Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular games because unlike most casino games, Blackjack gives the player the opportunity to control the course of the game. Nowadays, due to the terrific expansion of online casinos, Blackjack is only one of many well-known available card games. Nevertheless, it attracts countless players all over the world. This article is meant to describe the history and origins of Blackjack as well as some of its applicable strategies.

Blackjack’s historical origins

As is the case for most of card games, it‘s not so easy to retrace the origins of Blackjack. Indeed, the complexity of its rules has slowly changed over time. For years, several styles were combined. But what we are certain about is that Blackjack was born in the 17th century in France. The closest ancestor of Blackjack was a famous card game of the time entitled “Twenty one”. Rules were slightly different from the modern game that now invades our casino rooms: the dealer could, for instance, double at any moment and there was a betting round between each card’s redistributions. Another similar game is the Spanish "Trento-one", where the goal is to reach thirty-one with at least three cards.

Blackjack in the USA

The game arrived in North America in the 19th century when European immigrants settled down in the country. The route crossing Las Vegas in Nevada eventually became legal for gambling and everyone could enjoy the game freely. Nevertheless, Blackjack was not quite popular back at this time as it lived in the shadow of more popular games: craps and roulette. In order to attract players, casinos set up different bonus programs to make Blackjack more attractive. One of these bonuses paid 10-1 and was issued when players acquired a 21 with an Ace of Spades and a ‘Black Jack’, hence the word we are now used to saying while playing it.

Blackjack Strategies

When you play online Blackjack correctly, casinos generally make less income (the current rate is of 0.5%).

With Blackjack, you can use a great deal of strategies, some more or less basic, others rather complex. As Blackjack has gained popularity, winning formulas have been mathematically proven to ensure players an optimal gain. The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack, written by the American author Baldwin relates the different theorems applicable to Blackjack. Moreover, the 19th century witnessed an incredible amount of books’ publication of the same type. Mathematicians have found opportunities to improve playing by counting cards at blackjack. Beat The Dealer, written by Edward O. Thorpe, even explains how to beat the one who represents the authority figure during the game: the dealer.

Thorpe was the true pioneer of Blackjack strategy. He offered relevant analyses about the advantages of casinos as well as playable dimensions and mathematical measures to maximize the chances of winning. Nowadays, more complex strategies have been born thanks to computerized simulations implemented by talented players and professional teams. This way, average people can take the lead thanks to statistically proven theories and earn a lot of money. Nevertheless, these methods seemed to have been banned by most real casinos. These simulations gave clear answers on questions that players frequently wonder: should I take insurance in Blackjack? What is the redistribution rate? What is the winning shots’ frequency?

Nevertheless, you should not worry. We will give you the answers to these very important questions throughout the articles published on our website.