Insurance (Blackjack)

Insurance is a side bet in blackjack offered when the dealer's upcard is an Ace. It costs half your original bet and pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. While it sounds protective, insurance is mathematically a bad bet with a house edge of approximately 7.4% in a 6-deck game. Basic strategy says to never take insurance (unless you're card counting and know the deck is rich in 10-value cards). The only exception is 'even money' — taking insurance when you have blackjack yourself, which guarantees a 1:1 payout instead of risking a push. Professional players avoid insurance in virtually all situations.