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.

Why you should never take insurance in blackjack If you’ve played more than a couple of rounds of blackjack, you are probably familiar with the concept of insurance. But while it might seem like a safe bet, especially for beginners, casinos have actually been lulling players into a false sense of security.

• A basic strategy player should never take insurance. Only a card counter knows when this bet is profitable. If you are dealt a blackjack and the dealer shows an “Ace” simply reply “No, I’ll take my chances!”, when you are asked if you would like “even money”.
• 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.
• 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.

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.

There are many interesting strategies available for players with online blackjack, one of those being insurance. Insurance allows players to double their money if the dealer hits jackpot which usually leads to a complete loss for all players. This can only be achieved if the dealer's exposed card is an ace. When insurance is taken, the player can win 2:1, which is a good way to still collect even when dealt a poor hand. There are many strategies in blackjack for players to win big with but insurance is one that many players implement when available.

This is still a risk, as it is possible for the dealer to not hit blackjack. This would mean the player loses the bet. If the player has a lower hand then the dealer and the dealer doesn’t hit blackjack, the player would have lost twice. Players should be aware that all strategies in blackjack is a form of risk/reward and there are no sure things or guaranteed wins. Insurance is another way to play to win big in blackjack and is available in online blackjack games as well.

What Is The Insurance Bet in Blackjack?

Insurance in blackjack is a strategy available to players only when the dealer's exposed card is an ace. With this option, players can make a side bet that the dealer will hit blackjack and if the dealer does, then the player doubles their bet. This is a strategy many players take advantage of when they feel they are dealt a bad hand and are confident that the dealer is going to hit jackpot.

When Should I Take Insurance In Blackjack?

When Should You Take Insurance In Blackjack

If you feel like you have a bad hand and the dealer's exposed card is an ace, then you should implement an insurance. That way the player can still win in the round where the dealer has blackjack. This is a risk, however, so be aware that taking insurance is no guarantee for a win. They pay from insurance is 2:1 so it is a good way to double your bet if the dealer hits blackjack.

Is It Worth It To Take Insurance In Blackjack?

It depends. If you truly believe the dealer will hit blackjack or are feeling lucky, then yes. If not, then it is a bad bet. It is all risk/reward like any other aspect of blackjack and players should go into every situation understanding that. Blackjack is a game of chance as a concept therefore if placing a side bet with insurance is worth it is up to the player.

Insurance Payouts In Blackjack

Should You Ever Take Insurance In Blackjack

In legal blackjack, insurance pays the player 2:1 (the player receives two dollars for every one dollar bet). In other words, insurance doubles your bet if you are right. The goal of insurance is to make money if the dealer hits blackjack, where I other situations that would mean a loss for all players. The pay in insurance is a major incentive however, so many players take insurance when the opportunity arises.