About the Author
While passing through Reno in 1967, I played my first hand of blackjack. The game really got my interest and it did not take much research to realize that playing basic strategy with good card counting was the best way to beat casinos. But as previously discussed, this is no longer a realistic approach to win at blackjack.
Other than the major problem of not being able to use your card counting skills, several other observations over the years were influential in my decision to develop a new blackjack strategy. One was that playing basic strategy with flat betting only gave the house a slight edge, so it would not take much of an improvement in the betting process to erase the house advantage. Another was that making some plays according to the "book" did not make much sense...like always splitting eights or hitting twelve when the dealer had a two or a three showing. Surrender is also a good, but mostly unknown, playing option that needs to be exercised more than what is generally recommended (see article below). And I have seen many streaks, both hot and cold, that defy the odds. As a result, this strategy has a few interesting twists that I think you will find helpful.
I have been successful using Hot Streak Blackjack Strategy and I am confident that you will be too.
Thanks for your time and good luck!
Pete Caldwell
Hot Streak Blackjack Strategy since 2008 - Copyright 2012 by Pete Caldwell
Using its universal basic strategy chart and special betting technique with no card counting, Hot Streak Blackjack Strategy gives you an excellent chance to win at blackjack. With no shipping charges and no waiting, this $14.95 strategy eBook can be yours in an instant.
In 2009, I wrote a few blackjack strategy articles for several online magazines that were eventually copied in various casino and gambling newsletters, blogs, and forums. The one regarding surrender is shown here.
BLACKJACK STRATEGY AND THE POWER OF SURRENDER
Surrender is a powerful weapon for your blackjack strategy arsenal. It is a playing option that casinos don’t advertise or promote because it favors the player.
What Is Surrender?
Surrender is a playing option taken after your first two cards are dealt...if you tell the dealer you surrender, you will get half of your bet back. For example, if you are dealt a ten and a six for 16 against the dealer’s ten and you take the surrender option, the dealer would return half of your bet. There are two kinds of surrender:
1.) Early Surrender – You surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack (when the dealer’s up card is a ten or ace).
2.) Late Surrender – You surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack.
Obviously, early surrender is the better of the two because you can get half of your bet back even when the dealer has blackjack. Unfortunately, this is why it’s difficult to find a casino that offers early surrender. Late surrender is more common, but you normally won’t see it spelled out with the other table rules. So just ask the dealer before you sit down or when you get to a situation where you want to surrender. You’ll find that casinos will have some tables that offer surrender and some that don’t. For instance, tables where cards are dealt from the dealer’s hands might not offer surrender; but if cards are dealt from a shoe or continuous shuffling machine, surrender would be available. Or a casino might not offer it if the dealer has to stand on soft seventeen, but would make it available if the dealer has to hit soft seventeen.
The Power of Surrender
The power of surrender is in the amount of money you save…just think of all the times that you have busted when hitting 15 or 16 against a dealer’s ace, ten, or even nine…how much money would you now have if you had half of your bet returned for each of those busts? Another way of considering the impact of surrender is realizing that it is equivalent to pushing or tying half of the time…which is significant for a stiff hand like 16 against a dealer’s ten.
Blackjack Strategy
Using the surrender option while playing basic strategy with flat betting can actually give you a profit for a session where you and the dealer win about the same number of hands. Your profit will be directly proportional to the number of hands that you surrender. And if you play a more advanced blackjack strategy where you adjust bets based on card counting or win/loss trends, your profit could be even better.
Surrender is a great tool to improve your bottom line, so next time you go to a casino make sure you try to find a table that has this option. Don’t be bashful!
Hot Streak
