Whether it’s for your car, home or gambling, insurance allows individuals to spread the risk. Although, sometimes it isn’t necessary and you end up paying cash for something you never use. On the other hand, with high-paying items like a house or car, having insurance provides security for your assets and peace of mind knowing that you’ll be covered if anything goes wrong.

The rising popularity of casino table games has transpired to an increase in blackjack players. For beginners, be sure to read through the betting options and casino rules before playing. When it comes to blackjack and insurance, the jury is out on whether or not it’s a good investment. Read on and decide for yourself.

What Is Blackjack Insurance?

A side bet offered to gamblers, blackjack insurance rules deem that if the dealer is dealt an ace and 10-value card, the player is protected if the dealer achieves the unbeatable blackjack — meaning they cannot lose. Why an ace? With its ability to double down as an 11 or 1, it offers the most flexibility — you avoid going bust and could quite possibly reach 21.

The combination of an ace and 10-value card (10, jack, queen, king) is the fastest route to achieving blackjack. During an online blackjack live dealer game, you’ll probably see this combination occur, but the chances of it happening consistently are slim — one good reason why many avoid blackjack insurance bets.

But, just like any type of safety net, there’s often a catch. Usually, with an insurance bet, the gambler can only stake half of their original bet. Also, the odds are 2/1 when taking blackjack insurance, meaning the player breaks even at best.

When Should You Take Blackjack Insurance?

It’s important to remember that this bet cannot be placed whenever you feel like it — it can only be implemented if the dealer’s up-card is an ace. Additionally, the insurance can only be claimed if they reach 21 with an ace and 10-value card.

For example, if the dealer reaches blackjack with an ace-4-7, the insurance bet fails. But, if it’s an ace-king hand, then you’re eligible to claim insurance if you took it.

If you want to make use of this betting option, the best time to do so is when the dealer’s hole card is an ace and the combination of an ace and a 10-value card hasn’t materialized in a while.

Should I Avoid Blackjack Insurance?

Generally speaking, yes. Often seen as a terrible strategy, blackjack insurance offers unfavorable odds, doesn’t improve the house’s edge and puts your bankroll under more strain. Remember that 16 of the 52 cards are valued at 10, putting your odds of winning an insurance bet at +233, with the probability that the house will take this money without much effort.

Although you may win a couple times, over the long term, the statistics aren’t in your favor. With insurance bets, gamblers often lose more than they win. Using the percentages above, if you played 52 rounds, statistically, you’d win 16 rounds and lose 33.

So, if you staked $15 each round on an insurance bet (meaning your overall bet needs to be $30 minimum,) you would win $240 but lose $495. This doesn’t even consider your original bet.

Overall, experts usually avoid using insurance bets as the reward-to-risk ratio is too slim and the chances of it damaging your bankroll are high. 

For beginners playing online games in a casino, learning the basics before moving on to complex strategies is the best way to improve your chances of winning. Otherwise, you risk making terrible bets and suffering heavy defeats.

Types of Blackjack Variations

Unlike brick-and-mortar casinos, which often have the same layout, machines and games for years, online casinos offer several variations of each casino game, from online slots and blackjack to roulette and poker.

Here’s a guide to some blackjack variations.

European Blackjack

Unlike in American Blackjack, the dealer is dealt one face-up card, therefore, eradicating the chances of them holding a blackjack from the beginning. It’s worth noting that the betting options remain the same as the American version.

Vegas Strip

One of blackjack’s most popular versions, the dealer combines four decks of cards and allows players to split 10-value cards, surrender, double down on any initial hand and create four hands per game. The objective of reaching 21 remains the same — this applies to all versions of blackjack.

Spanish 21

Known for its more favorable odds and lenient rules, Spanish 21 is often played with six decks, with all 10s removed. Players are able to surrender, split matching hands and place insurance bets.

Play Blackjack at Borgata Online

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