If you play blackjack at any level, chances are you have seen or even played with someone who has asked the dealer to give them “even money.” This is an offer that the casino makes to players who have a blackjack when the dealer shows an ace upcard. The idea behind this is that it allows the player to push their hand and avoid losing their original bet, which would otherwise happen if they didn’t take even money. While this is an attractive offer, it’s a sucker bet and should be avoided. This article will explain what even money is in blackjack and why you should never make this bet.

Even money in blackjack is a term that is used when a player has a blackjack and the dealer’s up card is an ace. The dealer will usually offer the player even money, which means they will get paid 1:1 on their blackjack bet instead of the usual 3:2 payout. The reason this is an offer is because if the dealer has a blackjack, they will win the hand. The house edge on this bet is about 2%, so the casino is making a small profit every time they offer this to players.

Taking even money in blackjack is a popular option for many players because it seems like a no-brainer. You have a blackjack and the dealer has an ace showing, so they’ll pay you $20 for your hand before they peek at their hole card to see if they also have a blackjack. It sounds like a can’t lose proposition, especially when you consider that most dealers and pit bosses encourage players to take even money.

However, the truth is that taking even money will only end up costing you 4% of your winnings over the long run. This is because of the fact that it’s basically just insurance in disguise. In the example above, you will win $20 on your blackjack and lose $5 on your insurance bet, meaning that your net profit is only $10.

This is because the dealer will almost always have a blackjack when you make this bet. The only exception to this is when they have a picture card, which will reduce the likelihood of them having a blackjack by about 30%. This is why the majority of advanced blackjack strategy guides recommend that you should not take even money unless you are counting cards or using some other card-counting method. Taking even money on your blackjack will actually increase the house edge by about 4% over the long run. So, next time you see this offer at the table, remember that it’s just insurance in disguise and not something to be taken lightly. Avoid it at all costs! Good luck!