Having an important hobby in one’s life is crucial for physical and mental well-being. There is simply too much stress going around and without a proper way to vent and have fun, we would all be feeling depressed and anxious. Finding that one thing that makes you happy is important and is one of the classic gambling games for many people. Gambling has been around for almost as long as human civilization. It is normal for humans to wager on the outcome of fun and engaging games and activities, so naturally, many games came and went. However, some of them have managed to remain relevant for centuries despite civilizations, technologies, and social norms changing beyond recognition
The blackjack card game is one such gambling activity that has stood the test of time. Despite being around for a long time, blackjack still captures the imagination and fascination of people. Even today when almost all gambling has moved online, it remains in the forefront of the players’ focus as they keep coming back to it. But when did it really start and who made it? What is the official origin of the card game we know and love today, and why is it still so dominant? Read and find out everything there is about the long and storied history of your favorite classic casino game.
The Earliest Origins of Blackjack
The earliest beginnings of the game have their roots in Europe. The ancestry of blackjack can be traced back to several card games played in Europe at roughly the same time. The most direct precursor to what we now play is thought to be “vingt-et-un”, which is French for “twenty-one”, i.e. the strongest hand in blackjack. It was played in France in the early 18th century and is very similar to the contemporary game. Of course, since they had the most money, the infamous French nobility enjoyed the game.
Vingt-en-uh had rules that focused on the same principle: a hand value of 21, which must not be exceeded, wins the round. It was not limited to France as it soon spread across Europe, first to Spain, where it was dubbed “veintiuna”, meaning “twenty-one”. Where the game was different than today was the betting structure and certain specific rules. In the French variety, players could win with a hand value of 21 but the concept of having a specific combination, like Blackjack being an Ace and a Jack of Spades, did not exist yet.
Soon, the game spread to the United States in the early 19th century due to mass migration over the pond. French and Spanish colonists were among the most numerous and they brought the game with them. Gambling started spreading westward from the East Coast and the US soon saw an explosion of riverboat casinos and saloons that housed gambling in much the same way we know it today. This is also roughly when it got its now-legendary name that is known in all corners of the world. It happened during the early years of the game in the US.
As the 20th century approached, casino owners began introducing special bonus payouts to attract players, a bonus given to anyone who was dealt a hand that had an Ace of Spades and a Jack of Spades. It was dubbed “blackjack” and the hand became highly coveted. Over time, the name stuck even though many other card combinations can give you a win. The gambling culture of the American West relied heavily on Blackjack, especially in saloons and casinos that were rapidly appearing during the gold rush when people needed places to spend their money. The rules were still quite inconsistent back then.
Modern Blackjack and Rules Standardization
By the middle of the 20th century and especially onwards, the game became common in all casinos and the first rules were standardized and widely adopted. The standard 52-card deck was used and specific house rules helped make it more consistent. Popularity soared as people could finally practice and gain experience wherever they played. Dealer rules and betting structures were firmly established during the 1930s in America, as gambling spread to Nevada and the state legalized casinos in 1931.
If there was ever a Golden Age of blackjack, at least prior to the online variety that platforms like Stake now offer to users in the modern world, it would have to be the 1960s. In this exciting decade, the game entered a new phase when card counting started to appear. Mathematicians and gamblers published groundbreaking work on how to perform this in blackjack, especially Edward Thorp in his Beat the Dealer from 1962. It revolutionized the game and allowed skilled players to gain a statistical advantage over the house by keeping track of dealt cards. It was a phenomenon and casinos responded by introducing multiple decks and shuffling the cards more frequently.
In the modern era, at the end of the 20th century and onwards, blackjack is one of the world’s most recognizable and widely played casino games. Its simple rules and the potential for strategy to overturn the luck factor, as well as playing against the dealer and the house make it a fun experience and an attractive option. Casuals and pros love it equally as much, and casinos, both brick-and-mortar and online, offer numerous versions and live tables. European blackjack, Spanish 21, switch… there are plenty of subcategories. 
In the digital world, even games combine the traditional formula with new elements and create hybrid games that attract new players used to video games. But despite all of these changes and modern takes, a hand value of 21 remains the one thing players seek to get and win the game. That is why it is still so big. It was perfected a long time ago and it will always remain relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a blackjack weapon?
