The history of Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world. You will be hard-pressed to find somebody who does not understand its rules. In certain circles, Blackjack is still referred to as 21 in part due to the massive importance of that number in the game. What most people remain unaware of, however, is the history of the game. How did it come to be called Blackjack? We will delve into this and more right here.

Blackjacks origins

The exact origins of Blackjack remain hard to prove. This is due to the games centuries-old roots. At that time information on something as trivial as a card game was not put down in writing. It is possible that some written rules existed. However, preserving such items for posterity was not a high priority and they were lost over the years.This leads to a number of theories on the origins of the game. Most scholars agree that Blackjack stems from a number of different card games from the early fifteenth century. In Spain, a common theory is that the game comes from 32, a popular game in sixteenth-century Spain. The game figures in texts from well-known authors such as Miguel de Cervantes. The game was played with three cards with the goal of reaching the sum 31.

21

In eighteenth-century France, a version much closer to today's Blackjack called 21 popped up. 21 or Vingt-et-un (French for twenty-one) quickly became popular in the French casinos. This is the most widely accepted version since 21 is very similar to modern Blackjack. When North America was colonised plenty of Frenchmen moved over to the French American colonies bringing the game, 21 with them. This turned out to be crucial for the spread of Blackjack not only in America but the entire world.

Blackjack in the US

The early French settlers brought 21 to North America so when the U.S. gained it’s independence the game was already well established. This was despite it being a lot less popular than Roulette or Poker. During the nineteenth-century, it suffered a major setback when most casino games were banned. This was due to them being associated with crime and moral decrepitude. These were hard times for casino lovers and they would last all the way to the twentieth century.

How Blackjack Came By Its Name

To make the game more appealing to the player's casinos started offering bonuses. This made the game more attractive than competing games. One common bonus was a ten times the bet win for getting the ace and knight of spades. This had was nicknamed “blackjack” and was, of course, the most desirable hand you could get. This caused the game to explode in popularity and once players understood the appeal of the game the blackjack bonus was no longer needed and quickly faded away. Even though the bonus was gone the name carried on. In modern Blackjack, the term is much broader and covers an ace and any other card from ten to king regardless of suit.

Strategies and Books Helps the Game Grow

As the popularity of Blackjack rose, books containing strategies stated popping up. These strategies used mathematical models to determine the best play at any given time. Blackjack strategy became a known term in casino circles. Players using the basic Blackjack came to realise that the house’ edge was very, very small. Once they realised this the popularity of Blackjack.

Another contributing factor was the smart systems that came to be used. These systems, with card counting as the most common example, were so effective that they gave the players an advantage over the house. Card counting allows the players to change their betting according to what the odds are. This is impossible without keeping track of which cards have been dealt and which cards are still in the deck.

Finally this reached such an extent that the casinos had to adapt. To counteract the smart systems in general and card counting in particular, casinos started adding extra decks. More decks made these systems much harder to implement and significantly lowered their effectiveness. Additionally, measures included new shuffling techniques. Today Blackjack is never played using only one deck. Instead, eight or four decks has become the standard. These changes, while killing the professional Blackjack player market had already ensured the continued growth of the game for decades. The stories of the lucrative game were abundant and kept players coming long after the strategies that made those wins possible were no longer viable. Blackjack also figured heavily in films and books. There were plenty of stories where the protagonist enters a casino with a handful dollars and leaving with thousands. This coupled with the cultural influence of the U.S. during the cold war era made Blackjack a well-known game all over the globe.

Blackjack Reaches the Internet

Games that were popular in brick and mortar casinos quickly made their way into the worldwide net. Since the demand for Blackjack was high the online casino operators were quick to offer a number of variants of the game. These versions had varying rules and bet levels. Since the game can be played much faster online than in person an experienced player can play a much greater number of hands an hour online than otherwise. Some players, however, found they missed the social aspects. The online Blackjack tables simply did not bring the same feeling as they would at for instance Casino Monte Carlo.

Live Blackjack

To cater to players who like a bit more social interaction when they’re playing live Blackjack was created. This is much closer to playing in a brick and mortar casino. Live Blackjack has real people as dealers and provides an atmosphere not unlike what you’ll find on a casino floor. It feels more like you’re transported to the casino and you’re playing with the other guests. There are many that see live Blackjack as the future of the game and this version seems certain to continue to evolve and grow.