Insurance and surrender can help you protect your bankroll if used appropriately
When playing in online blackjack tournaments, it’s important to know when and how to use certain strategies to increase your chances of winning. This includes understanding how to properly utilize the insurance and surrender options.
Insurance is an additional bet that can be placed when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace. The purpose of this bet is to protect yourself against the possibility of the dealer having a natural blackjack (a hand totaling 21). Insurance typically pays 2:1, which means if the dealer has a natural blackjack, you will win the insurance bet and break even on the hand.
In blackjack tournaments, using insurance can be an effective strategy in certain situations. It is most beneficial when you have a strong hand, such as a 20 or a blackjack, and the dealer has an Ace showing.
By taking insurance, you mitigate your potential losses if the dealer has a natural blackjack. However, it’s important to note that insurance should generally be avoided when you have a weak hand, as it will only increase your overall losses in the long run.
Surrender, on the other hand, is an option that allows you to fold your hand and retrieve half of your original bet. This can be useful when faced with a particularly unfavorable hand, such as a hard 16 against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace. Surrendering in these situations can help you cut your losses and conserve your bankroll.
In online blackjack tournaments, surrendering should be used sparingly and strategically. It should only be employed when the odds are heavily stacked against you, and the potential gain from surrendering outweighs the risk of continuing to play the hand.
