What Is Insurance in Blackjack?
Blackjack is one of the most common games to get started with, and you’ll find it in many casinos around the world. You will need to consider several terms that you might otherwise have not thought about, and insurance is one of those.
Before you take insurance in blackjack, it’s important to remember that some players might find this a risky move. There are a lot of things to keep in mind, as you might find that it sometimes does more harm to your game than good.
If you’re unsure about what insurance in blackjack is, don’t worry as we’ll help you out today. You’ll also learn when you should buy insurance in the game, along with how much this costs.
Insurance in Blackjack: What’s the Point?
Blackjack insurance effectively works as a side bet. You can use it in a small range of scenarios, but taking out insurance during blackjack isn’t normally something that many people do.
You might want to take out insurance when playing blackjack because your hand tallies to a higher number. Another instance in which you may wish to do this is if you think that the dealer has an upcard ace.
How Does Insurance Work in Blackjack?
When you place an insurance bet in blackjack, you will often place around half of what your normal wager is.
In most forms of blackjack that you’ll play at a casino, the odds are 2/1.
Is Bet Insurance Necessary?
In most cases, getting insurance in blackjack is not necessary. And often, doing so will actually harm your chances of winning more than it will benefit you. You can very easily go through dozens of blackjack games without seeing a single person take insurance.
Betting insurance in blackjack can also cause problems if you have more decks in your game. The reason behind this is that you can, if you aren’t careful, technically heighten your chances of losing.
In many cases, getting yourself out of a tricky situation in blackjack is better done via other methods. We’ll talk about tactics you can use to maximize your chance of winning later in this guide.
When to Take Insurance in Blackjack: Here’s When to Buy it
As we’ve already mentioned, you won’t find a huge number of situations in which you should purchase insurance in blackjack. The main reason you should is if you think that you have a genuine chance of winning. You can do this if you have a big card hand, and you can also do so if you think that an Ace is in your dealer’s upcards.
If you think that your dealer will play a Blackjack, you might also want to think about taking out insurance. In cases other than the ones we’ve just mentioned, however, you’re often better off steering clear of these potential risks.
You should also remember that insurance in blackjack isn’t frequently offered, anyway. So, you might encounter situations where you never even have the option to get it.
See also: When to Hit on Blackjack?
How Much Is Insurance in Blackjack?
In most instances, insurance in blackjack is usually half of what you originally staked. So, if you’ve bet $30 in a round, you’ll normally have $15 as the insurance bet.
Insurance Isn’t Everything: Other Tips for Winning in the game
The insurance bet is, in most cases, not the best way to win at blackjack. And even if you succeed with it in one game, you should avoid regularly picking it as your go-to strategy. Instead, there are several other ways you can increase your chances of winning in blackjack – as we’ll outline in the sections below.
Choose a Strategy
When playing blackjack, you can win in all kinds of ways. With this in mind, it’s worth looking at ways you can create a winning strategy that applies to multiple games. As you become more experienced with blackjack, you’ll learn what works well for you – along with the things that don’t have such a big return on investment.
Having a go-to strategy for most of your blackjack games, that you can at least start with, is a good idea. Of course, you can change if you feel that doing so is necessary – but you’ll at least have an ideal starting point.
Observe Patterns of Your Current Game
Even if you choose a single strategy, it’s important to remember that situations will vary from game to game. As a result, you need to know how to adapt when things don’t go your way. Observing the patterns of each round will help you make a better decision and avoid needlessly losing money.
You should also keep in mind that things could change based on the cards you receive – not just what the dealer has. With this in mind, you should take your time when making your moves and playing your hands.
Have a Back-Up Option
While your main strategy is a good starting point, it’s not the only thing you should rely on. As we’ve mentioned, each game is different – and sticking religiously to your main strategy might not always work. With that in mind, having back-up options is a good idea.
You should pick around two or three extra tactics that you can try when your main plan doesn’t go as you wanted it to. Before trying these in a real-life casino setting, it’s worth experimenting and seeing what works for you.
Note that it might take years of learning blackjack before you can reach such an advanced level where you’re thinking of this. However, it’s still something worth considering in your early days.
See also: How to Win in Blackjack?
Look for Games That Are Less Stringent
Although the rules of blackjack are largely universal, you will find more beginner-friendly options in some places. When you’re just learning the basics of the game, you will probably find that you’ll make a lot of mistakes – and this is to be expected. What’s not great, however, is when you’re playing against others who are much better than you.
In the beginning, you should consider looking for versions of blackjack with more relaxed rules. You might struggle to find these in casinos, but there are options that exist online instead. Once you’re familiar with how the game works, you shouldn’t have too many problems upgrading to something that’s more like the traditional versions you’re used to playing elsewhere.
Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions
Sure, some people might find it annoying if you ask a lot of questions. But at the same time, asking questions that may seem “stupid” to others is one of the best ways you can become better at blackjack. It will also help you know when you should use insurance in your games or not.
If you don’t want to ask questions while the game is taking place, that’s fair enough. However, you can always think about doing so once the session has finished. Similarly, you can ask questions in online forums once you find others that have a broader depth of experience.
Focus on the Basics
When trying something new, it’s easy to think that the most complicated steps are what will help you succeed. But more often than not, this isn’t the case at all. If you try to do all of the most complex tactics, you’re probably leaving a lot on the table – both literally and figuratively.
When you’re a beginner in blackjack, it’s worth looking at the basics and getting those right first. Once you’re comfortable doing that, you can move on and try some of the more comprehensive tactics. This also means that you’ll get a broader understanding of how blackjack works over time, which will stand you in good stead when it comes to winning competitions.
Improve Gradually Over Time
Upon sitting down to play blackjack for the first time, you shouldn’t expect that you’re going to be amazing. The game is difficult to learn, and it takes some people many years to reach a level where they feel happy with their progress.
You’re setting yourself up for disappointment if you expect to win multiple times in your first game, and repeating that feat will be difficult even if you do. A better approach is to go in and seek to take the low-hanging fruits. Over time, you’ll build a solid skillset.
Besides doing research on the game, it’s worth practicing. You can try free versions of blackjack to do this, but it’s also a good idea to go to a casino and see how well you do in that kind of environment. Online paid versions are also useful, both with and without live dealers.
Insurance in Blackjack: Everything You Need to Know
Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have a better understanding of what insurance in blackjack is – and when you should use it. If we’re being honest, you probably won’t need to take out insurance when playing blackjack – and if you do, the cases in which it’s useful are extremely rare.
Nonetheless, knowing what it is – and how it works – will help you make a better decision while playing. You should consider looking at other ways to win, which you can build up over an extended period of time.
