Blackjack insurance

[hellakytta84]

What is and when should I buy insurance in Blackjack? I've seen people do this before at the table, but I just don't understand when it is a good time to use it. Most of the people I've seen play this bet never end up winning. Is this even a good bet to make?

 

[Lagius]

Well, we may call this a kind of bet on the odds of probability. It is basically a side bet and happens when the dealer's face-up is an ace. In this case, a player has an option of 'taking insurance' so to speak, before the dealer checks the card in the hole.

I have heard people say that this bet (as is with all side-bets) highly favors the house and so most experienced players do not like using it (leaving it mostly to the novices and the faint-hearted).

 

[orion]

Going with insurance is really just a judgement call and really depends on how you feel the night is going. It can make sense when done once or twice, but over the course of a night's betting it's often better to just take the risk and go without insurance. Though the higher your hand the better your chances.

 

[chillseph1023]

I once saw a player with a blackjack also took an insurance. By taking the maximum insurance, they got a winning amount equal to the main wager. It happened regardless of the dealer's outcome and the player got paid out immediately. That's an interesting new approach to the 'insurance' system.