Insurance is the shiiit

[Warlord]

I use to adamantly refuse insurance. Even since I have been using the I18 + index plays I was not using Insurance cuz I was on auto-pilot not taking it.

Now (starting last night) if I ever have more than 1 unit out (meaning a +2 or > count) I take it. (I been playing all 1D,DOA,H17)

Last night it saved me a substantial amount, that would have otherwise been losses.

It seems that on fresh decks that the dealer quite often has that 10 in da hole and if I can see another players cards to justify a +1.4 count I take it. Otherwise this seemed to be where I lost most on not taking insurance. Last night a dealer had naturals off the top of 3 decks ! ouch

Moral of the story; there is a reason Insurance is #1 on the Illustrious 18 list.

[squeeks]

There is definatly a good reason why insurance is #1 on the I18, that index # along makes up 1/3 of the advantage gained from the I18. However, you should take insurance only at counts of +3 or higher.

[ThodorisK]

I've just recently noticed in Peter Griffin's "The theory of blackjack" That about 30% of player's edge comes from insurance. Did I get it right or not? Or is this only for 1 deck where you frequently meet high true counts?

What if a player never places insurance? I guess he still has an edge if betting only on >+1 true count (wonging), never insures and always follows basic strategy, right?

I am still seeking for a table which shows the player's edge for each true count:
1) playing always basic strategy
2) playing with basic strategy modifications according to the true count, including insurance.

A bit difficult though, as this differs according to the rules

[Mimosine]

in KO blackjack it appears to be worth much more than 33%, though they don't explicitly say it. from my take it appears to be more valuable than the next 10 indices, if not more combined!

if you're going to play indices, then insurance is the most important one to play, and it is worth reading some thoughts about what count to play it at, and certain situations where you might take insurance slightly below the correct true count for the move, based on how many units you have out.

in general, do not round the index number for insurance, do not use a composite number for various games, use the correct number for the correct game.

For KO this is RC = +3 for all games.

[ThodorisK]

I am using the halves count:
2,7=+0.5,
3,4,6,=+1,
9=-0.5,
A, 10 =+1

Any idea where I can find the exact (1 decimal place please) true count for placing insurance for this counting system? I tried to find it out bymyself by formulating the corresponding formula, but I realised this is not an easy task!

And is this counting system worse (regarding the overall edge) than other simple systems because it cannot identify the +EV insurance situations as accurently as them? (I am not talking about the systems which count aces separately, my mind is not a calculator).

[creeping panther]

When playing SD and in the 1st round always take insurance if the dealer has an ace up.

CP

[Warlord]

Originally Posted by creeping panther

When playing SD and in the 1st round always take insurance if the dealer has an ace up.

CP

Although I have not seen Wong, Snyder or anyone say so, it sounds like a good idea after what I went through last night
.

[Warlord]

Originally Posted by squeeks

There is definatly a good reason why insurance is #1 on the I18, that index # along makes up 1/3 of the advantage gained from the I18. However, you should take insurance only at counts of +3 or higher.

+3 is for 6D, I play SD. Thus +1.4 is the correct count for Ins.

[Warlord]

Originally Posted by ThodorisK

I am using the halves count:
2,7=+0.5,
3,4,6,=+1,
9=-0.5,
A, 10 =+1

Any idea where I can find the exact (1 decimal place please) true count for placing insurance for this counting system? .

Everyone support all the work Wong has done and do yourself a favor and get a copy of "Professional Blackjack"
http://www.amazon.com/Professional-B.../dp/0935926216

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/3...3lss500nl3.jpg

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by ThodorisK

I am still seeking for a table which shows the player's edge for each true count:
1) playing always basic strategy
2) playing with basic strategy modifications according to the true count, including insurance.
A bit difficult though, as this differs according to the rules

That's what sims do

It's so difficult it also depends on what your counting system is, whether you round or floor TC's, how many indexes you may use at what index number, the game you are playing, the penetration etc.

Once you define all that stuff for a sim, the advantage at each TC is what it is and won't change no matter how you bet it. Neither will the frequency of that TC occurring or the variance associated with it when it does occur.