Insurance: What can I get away with?
Quote: AcesAndEightsMinor on-topic gripe, at myself mostly. I had a max bet out and dealer showed an ace. She asked for insurance and gave us about a half second before checking her hole card and yep, face underneath. I hesitated because I didn't have enough chips to insure the full amount of my bet (I had plenty of cash in my pocket). So, I lost the big bet instead of keeping it >:o.
Now, I think it's good protocol to give everyone a chance to take insurance, but it was an obvious play for me to make as the count was sky high. I just hesitated because my chip stack was low. I should have immediately said "Wait!" or "yes, I want insurance" and begun digging into my pocket. Good thing I'm not doing this to pay the rent :/
It happened to me very recently too. I played two hands of max bets and I wanted to check both hands before buying insurance. The dealer said "Insurance?... No insurance" immediately. I did not have enough time to stop her. I did not really want to bring it up to the pit boss at that time because I had crappy hands. The only people who would insure those hands are the counters.
In the different casino, which is Venetian on the other day, I bought in $500 and I put five old $100 on the table. At the same time, the waitress asked to order some drink. I spent few seconds talking to the waitress and I was distracted. The dealer yelled "Check change $400" and the Pit boss said OK far away from the table. The dealer was almost in the motion to drop my money. Luckily, I could stop the dealer at very last millisecond. Those 5 bills are not sticky at all and I have no idea why the dealer could count only four there. The dealer did not apologize. I guess this is how they train them in Venetian.
Quote: rob45Depends on a lot of things.....
Which game, under which rules?
Which casino, and which supervisor?
S17 6 deck, 0.28% HE and S17 2deck 0.27% HE at the Mirage and occasionally other Strip properties, spreading $50 to $150. I take it that I may be right to be paranoid at the 2 deck game.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceThe question is not whether you should insure a blackjack against an ace, but what fraction of the bet you should insure.
Sounds a lot like the "even money" option, which is essentially the same math as insurance for the full amount. Of course, I hear people who wouldn't dream of taking insurance call for even money every time, regardless of count.
Quote: hwccdealerSounds a lot like the "even money" option, which is essentially the same math as insurance for the full amount. Of course, I hear people who wouldn't dream of taking insurance call for even money every time, regardless of count.
As I said, the question is, what fraction should you insure?
There is a choice between the extremes of "no insurance" and "taking even money". You can partially insure.
