Blackjack Historia

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Blackjack is one of the most exciting casino games which is offered by a number of casinos all over the world. Throughout the years, many blackjack experts have conducted a great deal of extensive surveys in an attempt to trace back its origins. The history of every popular casino game is always highly debated and discussed as usually there is more than one controversial such theories which give rise to many questions.

Blackjack is no different as up to the present, its exact origins remain unknown. Let’s have a look at some of the most popular beliefs and facts about the history of blackjack.

Blackjack Origins

Blackjack came from games in France and Spain. The version that eventually swept across Europe was called “Vingt-un” or “Vingt-et-un” (meaning “21”), but it was very likely predated by other games such as the French “Quinze” (meaning “Fifteen”) and the Italian game of “Sette e Mezzo” (“Seven and a Half”).

As already indicated, the exact origins of the game are hard to be determined. It is believed that in ancient times, the Romans used to play a game that resembled to some extent blackjack. In the past, many different card games were invented in various parts of the world and as a result, it is possible that they have influenced each other. The first written evidence of blackjack can be found in a short story, written by the prominent Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes in the beginning of the 1600s. The game mentioned in it was called “Ventiuna” which is twenty one in Spanish. This is the reason why many historians consider that blackjack was invented in the 17th century at the latest as they derive its origins from this Spanish game.

The game is also said to have a relation with other popular games – the French Vingt-et-un and the Italian Seven and a Half. The reason why many historians believe that Seven and a Half has something to do with blackjack is that its main goal was to form a hand whose total value had to be closest to 7 ½ as possible. If players exceeded this amount, they “busted” which makes the game very similar to the blackjack that is known today.

On the other hand, Vingt-et-un is a French game that is translated as twenty one. It was played in the French casinos around the 1600s and its main goal was to have a hand total as close as 21, without exceeding it. It is also believed that the name blackjack originated from exactly this game, in particular from the highest hand which was a Jack and an Ace.

Evolution of Blackjack

Later on, in the 1800s, the many variations of blackjack reached America, even though back then gambling was prohibited. Perhaps, because of the huge interest in them, in 1931 the State of Nevada became the first territory which made gambling legal. The casinos quickly gained in popularity as many of them offered an exclusive bonus for a “natural” card combination.

If players had the strongest hand that consisted of an Ace of spades and one of the two black Jacks, they got paid 10/1. As the time passed by, blackjack became one of the most played casino games which gave the casinos the opportunity to take advantage of this huge interest and remove this beneficial payout. Nowadays, most blackjack games pay 3/2 when players get this lucky combination.

Blackjack is one of the few casino games which has evolved greatly during the years. As a result, it is no surprise that it has a number of interesting variations. All of them offer players the chance to diversify their gaming experience and enjoy the new features and additional rules the versions have. Some casinos adjusted the game according to their players’ needs and made sure that all types of gamblers, regardless of their betting habits and experience, could play. It was possible to find various tables that offered different betting limits and as a result, the game became suitable for everyone.

History of Blackjack Strategies

As blackjack is a card game, many people started to suspect that its outcome can be influenced by a reliable strategy. Some of the first people who tried to determine the pattern the game follows were two mathematicians – John Scarne and Julian Braun. They take credit for many of the blackjack strategies that are still used today. Their theories have greatly contributed to the development of some of the basic and advanced strategies. They proved that it is possible to derive valuable information from the pattern the game follows and this way, make wiser moves. After their findings blackjack wasn’t the same any more as many gamblers started to seek a way to improve their game. They learned how to make better betting choices and moves, depending on the total value of their hand. And indeed many of them managed to decrease the house edge and win more.

As a result, the casinos had to impose a countermeasure in order to make the game work in their favour again. The number of the decks was increased many times in an attempt to stop players from gaining advantage. Initially, the game was played with a single pack of cards, however nowadays it can be very hard to find such a version. Most casinos offer blackjack that utilizes 6 or 8 decks.

History of Card Counting

One of the most widespread strategies known today is the card counting one. It is used by hundreds of players worldwide who attempt to improve their game and decrease the house edge. The card counting was created by the mathematician Edward Thorp and it works best if applied along with the basic strategy. Its principle is simple – it provides valuable information about the ratio of the cards and it predicts to some extent whether the upcoming cards would be high value or low value ones.

Therefore, players can use this information to make wiser bets. For instance, if they know that there are more high value cards remaining in the deck, they can place bigger amounts for their bets as the chances that they will get a strong hand are good enough. This way, players have the chance to gain advantage and manage to achieve the desired win.

