spin side bet permits the player to spin a virtual wheel when a blackjack is dealt. I estimate a 23% house edge on the side bet as an ace dealt does get the bet back, something normallyfound in the rules. The blackjack game has a house edge of about 2%.
On a $5 bet, the player theoretically loses $0.23 on the side bet and $0.10 on the flat bet. This theoretical $0.33 loss per hand on a $5 bet puts the house edge at 5.5%. This is the worstblackjack game in Las Vegas.
There are several decent blackjack options at Golden Nugget.
For $10 or $15, you will find a 3:2 blackjack game with surrender and double down before and after splitting. For $50, you will find a double-deck game in high limit with double down before andafter splitting.
Four Queens and Binion’s have their own version of Bonus Spin Blackjack.
Like Golden Nugget, the side bet is mandatory. However, the game pays 3:2 on blackjack. Signs proudly announce this rule change to draw players. Unfortunately, it’s a gimmick because players arebetter off playing any standard 6:5 game or even a video version on a Game King that pays even money on a blackjack.
The minimum bet is $5 at each of these casinos. The main bet theoretically loses $.0325 per hand. The side bet has an expected loss of $0.23. This puts the house edge at 4.38%, making it thesecond-worst blackjack game in Las Vegas.
Four Queens has one 3:2 blackjack table. It has a $25 minimum bet. It uses two decks. Double down after splitting is not permitted. Binion’s does not have any other 3:2 tables.
If you must play something at Binion’s, we recommend craps where the minimum bet is $5 and odds are five times.
Free Bet Blackjack has become a popular game in Las Vegas.
Unfortunately, every installation on the Strip and at Station Casinos pays 6:5. This puts the house edge at 2.4%.
There are still a few 3:2 Free Bet Blackjack tables in Las Vegas.
You will find them at Eastside Cannery, Golden Gate, Plaza, and The D. The house edge for this game is 1.03%.
Zombie Blackjack is a variant where the player can win on a busted hand if the dealer is showing a 7 through ace.
This game had a 3:2 payout when it was first released, even at Venetian and Binion’s. However, this game now has a 6:5 payout at Red Rock Resort. That is the only casino left that spreads it.
The house edge on 6:5 Zombie Blackjack with a 6:5 payout and perfect play is 2.39%.
Red Rock Resort has $10 3:2 double-deck blackjack games with double down after splitting. Try one of these tables instead.
The party pit blackjack at Caesars Palace pays 6:5. This is not that unusual. However, it also has more bad rules.
Eight decks are used. Players can only double down on 10 and 11. Double down after splitting is not allowed. Aces may only be split one time. Surrender is not allowed. The house edge for thisgame is 2.34%.
This game is not just found in the party pit. It is spread in every table game pit at Caesars Palace outside of the dome and high limit.
Caesars Palace offers 3:2 eight-deck blackjack under the dome. It allows double down before and after splitting, as well as surrender.
The dealer hits soft 17. For $100, this game stands on all 17s. Another $100 game is double-deck blackjack with double down before and after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17 here.
Knowing which blackjack tables to avoid in Las Vegas is useful. My list of the worst Vegas blackjack games in 2019 will help you steer clear of the tables offering the least favorable rules andconditions.
If you’re wondering where you SHOULD play, check out my list of the best blackjack games in Las Vegas thisyear. You can also check the full results of my 2019 Vegas blackjack survey for more information.
For any questions regarding this list of blackjack games, or my survey in general, please use the comments below or contact me onTwitter.
Surrender is allowed at many casinos throughout the world. This includes ones on the Internet. Most players do not understand its benefits and often misplay hands due to not knowing the basic strategy of blackjack surrender.
Surrender is only offered at shoe blackjack games. Single and double deck blackjack games, even ones spread at online casinos, never allow surrender.
What is Surrender?
Surrender is where the house allows a player to fold before drawing cards. If a player chooses to surrender then half of the original wager is returned and the cards are removed from play. The action of a surrendered hand is over, even if the dealer busts. A player that wishes to surrender in a live game will run a finger behind the bet. Online games that offer surrender will have a button on the table.
Make sure to check the rules before playing to ensure that surrender is available.
When to Surrender at Blackjack
The strategy of blackjack surrender depends on whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17. There are only four instances when a player should surrender when the dealer stands on soft 17. There are seven times a player should surrender when the dealer hits a soft 17.
Players should surrender 16 against a 9, 10 or ace when the dealer stands on all 17’s. The exception is a pair of 8’s. Those should still be split against any dealer door card and never surrendered. A 15 hand should be surrendered versus a dealer’s 10-value card.
The rules change a little when the dealer hits a soft 17. The surrenders in the stay on 17 games also apply to the hit 17 games. Players will also surrender 15 and 17 against an ace. A pair of 8’s is still split against every hand except for when the dealer has an ace. In that case, it should be surrendered.
How Does Surrender Affect House Edge?
Blackjack Early Surrender House Edge
A game that offers surrender has a house advantage .08% lower than a game with similar rules but no surrender. Some casinos will try to lure players by placing placards on the table that state “surrender available”. These signs are common at Caesars Entertainment tables on the Las Vegas Strip. Most tables with these signs are games that pay 6-5 on a blackjack, which adds 1.39% to the house edge. Make sure to ask the dealer if the game pays 3-2 on a blackjack before throwing your cash on the table.