Guide overview
What blackjack insurance covers, how its payout relates to the dealer’s hole card and why it is not ordinary protection.
The insurance offer
When the dealer shows an Ace, a table may offer an insurance side wager before the dealer checks for blackjack. It is a separate bet on whether the dealer has a ten-value card in the hole. The original hand continues under its normal rules.
Read the payout
Insurance often pays 2 to 1 when it wins, but table rules can vary. A payout alone does not show whether the wager is favorable: the probability of the dealer’s hidden card and the exact shoe composition matter.
Do not treat the name literally
Insurance does not protect the original hand from losing in every case. It can win while the main hand loses or lose while the main hand wins. Check the table rules and avoid adding side bets because the offer appears to reduce risk.