Conclusion

The exact origins of blackjack are highly disputed as it resembles some other old card games in three different countries – France, Spain and Italy. Since it first appeared, the game has undergone so many major changes and it has been developed significantly. Nowadays, a number of exciting variations can be played in every reputable brick and mortar casino as well as online. It is a game that requires both luck and skills which is the reason why throughout the years, a number of strategies have been created. Thanks to them, players can gain advantage over the casino and become consistent winners in the long term.

The earliest incarnation of card games dates back to first millennia when the Chinese began to shuffle paper money into different combinations. To the precise origin of blackjack however, the answer still eludes us today. That being said, it is widely agreed that it is likely to have evolved from various European incarnations as far back as the early 1600s. In this guide, you will learn about the history of blackjack, the development of the modern game and what the future holds for players who love the game.

The Origins of Blackjack

The true origin of blackjack is still unknown but the game ’21’ is thought to be the start. The earliest recorded reference to game of 21 was in a novel by Spanish author, Miguel de Cervantes in 1601. He cites a disagreement between his two central characters who excel at cheating at a game of ‘Veintiuna’ which is Spanish for 21. Despite this, it is actually the French who are credited with inventing the game 21 (Vingt-et-Un in French) which is believed to be a variation of two other French card games, ‘French Ferme’ and ‘Chemin de Fer’. Rising to prominence in the 1700s, Vingt-et-un shares many similarities with modern blackjack, but is still quite different. Rounds of betting followed each time a hand was dealt and only the dealer could double.

Quinze, like Blackjack with Bluffing

Another earlier variation of blackjack was the French card game known as Quinze. However, in this game the objective of the player is to score a total of 15 points, as opposed to the modern 21. Unlike most casino games, Quinze was not house-banked. Each bet was made by the dealer and the casino merely took a percentage of the win. Similar to modern blackjack, the player acts first and if he or she goes bust, the dealer wins. Quinze became very popular in English casinos in the mid-1800’s with politicians and royalty known to have played the game. It was also common for Quinze players to wear masks to hide their emotions during play.

Blackjack History

Pontoon, the Working Man’s Bridge

Widely known as British blackjack, Pontoon is more accurately a variant of the French game Vingt-et-Un which later became the Americanised version of blackjack. The name was said to originate during the First World War as a humorous association with crossing a river. In brief, while the Army Officers played Bridge, the lowly infantry was left to play pontoon. The game makes use of different words such as ‘twist’ and ‘buy’ which share the same meaning as ‘hit’ and ‘double’ do in modern blackjack. The game is still widely played in the United Kingdom and around the Commonwealth as a both land-based and an online version.

Why Is the Modern Game Called Blackjack?

The catalyst for this move from Vingt-et-Un to blackjack was the French colonisation of America during the 1800s. The game slowly became popular in established settlements such as St. Louis, Baton Rouge and New Orleans before gradually spreading out across the country. It was not an instant hit though. In 1931, casinos had to introduce bonus payouts to entice more players to play. This is when the game became known as blackjack. It is so named because the player who drew the Jack of Spades and the Ace of Spades would receive the highest bonus payout at 10 to 1. These days, a Jack is no longer necessary to obtain the winning hand as any 10-card paired with an ace will make up a winning hand. That said, in the history of blackjack, the fact that the name has stuck is a testament to the importance of these bonus payouts to the lasting popularity of the game.

How the Game Achieved Its Fame

When reviewing the origin of blackjack, it’s important to understand what makes the game different from other casino games such as roulette and poker. In a normal game of blackjack played with a single deck of cards, the probability that the casino will win is essentially nil. This means that you don’t have to be lucky to win this game, you can actually improve your odds of winning through mental arithmetic. In 1962, Edward Thorp’s book, Beat the Dealer brought these revelations to light and blackjack exploded in popularity. Beat the Dealer was on the New York Times best-sellers list the following year, and card counting was born.

Thorp’s discovery quite literally changed the game. Casinos everywhere were under attack from amateur card counters and new defensive measures were put in place. Single deck games were abolished and raised upwards of four to eight decks to thwart the counters arithmetic. Random deck re-shuffles, dealer changes, stopping players entering half-way through the game. All countermeasures to battle the card counting players. But as history has always shown, if you change the game, people will adapt. Two years later, Harvey Dubner brought out the first of many new card counting strategies to come. Dubner’s was called the Hi-Lo system. This led to decades of battle between the card counters and the casinos which saw many individuals become millionaires, and this is what ultimately made the game so successful. People believed they could beat the game and become rich.

