Blackjack insurance rules and even money
Understand blackjack insurance rules, the 2:1 side-bet payout, a worked example and why basic strategy declines insurance and even money.
A separate wager
Insurance is a side wager that the dealer’s hole card has value 10. It is commonly limited to half the original stake and pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack.
Why basic strategy declines it
The basic-strategy charts here do not use a running count or information about the remaining cards. Under that model, decline insurance and even money. A main-hand total does not determine the insurance decision.
A simple payout example
A $10 insurance stake wins $20 profit when the dealer has blackjack, plus the returned $10 insurance stake. The main hand is settled separately.
Even money
Even money is the offered 1:1 settlement on your natural when the dealer shows an ace. Under standard 3:2 rules, it is equivalent to insuring that natural. Different payouts require separate analysis; compare them on the blackjack payout chart.