When to take insurance in blackjack Insurance can seem like an attractive option for the player if the dealer’s up-card is an ace, as there is a close to a one-in-three chance their other card has. The player has a blackjack and the dealer does not; The dealer has a blackjack and the player does not Why Players Should Not Get Insurance. Insurance bets are placed on a smaller table. Many players, however, think about breaking even and could make more by having insurance. What lures many players into getting an insurance bet is its payout. Blackjack insurance is one of those game rules you’ll find in almost every version of twenty-one you’ll play, whether you play online or in live casinos. The main reason blackjack insurance is offered is that many players take insurance. Almost 100% of the time, this is a mistake. Insurance in blackjack is a sucker bet–you should never. Just because blackjack insurance is a simple concept to understand, doesn’t mean it’s without dispute. There are differing opinions on whether it is a good bet or a sucker bet, and we’re here to set you straight.

• When Should You Take Insurance In Blackjack
• Should You Ever Take Insurance In Blackjack
• Do You Take Insurance In Blackjack
• Should You Take Insurance In Blackjack

A question I get asked quite frequently by casino players is whether they should take insurance in blackjack. It seems to be something that confuses a lot of people, even among those that fullyunderstand basic strategy and the role that math has to play in blackjack.

When I’m asked this question I usually just give a simple answer (no), but I sometimes feel inclined to expand on this and explain why. I recently did this with a player who asked the question,and for one reason or another he just couldn’t seem to accept what I was saying. He was absolutely convinced that the insurance bet is always the right way to go.

My initial reaction was to wonder why he asked me the question in the first place, as he was so sure he knew the correct answer himself. My second reaction was to think that I should write a blogpost about taking insurance in blackjack. So here it is! I’ll explain exactly what the insurance bet is for any of you who are not familiar with it, and then use some basic math to explain whyit’s a bad bet.

When playing an Insurance bet, you will definitely lose some money. Image: Pixabay

Insurance is a side bet you will find in almost all Blackjack tables. Those operated by real-life dealers are no exception. This optional bet allows you to insure your wager at a certain price. Although the idea itself may seem quite attractive, placing an Insurance bet is considered one of the worst moves you can make in the game of Blackjack. Stay with us to learn more about Blackjack Insurance and whether it is worth it.

How Insurance Bet Works

As we have already mentioned, this is an optional, side bet and to play it you need to wager extra money. Insurance becomes available after the initial cards are dealt and the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace. Since the dealer’s hand could be a natural blackjack, you are allowed to insure a part of your wager. How does it function? After you see that the dealer has an Ace, you place an Insurance bet which is equal to a half of your main bet. Should the dealer hit a natural, the Insurance bet wins and you get 2:1. However, you lose your Ante bet. On the other hand, if the dealer does not show a blackjack, the Insurance bet loses.

When Should You Take Insurance In Blackjack

When playing an Insurance bet, you will definitely lose some money. It can be your main bet when the dealer hits a blackjack or the side bet when the dealer doesn’t manage to create a blackjack hand. It is easy to see that you cannot win on both bets. As an Insurance bet pays 2:1, it means that you will win the amount equal to your Ante bet when the dealer has a blackjack. But at the same time, you will lose your main bet, meaning that you will in the end still lose half of your main wager. If you beat the dealer, you will win a payout of 3:2 and lose half of your main bet.

Should You Ever Take Insurance In Blackjack

Should You Play Insurance Bet

An Insurance bet should be played only if you are sure that the dealer’s hole card is worth 10. You can be sure about it only if you count cards. As you know, it is not a reliable technique when it comes to Live Blackjack. Unlike at brick-and-mortar casinos, at live casinos, online the deck penetration is never deep enough to provide you with a card count you can bank on. You should not go for an Insurance bet especially when you have a 10 or any face card in your hand.

When you do the math, it is clear that an Insurance bet is really not worth it. Although we have given only two scenarios as an example of playing this side bet, there are other situations as well and none of them provides you with a chance to win more. You can only lose more money. The only situation in which an Insurance bet can be acceptable is when you have been dealt a blackjack and the dealer holds an Ace. By playing the side bet, you practically insure that you will keep your original wager and this is the biggest net gain you can secure. This particularly applies if you play Blackjack at high stakes.

Do You Take Insurance In Blackjack

Should You Take Insurance In Blackjack

In conclusion, we have to underline that no matter what the dealer’s face-up card is, you should stick to your bankroll and do not take unnecessary risks. And playing an Insurance bet is definitely a risky and non-profitable move. It is better to go bust in a single round than lose your money in the long run.