Blackjack Insurance
As an experienced blackjack player and advantage gambler with 28 years under my belt, I have come across many different strategies and techniques in my time.
One such bet that often confuses new players is the blackjack insurance bet.
In this Online Casino blog post, I will provide a comprehensive explanation of how insurance bets work in blackjack, including insurance statistics & necessary information so you’re informed at the table.
What is a Blackjack Insurance Bet?
An insurance bet in blackjack is a side bet offered to players when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace.
This insurance bet is essentially a wager on whether the dealer has a blackjack (a ten-value card as their hole card), hence the name “Insurance“.
If the dealer does have a blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2:1, meaning you’ll break even on your original bet. However, if the dealer does not have a blackjack, the insurance bet is lost, and the game continues as usual.
The Odds and House Edge in Insurance Bets
The odds of the dealer having a blackjack when showing an Ace are 9:4, or roughly 30.77%.
This means that, statistically speaking, the dealer will have a blackjack in about 1 out of every 3.25 instances when an Ace is showing.
The payout for an insurance bet is 2:1, so the house edge on this bet is approximately 7.47%.
As an experienced player, I always advise against making insurance bets, as they significantly increase the house edge and decrease your chances of winning in the long run.
Blackjack Insurance Bet Statistics
| Dealer’s Upcard | Probability of Blackjack | House Edge on Insurance Bet |
|---|---|---|
| Ace | 30.77% | 7.47% |
Uphill Battle of the dealer’s Ace upcard in Blackjack
Nobody like it when the dealer flips over an Ace as the upcard. The dealer’s ace is a warning sign of trouble ahead in that particular hand of blackjack.
That seems obvious when writing it out but the statistics make the point even more clear.
In black jack, when the dealer is showing an Ace card as their upcard, they only bust 11.5% of the time. A dealer ace is dangerous indeed, resulting in an 88.5% chance of the dealer’s hand totaling 17 through 21.
There’s not much you can do about the danger other than decline taking the insurance bet and hit your hand (draw cards from the dealer) until you make a hand or bust out.
As you can understand after reading this data, my advice is to stick to the basic strategy and avoid making insurance bets. By doing so, you’ll increase your chances of winning and enjoy a more profitable gaming experience in the process.
VIDEO: The Truth About Insurance and Even Money In Blackjack
Blackjack Insurance FAQs
So, the blackjack insurance bet is a side bet that, while it may seem tempting at first, is generally not recommended due to the high house edge.
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