Blackjack is one of the most popular table games in gambling today. Because of the way the game is played, with its elements of skill and chance, blackjack has made its way to the top of the list in regards to casino popularity. The game can be played in either live or video form, with various bonus payouts making it enticing to new players and novice gamblers.
History of Blackjack
Blackjack is said to have been originated in the 1700s in various French casinos, where players came to love the fast paced action and ease of the rules. Then, the idea of the game was to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, just as the rules are today. The only difference back then was that the casinos did not offer a 3:2 bonus for hitting 21 with just two cards.
The game was introduced in the United States in an early form shortly thereafter, but it didn’t become a staple until casinos starting popping up in Las Vegas. That’s when casino owners decided to offer the bonus of 3:2 for hitting 21 on only two cards and offered a number of other bonuses to entice the players. This in turn, decreased the house advantage for the game and brought many more players to the tables.
The name “Blackjack” was derived from one of those bonuses. Certain casinos gave a 10:1 bonus to players who could hit an ace of spades and either of the black colored jacks in the deck. This name quickly stuck and has been around ever since.
Rules
The simplicity of the rules of Blackjack contributes to its popularity. On the surface, the idea is to play against the dealer (or the “house”) and try to get as close to 21 as possible without going over the number.
More specifically, each player is dealt two cards face up on the table. The dealer is also dealt two cards, but only one of the cards is showing. Then, the players are offered a chance to add more cards, which is called a “hit”, or to stay with their current total. A hit that results in going over 21 is called a “bust” and results in a loss for the player regardless of the dealer’s result.
Following that sequence, the dealer takes cards until the house total ends up at 17 or higher. Some casinos allow the dealer to stay on 16, but this is not common.
There are other rules that enable the player to put more money in addition to their first bet. A player can call for a “double”, at which time they double their bet in exchange for one additional card. If a player has matching cards, he can split those cards draw on each card, leaving two different hands to play. This also requires a matching bet. Blackjack is one of the games that offers the player a better chance to win against the house. The simple rules and fact that the game appears so commonly make it an easy game for novice gamblers to play. |
