Blackjack Insurance

I'm starting a new thread on blackjack insurance, since it's been a good topic over at BTF and zenzone, the premium site of Reno single deck bj players, or should I say "bj pros". Lol

I've started it under the coronavirus sub-forum since I don't want to break any rules. What I've found is the rules are a little more lax in the sub-forums. Kj polices the main Vegas forum pretty strictly, so I don't want to get him in one of his hissy fits. Kj said only he gets to post crap on the Vegas forum, since he lives in Vegas. I think that's his rational.

Anyway, I thought Moses brought up a good point. When should we insure in blackjack? Should it only be when the count calls for it, or are their other times?

Bosox says he takes "even money" (a form of insurance) anytime he has bj in a positive count. I never thought about it that way, but I agree, and will be doing that going forward.

Moses had a great hypothetical asking if he should take insurance with a A9 at +2. Counting strategy would say no, but this is spitting hairs. Common sense would say take it, since this play is so close and casinos expect players to take insurance with strong hands. As for me, I'm taking insurance at A9 with a +2 and probably even 10/10 with a plus 2 counts.

Thoughts? Even the great Kj can weight in on this one?

Isn't +2 the index to take insurance in a SD game? And that's with hi-lo. He doesn't use that count.

Anyway, some counters will "insure" good hands like that near, but not quite at the right count for Certainty Equivalent reasons.

If you played two hands and received two aces on one hand and an ace and a four on the other hand with a dealer ace showing, it's to your advantage to insure. The ratio of non-tens (A-9) to ten cards (10-K) is 31-16, better than the 2-1 payout. One good reason to not use Hi-Lo, its count is -3.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JSTAT

If you played two hands and received two aces on one hand and an ace and a four on the other hand with a dealer ace showing, it's to your advantage to insure. The ratio of non-tens (A-9) to ten cards (10-K) is 31-16, better than the 2-1 payout. One good reason to not use Hi-Lo, its count is -3.

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That's composition dependent but correct.

I remember playing in SD in Tunica, and if the first hand had a dealer ace up, even the plops were alsking everyone if they had any tens. SD is easy. Any Euchre or Pinochle player knows this.

Also, if your first two cards are 2 aces and the other two are an ace and 4 with a dealer ace up, you should've been playing Triple Double Bonus video poker! :D