Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one, is considered one of the most popular games of chance of all time.
With a rich history and fairly straightforward gameplay, you can play Livescore online Blackjack, try your chances live, or at a land-based venue.
With so many different ways to play, the question remains: why is Blackjack so popular?
Read on to find out!
A brief history
Originating in French casinos around 1700, Blackjack was originally known as ‘Vingt-et-un’, a translation of Twenty-one in French.
It’s believed the game was derived from French card games Chemin de Fer and French Ferme, but, at the time, there was also a Spanish version of the game on the scene. ‘One and Thirty’ had a stark resemblance to Twenty-one, with the basic rule to reach a hand value of 31, with a minimum of three cards. In Twenty-one, the basic rule is the same, but with a hand value of 21, starting with a minimum of two cards.
As games of Twenty-one continued to grow in popularity, word spread. The games emerged in North America thanks to French colonists and continued to spread into the casinos in Nevada in 1931.
It wasn’t until the 20th-century that the game became known as Blackjack. This was due to a promotion in Las Vegas casinos involving a black Jack and an Ace. The promotion faded out, but the name stuck.
The aim of the game
The aim of Blackjack is fairly straightforward – to beat the dealer.
To do that, you’ll need to hold a hand value of 21 (or as close as possible) without going over, have the dealer draw a hand with a value over 21, or for you to hold a hand value higher than the dealer.
After being dealt two cards, you’ll be given the option as to whether you wish to stand (not take another card), hit (take another card), double down, split or surrender.
What makes Blackjack so popular?
A rich history, easy-to-understand gameplay and universal rules are just some reasons why Blackjack is so popular. Another, is that it’s the game with one of the lowest house edges in the casino at less than 3%.
The game is fast-paced and provides the opportunity for players to make decisions and feel somewhat more involved than they would in the likes of Roulette and Slots, which require a simple spin of a wheel or press of a button to spin the reels.
There are also lots of different variations of Blackjack you can play. From the classic game at brick-and-mortar establishments, to digital gameplay online, there are also live casino games online, requiring a real-life dealer to host the classic game from a specially designed studio, in real time! You could find themed games of Blackjack amongst the iconic game, or change the stakes by playing games with more card decks involved.
With so many options, it really is no wonder Blackjack is considered one of the most popular games of chance of all time.
