History of blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular, and certainly one of the most alluring, casino games of modern times. There are very good reasons for this. Blackjack is one of the few casino games where you can actively influence the outcome. Anyone can beat the house if they pay attention and understand odds, although to do it consistently takes enormous skill and nearly endless practicing. The difficulty in achieving this only helps to lionize the great players and further increase Blackjack’s popularity.

France

This level of glamour is unique to modern blackjack as we know it- it’s roots are far more humble. Blackjack likely originated from a game called “Vingt-et-un,” which is French for “Twenty-one.” While the game was played by bettors trying to reach a total of twenty-one with their cards, the similarities basically end there. The rules of the game were much different- players could not double, and betting occurred before each round of cards was dealt.

Italy

Another likely precursor to modern blackjack was an Italian game called “Seven and a half.” The game was only played with part of the deck. Eights, nines, tens, and face cards were the only ones that were utilized, and they were reassigned values of either one (eight through ten), or one half (all face cards). When a player accumulated a total of more than seven and one half he was “busted.” This game is most likely where that term (known so well to blackjack players today) originated.

USA

Eventually the French game made its way to the United States where it languished in unpopularity for a while. Owners of gambling houses attempted to lure in prospective gamblers by creating bonuses- if a player was dealt the ace of spades and a black jack he was paid ten to one odds. While this rule led to the name we know so well today, it didn’t last for long. Eventually blackjack evolved into its modern self, and when gambling was illegalized it moved underground and eventually became a great source of income for organized crime. When Las Vegas was founded and the casinos were developed there blackjack quickly exploded into one of the most popular games in the world.

Blackjack today

Blackjack continues to this day to inspire gamblers, readers, and moviegoers alike with its rich modern history. Many people have developed great personae through the medium of blackjack, and as long as the game exists, so will the phenomenon of the blackjack hero.