If you’re a seasoned blackjack player, you’ve likely heard about the insurance option that many casinos offer. This option allows players to place an additional bet when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace.
The idea behind insurance is that it will protect you against the dealer having a blackjack. However, experienced players will tell you that taking insurance is almost always a bad move. Here’s why:
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The Odds Are Against You
When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, there are only four cards in the deck that can give them a blackjack – the 10, Jack, Queen, and King. But there are nine other cards that won’t give them a blackjack.
That means there’s a 9:4 chance that they won’t have a blackjack. In other words, if you take insurance every time the dealer has an Ace upcard, you’ll lose money over time.
The House Edge Is Too High
Even if you’re convinced that the dealer has a blackjack and want to protect your bet, taking insurance still isn’t worth it because of the high house edge. When you take insurance in blackjack, you’re essentially making a side bet on whether or not the dealer has a blackjack.
The payout for this side bet is 2:1 – so if you bet $10 on insurance and win, you’ll get $20 back (your original $10 plus another $10). But because there are only four cards in the deck that can give the dealer a blackjack and nine that won’t, the true odds of winning this side bet are 9:4 against – meaning for every four times you place this bet, you’ll only win once on average.
So let’s say you make 100 bets of $10 on insurance. On average, you’ll win about 25 of those bets (since the true odds are 9:4 against).
That means you’ll collect $500 in winnings ($20 per winning bet). But you’ll also lose $750 on the 75 bets that you don’t win. That’s a net loss of $250 – or 25% of your total bets.
It’s Better to Focus on the Main Game
Blackjack is already a game with a relatively low house edge – around 0.5% in most cases. By taking insurance, you’re essentially giving up some of that advantage and increasing the house edge to around 8%. Instead of focusing on insurance, it’s better to focus on playing solid basic strategy and making smart decisions during the main game.
Exceptions to the Rule
There are a few rare situations where taking insurance can be a good move in blackjack. For example, if you’re counting cards and know that there’s an unusually high number of ten-value cards left in the deck, taking insurance might be worth it because your odds of winning the side bet will be higher. However, for most players, these situations are few and far between.
The Bottom Line
In general, taking insurance in blackjack is not a good idea. The odds are against you, the house edge is too high, and it’s better to focus on playing solid basic strategy during the main game. Unless you’re an experienced card counter who knows when to take advantage of rare situations where insurance can be profitable, it’s best to avoid this side bet altogether.
- The odds are against you when taking insurance
- The house edge is too high
- Focusing on main game is better
- Exceptions to the rule are rare
Remember, the goal of blackjack is to beat the dealer – not to protect your bets. By sticking to basic strategy and avoiding insurance, you’ll give yourself the best chance of coming out ahead in the long run.
