History of Blackjack

Blackjack is a casino table game that can be traced back to the 17th century in France. Back then, it was called 'vingt-et-un,' which means 'twenty-one.' However, there's a theory that the earlier origins of blackjack are connected with the Romans, who invented a predecessor game that was played with wooden blocks that had different numerical values on them. Although, it hasn't been confirmed.

The first time blackjack was mentioned in written references was in Miguel de Cervantes 'Rinconete y Cortadillo, published between 1601 and 1602. This story featured a game named 'veintiuna', which means 'twenty-one' in Spanish. The name 'blackjack' first appeared in the 20th century.

As with all casino games, blackjack is also a game of chance. Nevertheless, with the growing popularity of the game in the 20th century, the first mathematical strategies of the game appeared. A paper titled “The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack” was published in 1956. This work by Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel, and James McDermott created the basis for the first thorough strategy.

In 1962, Edward O. Thorp, in the book “Beat the Dealer,” laid out card counting principles. It explained how to track the low and high cards remaining in the deck.

With the introduction of card counting techniques, casinos started using multiple decks for the game. Although card counting isn’t illegal, casino establishments don’t like it. Therefore, if they spot players who count cards, they ask them to leave and may even ban them.

The modern game of blackjack formed in North America in the 1930s. After the legalization of gambling in Nevada, there was pressure to attract bettors to the new casinos. Around this time, the Nevada Gaming Commission published standardized rules, establishing the game of modern blackjack. Casinos started offering exceptional 10:1 odds for making 21 with the ace of spades and any blackjack.

Today, not only can gamblers access online blackjack games and dedicated tournaments on the sites, but they also participate in global events with other blackjack players worldwide. These are the most popular blackjack events of 2023 and 2024:

• November 22nd & 23rd 2023, 7th Blackjack World Championship, Casino Innsbruck, $1,320 buy-in
• February 19, 2024, Wildhorse Resort, $25 Entry Fee
• February 20, 2024, Feather Falls Casino, $25 Entry Fee
• February 15, 2024, Indian Head Casino, $12 Entry Fee
• November 26th & 27th, Win ‘Em All Tournament, Casino Innsbruck, $550 buy-in

Of course, the number of these events and the list of popular blackjack winners are even more significant. In 2007, there was the last World Series of Blackjack event (Season 4), where Alice Walker was the absolute winner, while Rick Fortin, Kristine Johnson, and T. J. Boros were other popular players who reached the final. As for the Ultimate Blackjack Tour, the winner of its latest All-Stars Tournament was Phil Hellmuth, while other outstanding participants were Freddie Deeb, Annie Duke, and "Hollywood" Dave Stann.

The true origin of blackjack is not entirely clear. What we do know is that blackjack is an enjoyable game with just the right mixture of chance and skill to keep punters interested. Playing blackjack offers a connection to history, as it was enjoyed by Napoleon's soldiers and Klondike Gold Rush prospectors.

Today, you can access the modern game's rules and enjoy a range of other benefits, including the opportunities to play blackjack online, place side bets, and even use casino bonuses. If you're unsure where to start, checking out online casino reviews can help you find the most reliable platforms. It takes seconds to open the game on your desktop or smartphone and start playing simultaneously.