Should You Ever Take Insurance Blackjack?

If you’ve ever played blackjack, you may have been offered insurance. But what exactly is insurance in blackjack, and should you ever take it In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of insurance in blackjack and help you make an informed decision next time it’s offered to you.

What is insurance in blackjack

Insurance is a side bet that’s offered when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace. The bet costs half of your original wager and pays out 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack (a hand worth 21 points with just two cards) with their face-down card.

The idea behind taking insurance is to protect your original wager in case the dealer does have a blackjack. If the dealer does have a blackjack, you’ll lose your original wager but win the insurance bet, essentially breaking even. However, if the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, you’ll lose your insurance bet and play continues as normal.

Should you ever take insurance

The short answer: probably not.

While it may seem like taking insurance will protect your original wager, it’s actually not a smart move in most cases. Here’s why:

• You’re unlikely to win: The odds of the dealer having a blackjack are around 9:4 (or just under 30%). That means that more often than not, you’ll lose your insurance bet without winning anything back.
• You’re giving up value: By taking insurance, you’re essentially giving up half of your original wager for no reason.

  Even if the dealer does have a blackjack, you’re only breaking even – so why bother

• You’re playing into the casino’s hands: Casinos offer insurance for a reason – it’s profitable for them. By taking insurance, you’re essentially giving the casino more money without any real benefit to yourself.

Of course, there are some situations where taking insurance may be a smart move. For example, if you’re counting cards and know that the deck is rich in ten-value cards (which would increase the likelihood of the dealer having a blackjack), taking insurance may be a good idea. However, for most casual players, it’s best to avoid insurance altogether.

Conclusion

In summary, while insurance may seem like a way to protect your original wager in blackjack, it’s actually not a smart move in most cases. By giving up half of your wager for no real benefit, you’re essentially just playing into the casino’s hands. Instead, focus on making smart decisions with your original wager and leave insurance behind.