A blackjack weapon is a small melee weapon used for self-defense. Not in any way connected to the game, it has a small round end used for hitting usually made of heavy metal, and a handle on the other end. The weapon is wrapped in leather. It is quite handy to have around in certain scenarios and was used in the past for quick and effective acts of defense in a rough situation.
2. How do you deal cards in blackjack?
As with other rules of the game, dealing cards in blackjack is rather easy. The dealer gives each player two cards facing down, and two to himself. For the dealer, one card faces down and the other faces up. When all the players get their cards, the round can begin. Players can ask for more cards throughout the game to better their chances at a stronger hand.
3. What is insurance in blackjack?
Unlike its usual meaning outside of the world of blackjack tables, insurance is an additional bet. This side bet can be made at the start of the game when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. It allows the players to wager up to half of their original bet as they claim that the dealer has a blackjack hand. If the dealer does have the strongest hand, the bet is 2:1 and the player breaks even. The insurance is lost if they do not have it, and regular play continues.
4. How do you count cards in blackjack?
Counting cards is not something casinos take lightly because it can be advantageous for the player(s). Counting cards, as the name suggests, includes counting how many and which cards have already exited the play or have been dealt. Thus, you better understand which cards are left in the deck. It is a honed skill that takes time and experience to do correctly and in blackjack, a system called Hi-Lo can be employed. This method assigns values of +1 to low cards and -1 to high cards. For 7-9 cards, they assign a 0. If the count is positive, more high cards are left in the deck and the players can play accordingly. Keeping track of cards and counting them can increase your bets and make you a better player.
5. When to split in blackjack?
Splitting needs to take place at the right moment if you mean to win in blackjack more often than you lose. When you have a pair of Aces or a pair of 8s, it is the perfect moment for it. The cards have strong potential for a winning hand and splitting them gives you two chances to get a strong card, i.e. a 10 or a face card. Splitting 8s allows the player to avoid a weak 16. Never split pairs of 10s and face cards, because they are already strong and the chance to win is already high enough.
6. When to double down in blackjack?
To double down is to double your bet because you are certain your hand is very strong. It should take place when your starting hand is strong, an 11 if possible. At the same time, the dealer’s shown card must be low, between 2 and 6. When you double the bet you get only one more card to increase your chances at a strong hand. If you have a 10 or a 9 and the dealer is weak, you can also double your bet and hope for the best. However, do not do it if your hand is weak and if the dealer has a 7 as their shown card.
7. When to hit in blackjack?
Hitting happens when your hand value is low and you need a better card to make it strong enough to compete. If your total at the start of the round is 8 or less, or if it is between 12 and 16 and the dealer has at least 7 on the upcard, hitting is advised. This gives you a chance to make your situation better and remain in the game. If your hand totals 17+, you risk going over 21 and busting your hand so never hit when you have a high value already.
8. How to play blackjack at home?
Hosting a gambling night at home is one of the best ways to enjoy your favorite card game. It is also quite easy to organize, provided you know what you are doing. Invite the people, make sure there are drinks and snacks for a few hours of competitive fun, and get some decks and chips. You can play with cash as well as it is your own home after all and the rules are what you make them. There should be a dedicated table, possibly a neat gambling mat. You can get a blackjack set online for cheap that comes with decks, chips, and even a foldable table in some situations.
9. How many decks in blackjack?
Blackjack can be played with any number of decks, from a single one in-home gambling scenarios to as many as eight standard decks in casinos. The more decks, the more difficult card counting becomes. It is the measure casinos use to limit counting cards and confuse players if they attempt to do it. There are no official rules and players often do not know the exact number of decks unless the dealer opens them right in front of them, which happens in high-stakes gambling where every detail matters.
10. Where to play blackjack in RDR2?
In a game all about the Wild West and Cowboys, it makes sense to include mini-games that include gambling. Cowboys and outlaws loved to spend their money and many of them would go to local saloons to gamble. This is shown very well in Red Dead Redemption 2, one of the best video games of all time. To play blackjack as John Marston or Arthur Morgan, go to Rhodes, Van Horn, or Blackwater. You can find NPCs willing to gamble with you in the saloons. Alternatively, it is also sometimes possible to play the card game in the camp.
