I’ve been playing blackjack online for a while, but I always get stuck on the insurance option. Can someone break it down? Specifically, how does insurance work in blackjack? I want to make sure I’m not missing out on something useful or, worse, wasting chips on a bad move. Any insights from seasoned players? Thanks in advance!
Hey everyone,
Bro, skip it.
Insurance is basically a side bet that the dealer has blackjack, but unless you’re some card-counting wizard, it’s just a chip trap. Pays 2:1, but long-term? House wins. If you’re playing basic strategy, just pretend the button doesn’t exist. Save your stack for real bets!
Ah, the infamous blackjack insurance! It’s an intriguing feature that often trips people up. Simply put, when the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, you’re offered the chance to buy insurance against the dealer hitting blackjack. Essentially, you place a side bet—usually half your initial wager.
If the dealer reveals a 10-value card as their hole card, you win the insurance bet at 2:1 odds, offsetting your main loss. However, if the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, you lose the insurance bet and continue with your hand.
The big question: Is it worth it? Statistically, not really. The dealer’s chance of blackjack when showing an Ace is about 30%. That means most of the time, you’re losing that side bet. Insurance might work if you’re counting cards and know the deck is stacked with 10s. Otherwise, it’s more of a safety net for beginners—though often a costly one!
Spot on, mate! Honestly, I avoid insurance. Unless you’re counting cards, you’re better off putting those chips toward your main hand rather than a bet that rarely pays out.
Fuhgeddaboudit. Insurance is a sucker’s bet. Play smart and skip it, trust me.
Hey @MidwestMaverick insurance in blackjack is basically a side bet that pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. You can take it when the dealer shows an Ace. But honestly, it’s usually not a great bet unless you’re counting cards and know there are a lot of 10s left in the deck. Most players just avoid it. Hope that helps!
@Hector99 What are you even saying? Insurance is NOT for everyone, and it’s mathematically bad in most cases. If youre not counting cards youre just throwing away money
“Most players just avoid it”? Yeah, because they don’t understand why. don’t spread bad advice — insurance is a trap for casual players, period.
@malekinnn Whoa, man, relax 
I literally said it’s not a great bet and that most players don’t take it. I was just explaining what it is, not telling people to take it. You really don’t need to come at me like that; we’re just trying to help someone out here
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@malekinnn mate, no need to bite ppls heads off over insurance. He just said what it is. you don’t need to make it a lecture always telling ppl they wrong - u talk like ur in some blackjack church
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@buddyTed Haha, nah, it’s all good. I think we just misunderstood each other. Blackjack can get people passionate, I get it. But yeah let’s not make this bigger than it is. No hard feelings, right @malekinnn?
@Hector99 @buddyTed right right, let’s all hold hands and sing. The problem is people say “most players do this” and act like it’s a good thing. Most players lose because they don’t play optimally. Anyway, insurance is never worth it unless you’re a counter and even then, barely. That’s the point.
@MidwestMaverick simple rule: dont take insurance unless you’re counting
even then - not always worth it. Casino made it so people feel smart but lose more in long run
@buddyTed At least you get it. Though if someone is counting, there are better opportunities than worrying about insurance. Deviations, betting adjustments, things that actually matter. People should focus on that instead of worrying about useless side bet
Well, I reckon if the dealer’s got an Ace showing, it’s tempting to take insurance, but it’s a trap! Like MidwestMaverick asked, how does blackjack insurance work? It works by taking your chips, plain and simple. Stick to your main bet unless you’re feeling mighty lucky!
It’s a fantastic question, Maverick. Allow me to elaborate on how does insurance in blackjack work in a bit more detail. Insurance is designed to mitigate your potential loss when the dealer has a high probability of blackjack. But here’s the catch—it’s one of the worst bets you can make in the game.
Consider this: the payout for insurance is 2:1, yet the odds of the dealer having blackjack are often less favorable. If you play a single-deck game, the likelihood of the dealer completing blackjack with an Ace showing is approximately 4:13. That’s not nearly enough to justify the risk in the long term.
Professional players and those familiar with card counting sometimes use insurance strategically, as they can predict when the deck is rich in 10-value cards. However, for most players, it’s better to avoid it. It’s merely the casino’s way of increasing their edge over casual players.
In short, Maverick, my advice is to steer clear unless you’re mathematically confident about the deck composition. Focus on your strategy for your main hand instead of letting insurance drain your bankroll slowly.
Crikey, I’ve never gone for insurance either. It’s like throwing good money after bad unless you’re some card-counting wizard. Better odds sticking to the basics, mate!
Insurance? Nah, total waste! Insurance? Nah, total waste! How does blackjack insurance work anyway? Better bankroll management’s the key.
I’ve always wondered how does insurance in blackjack work too. Thanks, everyone, for explaining! Seems like skipping it’s the smart play unless you’re a real pro at the game.