|
Origin of Blackjack
Blackjack first originated from the game ‘Twenty One’ whose origins in turn cannot be accurately traced.
According to Blackjack history, the game was first established when it emerged in France during the 17th century. The name ‘Twenty One’ was derived from the French phrase “Vingt En Un” which means “21” in French.
After the French Revolution, when ‘Twenty One’ was first launched in England and then the USA, it failed to achieve any popularity. So a casino would try to lure players to the tables by offering bonus payouts. A typical bonus was a 10-1 payout if the player had an Ace of spades and any black Jack. This hand was named a Blackjack and so the name became a legend in the game’s history although the bonus payout was eventually eliminated. Today, a ‘Blackjack’ hand need not even have any black card or even a Jack.
The Growth of the Game of Blackjack
Playing Blackjack became popular at the beginning of the 19th century when the US government banned gambling games because they considered it a corrupting influence and thought it would encourage crime. Blackjack soon became a popular underground game and made gaming history during that period with its popularity.
Blackjack kept gaining in popularity as the government’s restrictions became tighter. In 1931, the state of Nevada legalized gambling, giving birth to Las Vegas and there was no looking back for Blackjack after that. In 1953, Roger Baldwin and his associates undertook a study of Blackjack. Statistical theory and mathematical calculations were used to figure out the reduction of the house edge in Blackjack. The findings were published in 1956 as a guide to Blackjack strategy for the first time. Emergence of Blackjack Strategies In 1962, Professor Edward O. Thorp published a book based on a new technique combining math and science using new systems and equipment to study Blackjack. This was the first time the Blackjack card counting system was officially announced. The book was titled ‘Beat the Dealer’ and became phenomenally popular, making the New York Times’ list of books. Casinos were terrified by the success of the book. In an effort to minimize the damage caused by the book, they modified the rules of the game. However, the book’s popularity eventually waned as many readers did not understand it easily. Seeing that they were on safe ground, the casinos went back to the traditional method of playing Blackjack. A number of books have been written subsequently on the intricacies and strategies of the game by any dedicated Blackjack players. Today, Blackjack is played worldwide. Its reach has increased as a result of the online version of the game. Online Blackjack is as popular as the land version of the game and is offered at online casinos all over the world. The online version of Blackjack is played by the same rules and continues to be the classic game it has been established as.
|
