Insurance bet brings the heat!

[Cass]

After my last BJ trip I was just thinking what a dead giveaway the insurance bet is. Typically players will insure 18 or 20's. Most players are educated enough that they usually dont take it all. Now when a card counter is playing he seems to be taking insurance at random times whether he has a 7, 15, 20. There is no consistency to it. IF you are losing 4 out of 5 times then you just look like some fool, but if you are having a good night and winning half the bets they have to be wondering what is going on. Winning when you "insure your 7" could be as much of a giveaway as splitting ten's! Would it be better in the long run to only buy insurance when you have something like 18 or better when the count calls for it? Sure it would hurt your ev, but I wonder what it would do to your longevity as a counter. Does anyone have any insight on this?

 

[mdlbj]

After my last BJ trip I was just thinking what a dead giveaway the insurance bet is. Typically players will insure 18 or 20's. Most players are educated enough that they usually dont take it all. Now when a card counter is playing he seems to be taking insurance at random times whether he has a 7, 15, 20. There is no consistency to it. IF you are losing 4 out of 5 times then you just look like some fool, but if you are having a good night and winning half the bets they have to be wondering what is going on. Winning when you "insure your 7" could be as much of a giveaway as splitting ten's! Would it be better in the long run to only buy insurance when you have something like 18 or better when the count calls for it? Sure it would hurt your ev, but I wonder what it would do to your longevity as a counter. Does anyone have any insight on this?

You know, I have never really thought twice about putting up insurance @ a +3 count. I dont even have to know the value of my cards, I just do it.. Have yet to get heat from it.. Yet have only played West Coast and Vegas...Not to sure about AC, Asia or Europe.

 

[ihate17]

You want Insurance heat, try this in a sweatshop

You have that ugly 16 and the dealer has an ace and the count calls for insurance, so you take it. The dealer does not have a natural, so now you surrender.

ihate17

 

[Cass]

You know, I have never really thought twice about putting up insurance @ a +3 count. I dont even have to know the value of my cards, I just do it.. Have yet to get heat from it.. Yet have only played West Coast and Vegas...Not to sure about AC, Asia or Europe.

I guess I never have directly either, but the dealers and other players sure do look twice when you win the bet with some shitty hand.

 

[Cass]

You have that ugly 16 and the dealer has an ace and the count calls for insurance, so you take it. The dealer does not have a natural, so now you surrender.

ihate17

I havent got the chance to do that yet! I need to play more sur games!

 

[shadroch]

Try a bunch of double talk." Lets see,he didn't have a BJ last two aces,so he's due,every third card is a ten." Or the reverse-"He just had a BJ,he's not due for another two Aces."Odds are,no one is really tracking them so it doesn't really matter what you say. Just say it with confidence and mutter loudly when you"guess" incorrectly.Regale the table with stories of your past success using the insure on a hunch betting pattern.If there is a doubter at the table,try to draw the pitboss into the conversation.Try to get him to verify that the 1 in 3 theory is the right move.Then try to hi-5 him.Nothing keeps a PB off your back better than trying to hi-5 him after wins.
'

 

[sagefr0g]

You have that ugly 16 and the dealer has an ace and the count calls for insurance, so you take it. The dealer does not have a natural, so now you surrender.

ihate17

heh, heh... did that the other night. i thought oh boy here i go. but no one even blinked.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

You have that ugly 16 and the dealer has an ace and the count calls for insurance, so you take it. The dealer does not have a natural, so now you surrender.

ihate17

Oh yes. That play. It's hairiest when you are sitting at first base and do this.

Where I play the staff and players are so thoroughly convinced that surrender is a sucker bet all they do is shake their heads when I do so.

Arnold Snyder did a nice article on insurance cover. You can insure everything other than your minimum bet and give up very little compared to playing insurance properly.

 

[mdlbj]

Try a bunch of double talk." Lets see,he didn't have a BJ last two aces,so he's due,every third card is a ten." Or the reverse-"He just had a BJ,he's not due for another two Aces."Odds are,no one is really tracking them so it doesn't really matter what you say. Just say it with confidence and mutter loudly when you"guess" incorrectly.Regale the table with stories of your past success using the insure on a hunch betting pattern.If there is a doubter at the table,try to draw the pitboss into the conversation.Try to get him to verify that the 1 in 3 theory is the right move.Then try to hi-5 him.Nothing keeps a PB off your back better than trying to hi-5 him after wins.
'

I usually scare off the pit boss when he sees my stack of black.. When he or she talks to me I ask whats your name.. as they blush I laugh..

 

[mdlbj]

Oh yes. That play. It's hairiest when you are sitting at first base and do this.

Where I play the staff and players are so thoroughly convinced that surrender is a sucker bet all they do is shake their heads when I do so.

Arnold Snyder did a nice article on insurance cover. You can insure everything other than your minimum bet and give up very little compared to playing insurance properly.

I think splitting 10s on a +7 is the best cover play..

 

[ScottH]

I think splitting 10s on a +7 is the best cover play..

Depending on how you play it out, it can be the best cover play, or the best giveaway that you are counting...