Insurance
How the insurance side bet works in True Count.
Insurance is a side bet offered when the dealer's face-up card is an Ace. It protects you against the possibility of the dealer having blackjack.
How Insurance Works
When the dealer's up card is an Ace and the Insurance setting is enabled, True Count prompts you to accept or decline insurance before any player actions begin.
- Cost: Half your original bet, placed as a separate side wager
- Purpose: Protects against dealer blackjack
- Timing: Offered after the deal, before player actions
After you decide, the dealer checks for blackjack. The insurance bet resolves immediately based on whether the dealer's hole card is a 10-value card.
This check is part of the opening natural-resolution flow. If the dealer has blackjack, the hand ends immediately. If the dealer does not have blackjack, normal player actions begin (unless another natural outcome has already resolved the hand).
Peek Policy Context
Insurance is only offered on dealer Ace upcards. On dealer 10-value upcards, there is no insurance prompt, but the same blackjack peek still happens in the opening flow.
Insurance Payouts
| Scenario | Insurance Bet | Original Bet | Net Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dealer has blackjack | Pays 2:1 | Lost | Break even on the round |
| Dealer does not have blackjack | Lost | Play continues normally | Down the insurance amount |
Example
You place a 100-credit bet. The dealer shows an Ace, and you accept insurance for 50 credits (half your bet).
If the dealer has blackjack:
- Insurance pays 2:1: you receive 100 credits from the insurance bet
- Your original 100-credit bet is lost
- Net result: 0 (break even)
If the dealer does not have blackjack:
- Insurance bet of 50 credits is lost
- Your original bet plays out normally
- If you win the hand, you profit 50 credits (100 won minus 50 insurance lost)
- If you lose the hand, you lose 150 credits total (100 bet plus 50 insurance)
The Toggle
Insurance is found in the Settings menu and is off by default.
- Off: Insurance is never offered. Hands play through without the insurance prompt.
- On: The insurance prompt appears whenever the dealer shows an Ace.
Expected Value
Statistically, insurance is not a favorable bet under standard conditions. With a 4-deck shoe, the odds of the dealer having a 10-value hole card are less than 1 in 3, making the 2:1 payout insufficient to break even over time. The toggle lets players who enjoy the option enable it, and those who find the prompt disruptive keep it off.
Availability by Dealer Table
Insurance is not available at every table. It depends on which dealer you are playing:
| Table | Insurance |
|---|---|
| Jean-Luc LaChance | Available |
| Czarita Fortuna | Available |
| "Dice Man" Jack | Available |
| Lady Lux | Unavailable |
| Aunty "Lucky Lei" | Unavailable |
At Lady Lux and Aunty "Lucky Lei" tables, insurance is disabled regardless of your Settings toggle.
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