That’s right, the race to get 21 points before the dealer, the game known as Blackjack is the most played game in casinos worldwide. With a simple and at the same time interesting concept: each player places a bet, is given two cards and runs to get 21 points before the dealer manages to do that feat, while being careful not to exceed the 21 point mark. This is a modern multi-deck game with multiplayer support.

What Are The Origins Of Blackjack?

Although no one is completely sure about the origins of Blackjack, most people believe that Blackjack dates back to the 18th century and comes from a French casino that went by the name of Vingt-et-un, which in Portuguese means twenty-one. Others speculate that the Italian game Seven and a Half came first.

In the 19th century, French settlers brought this game to America, where some major changes took place. To attract players, American casinos offered a 10 to 1 chance if a player wins by getting a sword and black duke (Black jack) on the first move. In fact, that’s where the name Blackjack comes from to name this popular game. Nowadays Blackjack has expanded and it means getting any card with figures or an Ace, or a ten and an Ace, thus making the so sought after 21 points.

Twists And Twists In Blackjack Throughout Its History

In the early 1960s, Edward O. Thorp published a book entitled “Beat the Dealer” that introduced the concept of counting cards in the game of Backjack. This is considered a turning point in the history of Blackjack , as it taught players how to calculate the probability of a card given to the player as an advantage.

Without admiration, the casinos reacted to the publication of this guide for players. As such, they implemented several decks of cards and machines to shuffle the cards in order to make the method of card counting more difficult, in other words, to make it more difficult to know which cards had already been dealt. There is no need to say that winning dealers has become more difficult.

Blackjack is thought to have made a brilliant transition to the ‘online’ world and remains an enormously popular game.

Did You Know …

Napoleon was a big fan of the online game Blackjack and played while in exile on Elba Island.

Back in 2002, a Blackjack Hall of Fame was created at Casino Barona in California to honor the best Blackjack players, authors and professionals. The mathematician and author of the Blackjack theory is also present in this hall of fame, as well as the professional Blackjack player Ken Uston.