Surrender Question

Let's say you're playing blackjack and have a matchplay coupon. Then you get a hand that, according to basic strategy, you should surrender. Do you lose the matchplay coupon? (I would think you would.) Because if so you would not surrender, I would think. Do all casinos treat this situation the same?

I just had this situation occur where I had a 16 vs a dealer 10 upcard. I hit and lost. I lost the matchplay coupon too, of course. Perhaps, with the matchplay coupon you should play less aggressively, since by busting you automatically lose the matchplay. I don't really think this is so, though. If I had to guess I'd think you'd have the best chance of winning by playing your hand correctly--hit or stand according to the count.

You get the same idea at FreeBet where on a free hand (after a split) a standoff is no use. So you hit hard 17 vs 7-9 but stand 12 vs 5-6 (note the Push 22 has an effect, so you still hit 12 vs 2-4) . Interestingly you sometimes soft double using real money on a free hand (e.g. soft 17-20 vs 6). Thus if the matchplay coupon is essentially a free hand then it might be worth looking at the FreeBet strategy.

I've seen this pretty dealer/floor dependent. At the same shop I've had 10 different dealers tell me you keep the coupon, and 10 different dealers tell me you lose it. Just ask and try. If you can keep the coupon, then surrender, because you're really getting 75% of your bet back. If you can not surrender and keep the coupon then play the hand out, as you would be surrendering 75% of your bet.

Again, highly depends on the dealer/floor/shop, so you'll have to take each case by case.

Quote: Romes

I've seen this pretty dealer/floor dependent. At the same shop I've had 10 different dealers tell me you keep the coupon, and 10 different dealers tell me you lose it. Just ask and try. If you can keep the coupon, then surrender, because you're really getting 75% of your bet back. If you can not surrender and keep the coupon then play the hand out, as you would be surrendering 75% of your bet.

Again, highly depends on the dealer/floor/shop, so you'll have to take each case by case.

I believe that also means if you can keep the coupon after surrendering you should surrender any hand in which the best non-surrender play has an EV of less than -0.25.

Quote: Kellynbnf

I believe that also means if you can keep the coupon after surrendering you should surrender any hand in which the best non-surrender play has an EV of less than -0.25.

Correct. I should have further specified... If you can keep 75% of your wager when surrendering, this will open up more surrender opportunities.