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When the dealer’s up card is an ace, you can place an optional side bet called blackjack insurance. If the dealer has blackjack, you can place a bet equal to half of your original stake, which pays off 2:1. The side bet protects you from a dealer blackjack while also balancing your losses.
Insurance bets are a form of side bet in Blackjack that can help you avoid losing money if you believe the dealer is about to get Blackjack, but they can also make things worse if that isn’t the case. So, what are insurance bets in Blackjack, how do they function, and are they worth it? Continue reading to find out.
How Does Insurance In Blackjack Work?
When the dealer’s up card is an ace, the option to place a blackjack insurance bet will be presented. If the dealer has blackjack, you win the insurance bet; if they don’t, you lose it. For more information on how it works, see our section on blackjack insurance rules.
Assume you placed a $10 bet on the first hand, and the dealer’s upcard is an ace. You pay $5 for blackjack insurance. If the dealer has blackjack, you earn $10 from the insurance and get your $5 insurance bet back, but you lose your initial $10 bet (unless the dealer has blackjack as well), so you come out even.
When To Take Insurnace In Blackjack?
If the dealer’s up card is an ace, you can take insurance. Card counting can, however, be used to calculate the optimal time to place a blackjack insurance bet. The best time to put the insurance bet is when there are fewer than 10 valued cards left in the deck. As a result, the dealer’s natural blackjack is less likely.
Is Blackjack Insurance Worth It?
Insurance in blackjack isn’t worth it. While it may be rewarding in a single night, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of casino gambling is a long-term endeavor. Blackjack insurance will also cost you money in the long run. The dealer must have a ten or a picture card in order for you to win your insurance bet. There are 16 of those in a single deck, so there’s only about a 30% chance it’ll come up. When it does land, you earn a 2:1 return, so your 30% chance doesn’t seem so bad.
Blackjacks dealt by the dealer are not always insurable. When the dealer’s upcard has a value of 10, they can also get this tremendous hand. The dealer would peek behind their hole card to determine if it was an ace for a blackjack under US rules, but players would not be offered insurance.
Before making a decision on insurance, players should consider the reasons listed above as well as the advice we provided. If the goal is to win, participants should be as prepared as possible before beginning the game. You must understand what you’re up against, or you risk making poor decisions that will cost you more money in the long run.
If you’re a casual player who wants to stick to basic tactics, you should avoid taking insurance on any hand, including blackjacks. This bet should only be considered if you have mastered the art of card counting.
Here are some Online Bookmakers where you can practice your Blackjack skills: