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Thread: Even Money?

  1. 06-16-2020, 09:47 PM #1
    nwkfern69
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    Even Money?

    I'm not 100% sure how to play my natural vs dealer Ace when insurance indices (Zen Count True Count = or < +5) indicates to take insurance.
    I've searched for this is in several Arnold Snyder books I have and can't find the proper play. I figured taking even money for this particular situation is best based off of simple arithmetic I did on paper.

    Can anyone help me here? Thanks.
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  2. 06-16-2020, 10:28 PM #2
    JamesonDetroit
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    When you have a blackjack against a dealer ace, "even money" is a shorthand for taking insurance. It's not something different or a unique rule, it's literally insurance. If you don't believe me, pull out some chips and test it out, once with the dealer having a 10 underneath, once without; in both cases, if you took full insurance, you end up with even-money winnings. So if the index says take insurance and you have a blackjack, take "even money"; it is insurance.

    EDIT: Sidenote, with Zen Count True Count you take insurance at >= +5, not <=
    Last edited by JamesonDetroit; 06-16-2020 at 10:33 PM.
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  3. 06-17-2020, 06:24 AM #3
    G Man
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    One more thing to consider. Taking "Even Money" when your count says so contributes to reducing your variance.
    G Man
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  4. 06-18-2020, 07:26 PM #4
    nwkfern69
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    Yes I get what your saying but thats assuming there's literally a 50/50 chance the dealer has a 10 under their Ace. My assumption was that there's slightly more than a 50% chance the dealer would have an 10 under their ACE. In that case, it would actually be advantageous to take even money all the time.

    Regardless, I've been taking even money during these particular situations. I just wanted some feedback/ reassurance I was playing it correctly.

    Thank you.
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  5. 06-18-2020, 07:49 PM #5
    ShipTheCookies
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    If there's a 50/50 chance, hell yes you take even money!
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  6. 06-18-2020, 07:54 PM #6
    JamesonDetroit
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    Yep, that's right. If there's a 50/50 chance of a 10 under then DEFINITELY take insurance. Since insurance pays 2 to 1, you should make an insurance bet as long as you're at least 34% sure that there is a 10 under the ace. Getting paid 2 to 1 on a coin-flip is definitely a bet worth making.

    EDIT: Whoops, ShipTheCookies beat me to it haha; made your post while I was typing looks like.
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  7. 06-19-2020, 12:44 PM #7
    Gronbog
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    Bottom line: Take even money at or above the insurance index. The only difference between even money and insurance is that you can take even money when you have no chips left (happens a lot in tournament play).
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  8. 06-19-2020, 06:56 PM #8
    JamesonDetroit
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gronbog View Post
    The only difference between even money and insurance is that you can take even money when you have no chips left (happens a lot in tournament play).
    Dang, good point! I guess my statement, "it's literally insurance" isn't quite 100% accurate.
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  9. 06-19-2020, 07:38 PM #9
    DSchles
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gronbog View Post
    The only difference between even money and insurance is that you can take even money when you have no chips left (happens a lot in tournament play).
    Not being a tournament player, I have NEVER seem this point made anywhere before. But, it is a valid and interesting one!

    Don
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