Added: November 16, 2017
Some blackjack games at Australian online casinos offer a move called surrender. It comes into play after the initial cards are dealt and the dealer has checked for blackjack, if applicable. If the dealer has a blackjack the hand is immediately over. Otherwise, player has the option to surrender. If he exercises this option, he will lose half his wager and the game will end. If the dealt situation is hopeless for the player, then the surrender move allows the player to cut his losses. Unfortunately, many newbie online blackjack players ignore this move altogether.
If analysed mathematically, you should surrender, when the expected chance of winning is less than 50%. But the big question is how to take that call. Computer simulation of blackjack deals has led to the formulation of some simple rules. The rules differ when the dealer stands on soft 17 and when the dealer hits on soft 17. Hence each case will be considered separately.
Dealer stands on soft 17
If the player is not dealt a hard hand value of 15 or 16, then he does not surrender. If he is dealt a hard 15 or 16 then the dealer’s face up card comes into play. In such a case of a hard 15 the player should surrender only when the dealer's face up card has a value of 10.
In the case of a hard value of 16 the player should surrender only when the dealer's face up card is 9, a 10 value card or an ace. It is important to remember that for the purpose of this rule an eight pair is not a hard 16. You should play with a pair of eights and go for the spolit move.
Dealer hits on soft 17
When the dealer can hit on a soft 17 he has an advantage because there is a chance of finishing with a valid total greater than 17. Therefore you have to be more defensive and surrender more often.
When the player has a hard 15 he should surrender only when the dealer’s face up card has a value of 10 or is an ace. When the player has a hard 16, except a pair of eights, he should surrender only when the dealer's face up card is 9, a 10 value card or an ace. The player should surrender with a pair of eights if the dealer's face up card is an ace. When the player has a hard 17 he should surrender only when the dealer's face up card is an ace.
