When it comes to blackjack strategy, some people like to take a 'logical' approach that isn't always based on recommended advice. Splitting 10's and taking insurance are two moves often used by the logical player because, in theory, they seem like wise decisions. However, both insurance and splitting 10's are bad moves that will lower your expected return over time and we'll explain why.

Insurance is just a Side Bet

The reason why many people are fooled by blackjack insurance is that they truly think of it as 'insurance.' When the dealer has an ace upcard, you can take insurance in case they have a blackjack; assuming they do flip over a 10-value card and complete their blackjack, your insurance bet is paid 2:1.

But herein lies the problem with this: 7 out of every 10 times the dealer won't have a blackjack. What's more is that this amounts to around a 7.8% advantage for the house. So the thing to realize here is that you're not really getting insurance, but rather a very bad side bet. Bottom line - don't ever take insurance!

Splitting 10's splits up a Great Hand

Another idea that might sound good is breaking up a pair of 10's. The reason why is because you'll now be starting two hands with a 10. However, perfect basic blackjack strategy suggests that you don't split these cards.

You're slightly better off by keeping your original score of 20 because this is an excellent hand that will most likely win. But by splitting it up, you now risk getting a lower value for both hands. All in all, it's just a smarter idea to keep your pair of 10's together and try to win the hand you have.

Stick to the Script

Rather than making blackjack decisions based on guesses and 'commonsense,' a better idea is to use a strategy table. By referring to this table often, you'll be able to make the optimal moves in each situation based on your score and the dealer's upcard. Assuming you follow the blackjack strategy table to a T, you should lower the house edge to just 0.5%. And this gives you an excellent chance at making some profits!