Taking insurance in Blackjack is usually a bad idea. It’s better to stick to the basic Hi-Lo strategy. However, if you can count cards, your chances improve at certain moments. When that opportunity comes—or how to count cards—you’ll learn in our article on the topic.
Blackjack insurance: what it is and how it works
In today’s world, you can insure pretty much anything—cars, boats, your home, or even your life. If you choose to, you can also take out “insurance” in a game of Blackjack at an online casino. Many people question the very idea of insuring bets, but few of us can deny the sense and importance of protecting our property. The more time you spend around players, the more you’ll realise that Blackjack insurance is definitely a topic worth understanding. Let’s take a closer look at insurance in Blackjack together, so you know exactly what it’s about.
What to know about the insurance option while playing Blackjack
- What is insurance in Blackjack?
- How Blackjack insurance works
- Casinos where you can play Blackjack
- When should you take insurance in Blackjack?
- What are the odds on insurance bets?
- Is Blackjack insurance worth it?
- Blackjack hub – learn everything about Blackjack:
- FAQ – Most common questions about Blackjack insurance
What is insurance in Blackjack?
During a game of Blackjack, players can buy insurance when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. The insurance bet is actually a side bet. It’s usually offered with a 2:1 payout if the dealer’s second card is a 10-value card, which makes Blackjack. In other words, if the dealer has Blackjack, the player receives double their original insurance stake. If the dealer doesn’t have Blackjack, the insurance bet loses and the game continues as normal.
Opinions on Blackjack insurance split the player community into two camps, because many experienced players consider it unnecessary. They’re convinced it’s better to rely on solid Blackjack strategy. The main reason is that Blackjack insurance odds are usually set in favour of the casino, not the player. Let’s take a closer look at how Blackjack insurance works. Before you play, make sure you carefully choose a Blackjack casino bonus, which can definitely boost your chances of winning!
How Blackjack insurance works
The purpose of the insurance bet is to protect the player in case the dealer has Blackjack. Blackjack insurance works as follows:
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When the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, they will offer players the option to take insurance before the game continues.
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To buy insurance, you must place a bet on the insurance line on the Blackjack table. The insurance bet can be up to half of your original stake.
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If the dealer has Blackjack (a hand totalling 21 with just two cards), the player who placed the insurance bet wins a 2:1 payout.
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This means the player receives double their original insurance stake.
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If the dealer doesn’t have Blackjack, the player loses their insurance bet, but the game continues as normal. The player can still win or lose their original bet based on the outcome of the hand.
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When should you take insurance in Blackjack?
Let’s say your strategy is to take Blackjack insurance. In that case, it’s crucial to know the best circumstances in which this strategy pays off. For example, if you know how to count cards and the deck currently has a high count, you may have a better chance of working out whether the dealer has Blackjack. Insurance is a good idea if you think the odds are currently in your favour. On top of that, if you’re playing high-stakes Blackjack or you’re about to place a large amount of money, you might want to buy insurance to protect your investment. If you play Blackjack tournaments, you’ll come across moments where you’ll need to take risks to have a chance of progressing to the next round. In specific situations, insurance can come in handy, as it’s a form of risk you’ll be willing to take at that moment.
What are the odds on insurance bets?
The probability of winning an insurance bet in Blackjack depends on the number of decks used and the specific rules of the game being played. When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, the dealer’s chance of having Blackjack is around 9:4. That works out at roughly a 31% chance. To help you understand that ratio better, here’s what it means. 9:4 means that in approximately 4 out of every 13 cases where the dealer shows an Ace, they will have Blackjack. For example, if a single deck of cards is used, the probability that the dealer will have Blackjack is 4.83%. If the insurance payout is 2:1, the expected value of the insurance bet is -8.75%. This figure means that for every dollar staked on insurance, the player loses 8.75 cents.
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Is Blackjack insurance worth it?
Gambling means you’re willing to take on a certain level of risk. There’s no doubt that casino games can be profitable over the course of a single night. However, if you want to work out what is profitable and what isn’t, it takes some time and effort to learn. That’s why it’s also important to keep in mind that Blackjack insurance will cost you money in the long run. The dealer needs to have a 10 or a 10-value card in the hole card for you to win your insurance bet. A single deck contains 16 of them, so there’s only about a 30% chance of hitting one. If it happens, you get paid 2:1, so the prospects don’t look completely terrible. Still, it means you’ll lose this type of bet in most cases. That’s why buying insurance usually isn’t worth it if you want to maximise your chances of winning. Instead, you should focus on the basic Hi-Lo strategy and make strategic decisions based on your own hand and the dealer’s upcard.
Pros and cons of betting on insurance
Before you decide to take insurance, weigh up the individual pros and cons of Blackjack insurance. You can find the advantages and disadvantages listed here.
- Protection against the dealer’s Blackjack. The main advantage of Blackjack insurance is that it protects the player’s original bet if the dealer has Blackjack.
- Extra payout. If the dealer doesn’t have Blackjack and the player has taken insurance, they receive double their insurance stake, which offsets the loss from their original bet.
- The probability that the dealer will have Blackjack is lower than the probability that the dealer won’t have Blackjack. So taking insurance every hand will lead to a net loss over time. Remember that well.
- By offering insurance, the casino increases its overall edge, which means players who take insurance give the casino a bigger advantage.
- A distraction from basic strategy. Many experienced Blackjack players see insurance as a distraction from strategy. If players focus on their own hand based on basic strategy, they have a better chance of winning over time.
Blackjack hub – learn everything about Blackjack:
- Free online Blackjack + rules
- Blackjack bonuses
- Blackjack variations
- Hand signals in Blackjack
- Card counting in Blackjack
- Insurance in Blackjack
- Blackjack for real money
- Winning probability in Blackjack
FAQ – Most common questions about Blackjack insurance
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1️⃣ Is insurance a good bet in Blackjack?
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2️⃣ What’s the point of taking Blackjack insurance?
Although buying insurance at an casino may seem like a good idea, you need to consider more factors. In this case, the casino has the bigger advantage, which is a downside for most players. However, if you can count cards, you’re able to estimate whether it’s the right time to take that risk or not.
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3️⃣ How much can you bet on insurance in Blackjack?
The amount you can stake on insurance is usually limited to half of your original bet.
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4️⃣ What role does insurance play in Blackjack?
Insurance is one of the side bets in Blackjack that you can place when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. Insurance protects the player’s original bet in case the dealer hits Blackjack.
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