Unusual rule

[WannabeCounter]

I was looking on the website of my local casino and I found something unusual on the blackjack rules page.

If your cards total 21, you have a Blackjack - a combination that pays 3-2 as long as the dealers first card isn't a 10, face card or ace. (If this happens you can take a payout of even money, as the dealer has the chance of making Blackjack when they draw their second card. Or you can make an insurance bet. This means betting half of your original bet, and if the dealer does get Blackjack, you receive 2 to 1 on both bets).

So this means if I'm taking insurance when the count is high enough, I'll recieve 2 to 1 on both the side bet and my main bet? I always assumed the player's hand was played out in the usual manner regardless of wether insurance was taken?

The way it's written though looks like insurance can only be taken when I have a blackjack? Although in the same sentence paragraph they explain the even money rule which is effectively the same thing?

 

[Pro21]

I think it is a mistake. You get 2-1 on the insurance bet.

 

[callipygian]

Or you can make an insurance bet. This means betting half of your original bet, and if the dealer does get Blackjack, you receive 2 to 1 on both bets).

I'd bet this is a typo and would not be honored at the table.

The way it's written though looks like insurance can only be taken when I have a blackjack?

Probably not, they're describing what you can do if you're dealt a blackjack - you can take insurance if you wish (which ends up being the same as even money, but most people don't realize it). They're not describing all the instances in which you can take insurance.

Although in the same sentence paragraph they explain the even money rule which is effectively the same thing?

They're catering to a bottom-of-the-bell-curve audience.

 

[UK-21]

The original positng is an over-view of the rules of BJ as shown on the Gala website - relating to their casinos in the UK. No secret, as I raised exactly the same query a year ago.

Regrettably, it is an error and Gala do not pay 2-1 on both bets.

:-(

 

[moo321]

I had heard that some UK casinos only allow insurance on blackjacks. Is this possibly the case?

 

[UK-21]

That's right, you can only insure a natural against a dealer ace.

 

[callipygian]

That's right, you can only insure a natural against a dealer ace.

Interesting. This is either really smart (by reducing the effectiveness of card counting) or really dumb (by reducing the number of sucker bets ploppies make).

 

[WannabeCounter]

So if I have hard 16 against a dealer ace, I can't even make the insurance bet?

Quite a disgusting rule. Although Gala only allow the players to double on 9, 10 or 11 so I suppose it's not a good game anyway.

 

[UK-21]

I've looked into this, and the loss in EV from a counter not being able to insure against an ace unless they have a natural is in fact negligable - due to the fact that the opportunity doesn't come up that often at +3 counts (all games here are four or six deckers). There have been several comments from contributors along the lines of I'd never play in the UK because of the insurance rules, but not being able to play LS is a far greater disadvantage. Also it's not a casino choice, but is proscribed by the Gambling Commission in their approved ruleset.

Gala adopt the optional ruleset of allowing players to double on any two cards (in my experience - have never been stopped from doing this).

 

[WannabeCounter]

The Gala near me only lets players double 9, 10 or 11. Apparently the management have the option of wether or not to allow the doubling of any two cards.

What are the rules like in Stanley or Gros?

 

[UK-21]

The Gala near me only lets players double 9, 10 or 11. Apparently the management have the option of wether or not to allow the doubling of any two cards.

What are the rules like in Stanley or Gros?

Interesting . . . which one is it ?