When playing online blackjack for the first time *, players learn to hit, stand and split as a basic strategy. But the insurance bet is one of the most popular and simple secondary bets available. Paying 2/1, the insurance bet offers the player a little protection in the event that a strong card is given to the dealer. But do you pay to take this bet? Let's take a closer look to see if this is an insurance policy that you should subscribe to..
How does blackjack insurance work?
Blackjack is a simple game: you need to get close to 21 with your hand without "busting". But sometimes, you simply have to beat the bank's total to win. When playing online blackjack, the player always makes the first move. Without complete information, you have to guess better if the hand is better than the dealer's. Depending on the dealer's open card, the player should know when to hit, stand or double. What if you could cover your bet against the dealer by beating your total? Here's where the insurance comes. Insurance is a special side bet that allows the player to bet half of his original bet against the dealer who hits a natural blackjack (a hand containing an ace and a figure for a total of 21). Insurance can only be taken if the dealer shows an ace. When this happens, the table will flash on your computer screen and give you the chance to place your bet. If the dealer reveals 21, the insurance bet is paid at 2/1.
Advantages and disadvantages of insurance bets
In a blackjack game, the player simply has to beat the dealer's hand to win. But every tied hand ends up in a 'push', where the player's bet is returned. Insurance can be a good bet to take in a game with many decks. The more decks are used, the more cards with a value of 10 are in the shoe. And with so many 10 cards to draw, the more chance the dealer has of playing blackjack. If a player has a marginal hand like 14 or 15, the insurance is not worth one point. You are in an unfavorable position to win the hand anyway, so save money. In any case, usually taking insurance is a long-term losing bet for players. The 2/1 price is not big enough to justify the bet.
