What is blackjack and where does it come from ?
The game of blackjack is a very popular casino game. There is a
movie titled "21" and it is centered around the game of
blackjack. Despite the popularity of the game, many people do
not know much about it. Even players of the game do not know
much outside of the gameplay itself. This piece aims to change
that.
Where did Blackjack Come from?
The origin of blackjack remains an issue of debate.
The French Theory
There are claims that the game originated from French casinos in
1700s. According to this claim, blackjack originated from French
cards called "Vingt-et-Un." The translation of "Vingt-et-Un"
means 21. Vingt-et-Un cards were part of the Chemin de Fer card
game. The Chemin de Fer card games were very popular in the
1700s. They were often played at the French Royal Court during
the reign of King Louis XV.
The Roman Theory
The French theory is not the only blackjack theory. There are
also claims that the Romans invented blackjack. Although there
are no confirmations of this theory, it seems possible because
Romans loved to gamble. There are records of Romans playing
games similar to blackjack. However, they used numbers inscribed
on wood instead of cards.
The Propagation of Blackjack
Despite its popularity in France, it was not until the 1820 that
the game of blackjack began to spread to the rest of the world.
French colonists in search of more colonies brought the game to
the American continent. The game has since evolved into the
modern day blackjack.
How Is the Game of Blackjack Played?
The game of blackjack is a fairly simple game. It involves
players betting on the outcome of their cards. The dealer gives
each player two cards each and also take two cards. After the
cards are shared, players reveal their cards. The sum of their
cards determine the winner.
Playing Against the Dealer
After revealing their cards, the player whose cards sum scores
21 wins. If neither the player nor the dealer scores 21, whoever
has the closest score to 21 wins. However, scoring more than 21
(22, 23, 24, etc.) means losing that round or hand to the
dealer. More than one player can play against the dealer.
Blackjack Tournaments
Here, the major difference with regular blackjack is that the
players are playing against each other, not trying to beat the
dealer. Blackjack tournaments can be either multi tables or
single tables. The aim is to have more chips than other players
at the end of the game. In blackjack tournaments, there are no
dealers. Players take turns dealing the cards. The player who
deals the hand gets to make the first betting call or decision.
Techniques for Playing Blackjack
The game of blackjack is partially a game of luck. However, it
does involve some amount of skill. First, you need to have
knowledge of the game. Number cards of 2-10 represent their
actual numbers. Face cards (Kings, Queens and Jokers) have a
value of 10. Ace cards carry a value of 1 or 11 depending on the
situation. Card counting is the major blackjack technique. It
involves assigning +1 to low value cards and -1 to high-value
cards. If you have a card count of +7, it means you have a
chance of getting a high card.
Return
to Home Page
|