From Blackjack History to the Modern Game

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There is no doubting the influence of Edward Thorp’s book, Beat the Dealer, in the rapid rise of blackjack. However, there are certainly other key events which contributed to the game’s growth over the years. Let’s have a look at the biggest milestones in blackjack history.

1931: The First Las Vegas Casino Opens

In 1910, the US government decided to outlaw gambling, often seen as a habit tarnishing the local morale. This drove a lot of players underground, similarly to Prohibition laws which gave way to speakeasies and other secret channels for trade. Unfortunately, this had the undesired effect of handing the industry over to the hands of organised crime bosses. Realising their error, the government decided to legalise gambling two decades later in the state of Nevada, along with the creation of new laws to protect gamblers.

The first Las Vegas casinos were opened in 1931 and the popularity of blackjack grew. Along with this new legislation for gambling, a new clear standardised rulebook for the game was needed. The federal government founded the Nevada Gaming Commission who went on to define the rules of blackjack, most of which are still used in modern blackjack today.

1978: Atlantic City Launches as an Alternative Gambling Destination

Nearly 60 years after the first Las Vegas casino opened, Atlantic City followed suit, establishing a gambling hub on the east coast as well when Resorts International opened its casino doors. The Atlantic City casinos initially welcomed the competition from blackjack card counters who believed that, over the long run, they stood to make more money than they lost.

This welcoming attitude did not remain for long. Eventually the Casino Control Commission gave casinos the right to ban known card counters from entering their establishments. Whilst this was later overturned, it only served to make the pit bosses more radicalised in their ploys to derail card counters in any way possible. That said, where there is a will, there is a way, and the popularity of blackjack continued to soar despite – or perhaps because of – its notoriety.

1996: Online Casinos Becomes a Thing

At the height of the dot-com era, casinos began to move online, and this was the next big development in the history of blackjack. Initially, it was the classic version of the game that was made available. However, demand soon grew for new and innovative versions of the game to appear.

This is where we saw the introduction of variants such as Blackjack Switch, Double Attack Blackjack and 21 Duel, each with their own unique set of rule, innovative features, and strategies. Nowadays, most major online gambling sites offer at least a handful of variants, while some have upwards of ten. If you are interested in learning more about our recommended online casinos for popular blackjack variants and other casino games, you should check out our guide to the top 10 online casinos in the UK.

2006: Evolution Launches and Takes Live Games to the Next Level

The success of online casinos was clear, however, there remained one major drawback. How could they re-create the atmosphere and thrill of playing at a real-life land-based casino through a computer screen? This question led to the next development in blackjack history, the introduction of live gaming with real dealers. The first iteration of live blackjack play was far from ideal. Games were initially streamed straight from the casino floor which often resulted in a restricted view and poor picture quality. There was a turning point in 2006, when newly designed, purpose-built studios were implemented exclusively for live games. With this, video quality vastly improved and players were finally able to interact with a live dealer. Live gaming led to the creation of Blackjack Party which is a more social variant of the game played with two dealers. Check out our guide to the best live blackjack casinos in the UK if you want to learn more.

The State of Blackjack Today

If blackjack history has shown us anything, it’s that it has been integral to the evolution of the gambling industry. By 1987, 76% per unit share of all games being played on the Las Vegas strip was blackjack. The closest rival that year was craps with 11%. Today, the proliferation and availability of new games has gradually eaten away at that dominance, however, there is no doubting blackjack still remains a casino favourite. There has never been a better time to play blackjack than today.

There are so many different variations and options for all players to choose from, no matter what your blackjack background is. We have touched on many of these different variations throughout this guide but if you would like a comprehensive review of all the best blackjack game variations available in the UK today, you know where to find them.

Blackjack Historia Fortnite

The Future of Online Blackjack

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Whilst mobile gaming is trending heavily for all online casinos games right now, there are still plenty of new directions the industry can go. Blackjack was featured prominently in Rockstar North’s 2010 title, Red Dead Redemption, an adventure game set in the Old West. The next logical step would be to re-create this environment within a virtual reality game where players can enter any Old West Tavern and challenge a whole range of fictional characters to a game of blackjack. Likewise, they could create a blackjack origin game where players are transported through the history of blackjack from the king’s courts in 16th century France to the founding of cities like New Orleans. With companies like Facebook pushing the boundaries of social VR, it feels like only a matter of time before players will be able to enter an entire virtual casino and interact with other players online. One thing is for sure, the future remains exciting for the game of blackjack.