Blackjack Surrender EV Calculator

Calculate when surrendering in blackjack is mathematically correct. Compare expected values of surrendering vs playing to make optimal decisions.

Formula:Surrender EV = -0.50 (always)

Decision

SURRENDER

Surrender EV

-50.0%

Always -50%

Play EV

-54.0%

Basic strategy

Savings

$0

Per hand

Common surrender hands

Dealer up card

$

For money calculations

Late is most common

SURRENDER
Save $0 per hand by surrendering

Late Surrender Reference Chart

HandDealerReason
Hard 169, 10, AClassic surrender hand
Hard 1510Borderline, usually surrender
8-8 pairAOnly if RSA not offered
Hard 17AOnly in H17 games

Early Surrender (Rare - Historical)

Early surrender allows you to forfeit before dealer checks for blackjack, making it much more valuable and expanding correct surrender situations:

  • •Hard 5-7 vs Ace: Dealer BJ risk too high
  • •Hard 12-17 vs Ace: Dealer BJ + strong hand
  • •Hard 14-16 vs 10: Dealer too strong
  • •Pair 3s, 6s, 7s, 8s vs Ace: Avoid splitting vs BJ risk
If You Surrender
-$5
Always 50% of bet
If You Play
-$5
54.0% expected loss

Key Facts

  • •Surrender loses exactly 50% of your bet
  • •Correct surrender reduces house edge by ~0.08%
  • •Hard 16 vs 10 is the most common surrender hand
  • •Early surrender is much more valuable than late surrender
  • •Never surrender with soft hands or low totals
  • •Surrender is often unavailable at lower-limit tables

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I surrender in blackjack?

With late surrender, surrender hard 16 against dealer 9, 10, or Ace, and hard 15 against dealer 10. With early surrender (rare), the list expands significantly because you can surrender before dealer checks for blackjack.

What is the difference between early and late surrender?

Late surrender (standard) allows surrender only after the dealer checks for blackjack. Early surrender (rare, mostly historical) allows surrender before the dealer checks, making it much more valuable and expanding correct surrender situations.

Why does surrender save money?

When your expected loss from playing exceeds 50%, surrendering for exactly 50% loss is better. Hard 16 vs dealer 10 loses about 54% on average when played, so surrendering saves 4% of your bet.

Should I surrender 8-8 against an Ace?

Only if resplit Aces (RSA) is not allowed. If you can resplit, splitting 8s is better. Without RSA, surrender 8-8 vs Ace because the split EV is worse than -50%.