What does “insurance” mean, and is it a good bet?

[Jonah]

In Blackjack, insurance is a side bet offered when the dealer has an ace showing. It’s a wager that the dealer's hole card is a 10-value card, which would give them a Blackjack. If the dealer does have Blackjack, the insurance pays 2:1, but if not, you lose the insurance bet while your original hand continues.
Insurance is generally not a good bet because the odds of the dealer having a 10-value card are lower than the 2:1 payout, making it a negative expectation for most players. Unless you're counting cards, it's usually better to skip the insurance bet and focus on your hand
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[CR7]

Insurance in Blackjack is indeed a side bet offered to players when the dealer's face-up card is an ace. It essentially allows players to protect themselves in case the dealer has a natural Blackjack.

While the insurance bet may seem like a way to safeguard your original bet, it's important to consider the odds and the house edge associated with this bet. If you're not counting cards, the insurance bet generally has a negative expected value, meaning that over the long run, you are likely to lose more money than you win by taking insurance.

By understanding the probabilities of the dealer having a 10-value card, which is necessary for a natural Blackjack, players can make informed decisions at the Blackjack table. In most cases, opting out of the insurance bet and focusing on playing basic Blackjack strategy will help maximize your chances of winning in the long term.