What is blackjack insurance and how does it work?

Online blackjack insurance is an integral part of every online and land-based casino. However, few players are able to master this strategy. 

That's why we've decided to put together an explanatory article that will tell you everything you need to know about blackjack insurance! 

What is blackjack insurance? 

Blackjack insurance is the practice of paying a certain amount to realize winnings if the dealer has a blackjack. 

As a reminder, a blackjack consists of an AS accompanied by a strong card, ranging from 10, Jack, Queen, and King. 

This technique refunds your bet if the banker has the best hand in the game, even if you have a weaker card combination. 

Our experts advise you to master this strategy to perfection, in order to limit losses and maximize your chances of winning. 

If you'd like to learn more about blackjack strategies, read our article on the different blackjack techniques to find the one that's right for you. 

No matter what type of blackjack variant you play, insurance works the same way. 

How blackjack insurance works 

To use blackjack insurance in the best possible way, you first need to understand how this technique works. 

It only comes into play once the dealer has dealt two cards to all the players at the table, and one card face-up to himself. 

It's very important to specify that insurance can only be used if the banker turns over an Ace, which is the best card in the deck. 

It can be worth 1 or 11, depending on player preference, and will result in a blackjack when accompanied by a log (10, Jack, Queen, or King). 

Before the first player speaks, the croupier will ask all participants whether or not they wish to use insurance. 

If so, you'll have to place the chips in front of your hand and wait until the end of the current game to find out how much you can win. 

Take the time to read the blackjack rules so that this online game will keep no secrets from you. 

When to take out blackjack insurance 

It's sometimes hard to know when players should take out blackjack insurance in order to play optimally. 

Don't panic, our experts will give you the best advice on how to perform in the world's most popular card game. 

To begin with, we recommend that you only use insurance when you have a blackjack in your possession. 

It may be tempting to use this feature when you have a strong hand like 18, 19, or 20, but you'll lose out in the long run. 

Well-founded mathematical calculations have shown that insurance is only useful if you have blackjack. 

Of course, these statistics don't guarantee that you'll win if you do or don't use insurance. 

The protection offered by blackjack insurance 

Using insurance when you have blackjack guarantees you a win, regardless of the outcome of the hand. 

For example, if you've decided to use insurance and you've bet $20, you'll have to bet another $10. 

In the event of an opposing blackjack, you'll tie, which means you'll get your original $20 bet back. 

In addition to this, insurance pays 2:1, which means you'll win $20 and also receive the $10 bet back. 

If the dealer doesn't have blackjack, you'll lose the $10 from the insurance, but you'll win 2.5 times the stake thanks to the blackjack that you have obtained, which corresponds to $50. 

In both cases, you've made a net profit of $20, doubling your original bet.

This blackjack protection is available in all blackjack variants, even free bet blackjack. 

Advantages and disadvantages 

 Now comes the question of the pros and cons of blackjack insurance. 

If it's so advantageous, why do casinos offer it? On the contrary, if it's risky, why should we use it? 

Find all the answers to these questions below! 

Advantages of blackjack insurance 

The benefits of blackjack insurance are numerous. As explained above, it allows you to double your winnings no matter what happens when you have a blackjack. 

Some gaming establishments even pay out winnings immediately without waiting for the hand to finish, since you'll win twice the original bet no matter what. 

What's more, this feature gives you a few seconds' peace of mind, which isn't always the case when you're sitting at a blackjack table. 

Disadvantages of blackjack insurance 

Of course, there are a few disadvantages to taking out blackjack insurance. 

These include the fact that you may win less than you would have if you hadn't taken out insurance and the dealer didn't have blackjack. 

For example, if you have blackjack and the dealer turns over an Ace, you can decide not to take out insurance. 

If the bank doesn't have blackjack, you'll win 2.5 times the bet, which is 50% more than if you'd taken out insurance. 

What's more, if you use insurance when you don't have blackjack, you can lose your initial bet as well as the bet placed to pay for this technique, increasing your losses. 

How do I use blackjack insurance? 

To fully understand how to use blackjack insurance and to make the best use of this strategy, there are several things to consider. 

That's why we're going to talk to you below about the cost of this technique, as well as when to use it. 

There are several blackjack strategies you can use during your various sessions. 

The cost of blackjack insurance 

To fully appreciate the risks of insurance, you'll first need to understand the cost of this feature. 

In all land-based casinos, as well as in the vast majority of online gaming establishments, the price of insurance corresponds to 50% of the initial stake. 

For example, if you decide to bet $100 on a hand, you'll have to pay an additional $50 to insure your hand. 

What's more, if you've gambled on several boxes and wish to insure all your hands, you'll have to pay 50% of your total stake. 

When to use it? 

As we have explained above, there are very few situations in which it's advisable to use blackjack insurance. 

Firstly, we'd like to remind you that blackjack insurance should only be paid out when you have a blackjack (Ace+10/J/Q/K), and the banker returns an Ace. 

Secondly, you don't have to take it out if you want to potentially win a little more money, while taking the risk of not making any winnings. 

Finally, we strongly advise against taking out blackjack insurance if you don't have the best hand in the game. 

Insurance table 

Of course, in all cases, insurance does not guarantee that the player will win. 

If this were the case, gaming establishments would have removed this feature long ago, since the casino always wins in the long run. 

Below, we've put together a table showing the odds of winning if you do or don't take out insurance. 

Tips for maximizing insurance 

To maximize your chances of winning with insurance, several tips have been tried and tested by players. 

These techniques are by no means guaranteed to win the hand, but they can help players decide whether or not to activate this feature. 

Below you'll find several techniques that can be employed at the blackjack table. 

Using the "surrender" option 

Some gaming establishments allow their players to make use of the "surrender" option, which allows players to surrender their cards and receive a certain amount of money in compensation. 

This strategy can be useful when the dealer has an Ace and you have an average hand, such as a combination between 12 and 16. 

It would therefore be wise not to take the insurance and to give up your hand. When utilizing this “surrender” option, you'll receive 50% of your bet. 

Using insurance with a card-counting strategy 

The best-known blackjack strategy is card counting. 

This technique has been popularized by books and films such as Las Vegas 21 and Rain Man. 

This strategy involves counting the cards that have been dealt in order to get a good idea of the cards remaining in the shoe. 

This gives you a rough idea of the best decision to make for optimal play, such as whether or not to take the insurance. 

It is now illegal to count cards in a casino, under the penalty of severe sanctions. We therefore advise against using this technique. 

Considering card values in blackjack 

Card value is particularly important in blackjack, as it will determine your total score as well as the dealer's score. 

For this reason, it's particularly important to consider the strength of the cards that have been dealt to determine whether or not to accept the insurance payout. 

For example, if the banker has an Ace and many strong cards between 10 and King are dealt on the table, the probability of the dealer having a blackjack is lower. 

This means that, hypothetically, it would be less attractive to take the insurance. However, there's no guarantee of winning. 

Don't take out insurance every time 

Finally, for optimal play, we advise you not to take out blackjack insurance every time the dealer turns over an Ace. 

The bank won't systematically have a blackjack every time. In addition to this, you might be able to take advantage of certain hands since you'll be able to win more money if you win the hand without taking out insurance.