Even Money In Blackjack

As part of playing Blackjack, either in a live casino, or online, you will most likely encounter the option of taking “even money”. However, not always will it be offered, verbally, or it may also be offered as insurance, to all of the players at the table.

What Is Even Money In Blackjack?

“Even Money” is actually just a form of “insurance” but only applies to the person with the Blackjack, or Natural 21. Even money is only an option if the dealer is showing an “Ace” as an up card and only offered to the person that has a Blackjack or Natural 21. Blackjacks typically get paid three to two, or “time and a half” at most casino and online casino rooms.

If the dealer also gets a Blackjack, it is then a “push” or tie, which does not get paid, but luckily, does not lose either. So, when the dealer's up card is an “Ace” and you have a Blackjack, you can opt to take “even money”, which means you will take an immediate pay off of one to one, sacrificing the extra fifty percent you would get, if you waited to see the dealer expose a hole card of anything, other than a ten valued card.

This would not be offered if you had a pair of tens and split them, receiving an “Ace” on one of the ten valued cards, that would not be a Blackjack, or Natural 21, it would be considered a “soft twenty-one” or could be considered as an eleven, and at some casinos, it could be doubled down on.

Taking Even Money In Blackjack

A lot of people have opinions on whether or not you should take even money on your Blackjack or not. Some people base their decision to take even money on how much of a bet they have on the hand, some base it on a pattern they think they have picked up on, of how the cards are running, and think they can predict if the dealer has Blackjack or not. A lot of basic strategy players, that follow the math and go with the odds, will not take even money, because statistically, it is a bad bet.

There are also a lot of players that will take even money on big money hands, and wait for the extra “half” only on small bets. Also there are the players that are counting cards, and have a better understanding of the likeliness of the dealer/house having a blackjack based on how many ten valued cards versus small cards have been dealt, and of course, how many would be remaining.

In the end, taking even money, is the exact same thing as putting an insurance bet on the insurance line. I also believe there are some other ways of looking at this situation. By accepting even money, on your blackjack is taking a “for sure” thing. It is taking one to one now, instead of gambling and hoping for the win of three to two, if the dealer does not have a blackjack of their own.

One might say, since it is a casino, or an online game, you are most likely there to gamble, therefore you should gamble on the blackjack and hold out for the bigger pay off. Some argue that could be a  greedy way of looking at it.

Bottom line is this, the odds are with you that your blackjack should wait and get paid it's full time and a half, but if you are just an average player, playing to have fun and not looking to make a living off of playing blackjack, taking even money is nothing to be ashamed of. When you put your bet in the circle, and you don't lose that money before the hand is over, it is a good feeling, when it gets paid, it is a great feeling, it is up to you if it is important enough to reach that “great feeling AND a half” mark on all of your blackjacks.

As applies to most all the aspects of blackjack, playing it the same way every time, is the best way to avoid getting mad at yourself, for not guessing right on the big ones.