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.
4 out of 13 possible cards will give the dealer a blackjack, for odds of worse than 2 to 1, yet that's what insurance pays. That's why it should never be taken. And in your scenario, YOU'VE got 2 tens in your hand that the dealer can't have. On a $10 bet, you'd MOST LIKELY lose $5 on the insurance bet and win your $10 bet for a net gain of $5.
In blackjack, insurance is a side bet which is separate to your original stake. Offered only when the dealer's upcard is an ace, it acts as a safety net against an opposing blackjack. An insurance bet is usually half your original wager and pays 2 to 1. The side bet is completed when the dealer's second card is revealed. Blackjack insurance is a side bet in addition to your initial bet. It lets a blackjack player pay half of their original bet on the side to 'insure' against a dealer hitting blackjack when the dealer's upcard is an ace. When you take insurance and the dealer has a blackjack you break even on the hand, so it appears at first like this is a good bet. But once you dig into the numbers deeper, you can see that it's not really a good bet. Here are the numbers you need to know. The dealer provides the opportunity to take insurance when showing an ace. Let's take a closer look at what insurance in blackjack is, how is it identical to the blackjack even-money payout, and why you should avoid both of them if you are a basic strategy player. How Blackjack Insurance Works. Blackjack players are offered insurance whenever the dealer's exposed card is an Ace.
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.
Should You Take Insurance 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.
Should You Take Insurance In Blackjack
Should You Use Insurance In Blackjack
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.