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What is Blackjack Insurance? Should You Use It?
July 25, 2022
What is Blackjack Insurance? Should You Use It?
July 25, 2022
Blackjack Insurance Rules Explained!
The age-old question – should you play the blackjack insurance bet when the dealer has an Ace? Well, there are a few factors to consider when making this tough decision of whether to take insurance or leave the result up to fate.
But what does insurance do in blackjack? And if you do decide to play this bet, how much is insurance in blackjack anyway? We’re covering everything you should know about insurance when playing online casino blackjack games right here.
What is insurance in blackjack?
Insurance is a side bet offered in casino games when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace. If you have a bet on the table, you will be offered the “Insurance” option. This means you can place an extra side bet to insure it against a loss in case the dealer ends up with a Blackjack, which is a 2-card hand total of 21 (Ace and a 10.)
Insurance bets could help protect your bet, as a 2-card 21 beats any other hand on the table. So, if the dealer has an Ace showing, there is a fairly good chance that they might pull a “Blackjack”.
Now, this may sound like a very useful option. But is insurance a good bet in the long run? And what does insurance do in blackjack if the dealer does indeed pull that terrifying 10 that could see your hand going down the drain? Let’s find out.
How does insurance work in blackjack?
In the event that the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace in online blackjack, insurance will be offered to all players with bets on the layout. Players will have the option to accept or refuse insurance, after which the game will continue as normal.
If the player has accepted the option to place an insurance blackjack bet and the dealer pulls a 10 on their hand to form a Blackjack, the player’s initial bet will lose, but the insurance bet will win. How much is insurance in blackjack? It will cost half your initial bet and pays 2 to 1 if your insurance bet wins.
Because the insurance bet costs half your initial bet and pays 2 to 1, it means you’re basically getting your money back on your losing hand – hence the term “insurance”.
Let’s use the image below as an example. The player has a $10 initial wager with a hand total of 17, and the dealer is showing an Ace. If the player opts for insurance, another $5 will need to be wagered for the bet. If the dealer pulls a 10, it will be a Blackjack. This means that the player loses the $10 bet, but wins $10 back on the insurance bet.
When it comes to the blackjack insurance rules, it is important to know that if the player already has a Blackjack (a 2-card 21), insurance will generally not be offered on the bet. However, you might have the option to take even money (get paid an even amount instead of the 3 to 2 Blackjack odds). But that depends on the blackjack game you are playing.
But what does insurance mean in blackjack for the player in the long run? Is this side bet actually a helping hand, or is it something you should avoid? Keep reading to find out now.
Should you take insurance when playing blackjack?
Just like you should know when to double down in blackjack, surrender your bet, or when to pull more cards, you should know when it’s the right time to take insurance. Statistics show that in the long run, it’s not exactly the best option.
Let’s have a look at a deck of cards as an example. Each deck has one Ace, four 10-point cards, and the remaining 8 cards are played at face value. That means only 4 cards of the remaining 12 can give the dealer a Blackjack – that’s a 30% chance.
Is there ever a good time to take insurance? Yes, if you can count cards, that is. But it’s not possible in online blackjack. So, what does insurance mean in blackjack for the online player? It all depends on how well you assess the hands on the table.
If you have a strong hand, for example, 17 or above, and the dealer is showing an Ace, it might be an opportunity to place a blackjack insurance bet. Because even if you do lose the insurance, you may still win on your initial bet.
However, the house edge on insurance bet blackjack odds could be as high as 7.5%, depending on how many decks are used in the online blackjack games you are playing. That’s why it’s always important to strategize and assess the table when taking insurance in online casino blackjack – look out for those 10s!
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