Casino & Table Games

Surrender vs insurance blackjack

Surrender forfeit

Half the original wager¹³

Insurance max bet

Half the original wager²¹

Insurance payout

2:1 if the dealer has blackjack²⁴

Key points

• Surrender is a player option to give up the hand and keep half the bet, avoiding a full loss.¹³
• Insurance is a side bet, not a hand-forfeit; it pays 2:1 if the dealer shows blackjack.²¹
• Late surrender is offered only after the dealer checks for blackjack; early surrender is offered before that check.²⁵

Where this term is used

• Blackjack

Not the same as

• Insurance blackjack — a side bet on the dealer having blackjack, not an option to forfeit the hand
• Blackjack surrender — the same concept as surrender; late and early surrender are its subtypes

Related terms

Sources

1. Blackjack wizardofodds.com Defines surrender and insurance, and explains the half-wager forfeit.
2. Blackjack en.wikipedia.org Distinguishes surrender from insurance and describes late surrender timing.
3. Glossary of blackjack terms en.wikipedia.org Glossary entry confirming surrender forfeits half the bet.
4. 二十一点中的保险——坚决说“不”！ wizardofodds.com Details the 2:1 payout for insurance bets.
5. When to Surrender in Blackjack wizardofodds.com Explains late vs early surrender and the half-wager rule.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.