The main benefits of using insurance bets at a blackjack table include:
- Insurance betting is profitable for card counters who can keep a rough track of the ten-point cards left in a deck.
- An insurance bet payout is 3:2 when the player already has a blackjack in hand.
- Insurance bets are sometimes profitable when a large bet is placed and the player is about to hit a target.
How much is insurance in blackjack?
Insurance bets in blackjack are usually half your original wager and will pay out 2 to 1 if you win. Even if your insurance bet isn't a winner, you...
How much can I lose if I don't win my insurance bet?
If the dealer doesn't make Blackjack with their second card, you will lose the money you placed into the insurance bet. As this is half of your ori...
Can I play an insurance bet in free online Blackjack?
Yes, insurance bets are available in free, real money and live dealer games of online blackjack. If you're new to insurance bets, we suggest playin...
Can I play an insurance bet in live online dealer Blackjack?
Yes you can, although we suggest being very careful when playing an insurance bet in live dealer or real money blackjack to ensure you don't lose m...
I've just started playing Blackjack - are insurance bets something I should be doing?
If you're new to the game, we recommend playing free blackjack online in order to get familiar with the game play, the odds, the side bets and the...
I'm a more experienced player - should I use insurance?
As a more experienced player, you might be able to keep an eye on the cards that have already been dealt and know when to strike with a well-placed...
What other side bets are available in Blackjack?
If insurance bets aren't your thing or you want to expand your arsenal of blackjack tricks, there are a whole variety of side bet options for you t...
How to play blackjack with insurance?
Example 1 (Dealer has Blackjack): 1 The dealer deals two players who both have staked €100 their cards and their own first card, which is an Ace. 2 Player one is dealt a card valued at 10 and an Ace to get Blackjack. They decide to take the insurance bet and are rewarded €200 for the original bet to withdraw from the round with €100 profit. 3 Player two is dealt a card valued at 10 and an Ace to get Blackjack. They do not decide to take the insurance bet. 4 The dealer then draws a Jack, meaning they have Blackjack. There is therefore a pull between Player two and the dealer, meaning Player two has their original bet returned to them and break even on the round.
What is insurance bet in blackjack?
Insurance bets are a type of side bet in Blackjack that can prevent potential losses if you are confident that the dealer is about to get Blackjack, but also exacerbate them if this turns out not to be the case. So what are Blackjack insurance bets, how do they work and are they worth it?
What does it mean when two players are dealt a card?
The dealer then draws a Jack, meaning they have Blackjack. There is therefore a pull between Player two and the dealer, meaning Player two has their original bet returned to them and break even on the round.
How many cards are worth 10 in blackjack?
As there are four cards worth 10 in Blackjack (10, Jack, Queen and King) players can place an insurance bet if they feel the dealer will get Blackjack. Insurance bets pay 2:1 and allow the player to stake up to half of their original bet, meaning should the dealer turn out to have Blackjack, the player wins the amount of their original bet ...
What happens if you play blackjack face up?
If a player has Blackjack themselves and the dealer’s face up card is an Ace, then the player is offered a different insurance bet. They are given the opportunity to win the exact amount of their original bet, paid out immediately and irrespective of the dealer’s second card. This is referred to as “taking even money”, ...
What does it mean when a blackjack dealer draws a four?
They hit and receive an eight, taking the value of their hand up to 20, and stand. The dealer then draws a four, meaning they do not have Blackjack. They hit again and receive another four, meaning their hand finishes on 19.
What is the value of a seven and a four in blackjack?
Player two is dealt a seven and a four, for an initial value of 11. They do not decide to take the insurance bet. They hit and receive a nine, taking the value of their hand up to 20, and stand. The dealer then draws a 10, meaning they have Blackjack.
Why should I not take insurance in blackjack?
Another reason to avoid insurance is because the more decks being used in the game, the worse the odds get for the player.
What are the odds against blackjack?
The odds against the dealing making a blackjack are roughly 9 to 4. On average you will lose more than half of the insurance bets you make and since the bet pays out 2 to 1, it's a losing proposition.
How do odds work in card games?
Because card-counters are able to keep track, they can identify when the conditions are perfect to make a profitable insurance bet.
What is the dealer's upcard?
The Dealer's upcard is an Ace. You take insurance for $5, half your original wager. The dealer's second card is revealed to be 10. You're paid out 2 to 1 on your $5 insurance bet and break even on that hand.
Can you make an insurance bet with an ace?
The dealer must have an Ace as their upcard, otherwise no insurance bet can be made. If an Ace appears, the dealer will offer players the option to place an insurance bet. Players must decide whether to accept before the dealer checks the hole card, otherwise the offer expires. Top rated site.
What is blackjack insurance?
Blackjack insurance is a side bet, which players are allowed to take advantage of if the dealer’s up card is an ace. Simply put, the player is betting that the dealer will have a blackjack.
What is the payout percentage for blackjack?
If the player wins, that is the dealer’s face-down card turns out to be a 10, then the blackjack insurance payout is 1:1 or a percentage equal to the wager.
What is the house edge in blackjack?
The house edge on paying insurance in blackjack is about 5.8% when a single deck of cards is used. But, modern blackjack is played with 6-8 decks of cards and in such scenarios, the house edge can go as high as 7.5% for a single round of the game.
