A Detailed Guide to Online Live Blackjack Insurance

While many Ghanaian blackjack players see it as a tricky part of the game maybe not worth the fuss, others find blackjack insurance a real lifesaver when luck turns sour. This makes blackjack insurance one of the most debated topics in the gambling world. So, if you're new to blackjack, this guide will break down everything you need to know about blackjack insurance and why it's often best to steer clear.

What Exactly is Blackjack Insurance?

Blackjack insurance is a side-bet you can take if the dealer's face-up card is an ace. As the name hints, it's meant to protect you in case the dealer hits a 'blackjack'. Normally, this insurance bet is half of your original stake and pays out at 2 to 1. Put simply, the most you can bet on insurance is half of your main bet.

This side bet is only settled after the dealer reveals their second card. If it's a king, queen, jack, or ten, the dealer has a blackjack. In this scenario, you win your insurance wager. However, if the dealer doesn't have a blackjack, you lose your insurance bet, but you can still win your original stake.

When Does Blackjack Insurance Make Sense?

Generally, it's tough to find a situation where taking insurance is a smart move for most players in Ghana. Even if the blackjack variant you're playing allows the dealer to only stand on soft 17, and even if you're holding a strong hand like 20, 19, or 18, the odds are rarely in your favour.

• Imagine you're enjoying yourself at your favorite Ghanaian online casino and place a $5 bet on blackjack. While the article's focus isn't on specific Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) conversions for insurance bets, remember that most casino platforms will clearly show bet values.
• After that, you're dealt a nine or Jack of Hearts, and an ace is the dealer's upcard.
• Now you decide to take $2.5 insurance, which is half your original bet.
• Next, the dealer reveals ten as his/her second card. In return, the insurance bet will payout 2 to 1 and break even on your hand.

When It's Necessary to Take Insurance

Taking insurance during a blackjack game can be irresistible if an ace the dealer's upcard. There is a 1 to 3 probability that the subsequent card has a 10-value card in that case. But unless you're counting cards, it's not worth risking your hard-earned money on blackjack insurance. Mathematically, taking blackjack insurance will result in losses in the end.

You can generally win your insurance wager only if the dealer's hole card is a 10-value card. As said before, you must be an expert card counter to know for sure the amount remaining in the deck. So, if you're green about counting cards, stay away from this sucker bet.

Blackjack Insurance, Odds, Price, and House Edge

So, what are the blackjack insurance odds? The probability of a blackjack being dealt by the dealer when playing a regular table game is 9:4. However, the odds for a player to win an insurance wager aren't similar. They may vary depending on the number of decks and 10-point cards already dealt. In short, the odds are stuck against the punter.

When it comes to the price, the player can only win if the dealer's facedown card is a 10. In this case, the insurance payout is 1:1. If the player's hand is a blackjack, the payout is 3:2 or $3 for every two bets or 1.5 times the wager.

Lastly, a single deck blackjack insurance has a steep house edge of around 5.8%. But it's worth noting that you're likely to play modern blackjacks with 6 to 8 decks. In such cases, the house edge can hit 7.5%.

Blackjack Insurance: Final Advice

If you're an expert card counter, then blackjack insurance can be very profitable. Card counters have a rough idea of the number of 10-point cards remaining in a deck. Also, the payout is handsome if you already have a blackjack in hand. Bust, as said, the odds are always against the player. What's worse, taking insurance when playing multi-deck blackjacks will expose you to a painfully high house edge.