Survivor is , at its core , a game of numbers . The most successful players in the game have alliances which control the majority of the vote , which lets everyone in that alliance make sure they aren ' t going home . In a tie situation , the rock draw is the ultimate display of loyalty to your alliance . Players A , B , C , D , E , F , G , and H are all voting . ABCD form an alliance and EFGH are allied , and the vote is deadlocked 4 to 4 between A and E . They revote . Here ' s where you have a choice and put your game on the line . If you flip on your alliance and make the vote 5 to 3 , you ' re safe for sure . If you stay with your alliance , and everyone else does , when the vote comes back up 4 to 4 again then A and E are safe from going home because the tribe can ' t come to a majority or consensus vote to get rid of one of them and the other 6 draw rocks . Sticking true to your alliance and going to rocks sends the message of I would rather give myself a 1 in 6 chance of going home than take the guaranteed safety tonight by betraying my alliancemates . A lot of votes have changed on the revote because people are scared to do that . Going to rocks is the ultimate risk because you put your own neck on the line for the good of the people you ' re aligned with . It ' s only up to chance if you ' re willing to let it come to that .