If you are playing at a blackjack table where late surrender is allowed, you should take advantage of the late surrender rule by slightly changing the blackjack basic strategy rules for when to stand on hard hands. Late surrender allows you to surrender your hand and lose half your bet only after the dealer checks for blackjack. Ask the blackjack dealer at your table if late surrender is allowed. Here are the updated rules for when to surrender.
2 blackjack basic strategy rules for late surrender:
- SURRENDER hard 16 (but not a pair of 8s) vs. dealer 9 thru A
- SURRENDER hard 15 vs. dealer 10
3 blackjack basic strategy rules for late surrender when dealer hits soft 17:
- SURRENDER hard 17 vs. dealer A
- SURRENDER hard 16 (but not a pair of 8s) vs. dealer 9 thru A
- SURRENDER hard 15 vs. dealer 10 thru A
The above are the relevant updates to the standing section of the basic strategy card.
John Levandowski 