The History of Blackjack

2 years ago
The History of Blackjack
08:35
25 Mar

Blackjack is undoubtedly one of the most popular and most interesting casino games. Even if you are not an experienced player, you probably know the basic rules of this timeless game. One of the main attractions of the game is that players and dealers compete on almost equal footing. Like in the poker, players’ skills can make the difference between who wins and who loses and it is not just down to luck as in most other casino games.

Would you like to know more about blackjack and winning strategies? If the answer is yes, you are in the right place. In fact, it is not necessary to go to a casino to experience the thrills of blackjack. Just log into one of the many legal online casinos and choose a table to start playing.


Blackjack is a success story also on the big screen

Blackjack is a game that has been at the centre of the plot of many movies. Counting cards to win the game is a story retold in films such as Rain Man, 21 and The Last Casino. But the green blackjack table is also present in License to Kill, Croupier, the famous Hangover and Scorsese's masterpiece Casino.

The origins of Blackjack are not entirely clear, but many agree that it originated in French casinos at the beginning of the 1700s. According to some sources, the game was born from a variant of Chemin de Fer. It was a game made with French cards which took the name of "Vingt-et-Un", which translates as "Twenty-one".

But according to another theory, the origins go much further back. Blackjack could be an invention of the Ancient Romans. They are thought to have played a wooden block game with different numbers painted on them.

In the 18th century the game arrived in the US thanks to the French colonists, evolving in the rules and gaining popularity.

By the 1820s it was practiced in New Orleans in legalized gambling halls. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the game was still called 21.

Under the old rules the various hands followed one another, until the moment when a player totalled 21 points.

In the United States the game name was changed to Blackjack to increase its popularity. In fact, casinos began to offer extra pay-outs if a black jack (i.e. a spades or clubs jack) was dealt together with an ace of spades.


Winning at blackjack strategies

The rules of this game have meant many strategies have been elaborated to win at blackjack. Like in the poker the player skills in the blackjack are make a difference to determine how is winning. These strategies rely on the fact the player's skills can make a real difference in the gameplay.

Here are some of the classic strategies for winning:

  • Counting - This strategy is based on the ability to count cards with easy-to-apply systems. You don't have to have the extraordinary memory of Dustin Hoffman in the movie Rain Man to apply this strategy. In reality, the cards are mentally counted by dividing them into two different groups. High: 9, 10 and all face cards; low: all the others. This way, by calculating how many high and low cards have already come out, you can predict your probability of going bust.
  • Basic strategy – This is a strategy devised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It uses complex equations to compute the probability of any outcome. But fear not, not math degree is necessary, all the hard work has been done by the guys at MIT. There are many online cheat sheets that suggest the best course of actions to follow in any case.
  • Splitting pairs of 8s - One of the strategies applied by the best players is to always split a dealt pair of 8s. This way you will play two distinct hands with only one 8 instead of one 16, reducing the chances of busting.
  • Double down with 10 points – This strategy should only be used if the dealer has revealed a 9 or lower card. The probability suggests trying to double the bet.
  • Avoid the Insurance – The “insurance” is offered in most online Blackjack versions, but it is almost never convenient for players and at best reduces the pay-out.

Evolution of online blackjack

The evolutions of blackjack began well before the arrival of the game in online casinos around the world. In the 1960s, the single deck was still used.

But following the publication of Edward O. Thorpe's book, Beat the Dealer, in 1962, things changed rapidly. In the text, the expert player explained how to count cards and win at the green table.

Of course, card counting loses its meaning in online casinos as the deck is reset after each hand. The result is that each hand is independent of the previous and the next and the count is useless.

Online casinos offer blackjack inn its classic version and in many other variations, here are some of them:

  • All bets Blackjack - presents the possibility of many side bets.
  • Blackjack Double Exposure - the player has an advantage as all the dealer's cards are face up.
  • Single deck blackjack - here too, thanks to the use of only one deck of cards, the player's advantage increases.
  • Atlantic City Blackjack - Aces cannot be split in this version.
  • Blackjack Surrender - Played with 6 decks, you have the ability to double down on any pair of cards and also to use the surrender option.

But the evolutions of online blackjack mainly concern the live versions. In the rooms connected in streaming you can play with a real dealer and have fun together with other players.

You can select a room based on the minimum and maximum bet and the proposed variant.

Online blackjack, with the other games mentioned, is also legal in Italy, but we recommend that you are in Italy you only choose AAMS online casinos. These are the casinos that are properly licensed to operate. Only these sites offer you all the guarantees of safe gaming, in protected environments and in compliance with the law. All versions of online blackjack on AAMS sites are certified and guarantee fair play, and RTP values guaranteed by law.


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Writer and semi-retired poker pro from Edinburgh (UK).Read more

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