Who invented Blackjack? (History and Facts)

who invented blackjack

Have you ever wondered who invented BlackJack?

This card game has been popular for generations and continues to be one of the most played casino card games worldwide due to its simplicity.

This article will teach you who invented blackjack and other interesting facts about this popular card game.

 

Where Did Blackjack Come From?

There are still different ideas about where Blackjack came from, but the most common one is that it started in French casinos around the year 1700 because it is mentioned in the book Don Quixote, a book which was written in the early 1700s.

Back in those days, the game was called “Vingt-et-un,” which in old English means “21.” Some people think that the Romans played this game or one similar to it as well, but no proof has been found regarding this theory.

In the early 1700s, when the Blackjack card game became more popular, many casinos and other gambling houses were offering “special bets” to get more people to play.

Having a Black-colored Jack (the Jack of spades or clubs) combined with an Ace was a special bet that stands out and could win you a bonus of 10x your bet, potentially making you win a lot more money.

This is where the name “BlackJack” we use now came from. The name “Blackjack” stuck around for centuries even though casinos slowly got rid of these special bonuses and kept the original standard game that is available to play at their tables.

 

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BlackJack Statistics

Many BlackJack statistics can be found online. Here is a summary of the most important BlackJack stats below:

  • Most of the time, the house edge in blackjack is about 0.5%.
  • People who count cards can get an edge of up to 2% over the house.
  • About 31% of all table games played in casinos are blackjack.
  • A natural blackjack is 4.8% of the time that you will be dealt one.
  • In Las Vegas, about a quarter of the blackjack tables are marked as “continuous shuffling” games.
  • More than 100 different kinds of blackjack can be found in casinos around the world.
  • The drop in blackjack at the Las Vegas Strip in 2010-2011 was $975.8 million, which is less than half of what it was in 2000-2001.
  • The odds of getting a suited blackjack are 1 in 430. This would mean getting an Ace and a 10 of diamonds together.
  • The chances of getting two aces as your first two cards are 1 in 221.
  • When it comes to casinos in the United States, blackjack is the second most profitable table game.
  • There is a 31.2% chance that the dealer will show an ace-up and have a blackjack.
  • In a game with only one deck, the odds of getting two suited aces as the first two cards are 1 in 4,832.
  • From 2021 to 2028, the world market for online blackjack is expected to grow at a rate of 8.7% per year.

 

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How to Play BlackJack

To play this game, whether you are playing traditional blackjack in person at a physical casino or while playing blackjack online, all you have to do to get started is to put your money on the table where it says “bet.”

Everyone else in the game gets two cards, but the dealer only gets one face-up card. An Ace and a 10 are your first two cards from the dealer.

Choose whether you want to “draw” or “stay” if they have a different lead. You can keep drawing cards until you are satisfied with your hand. The goal is to get as close to the total number of 21 as possible without going over it. If you go over that number, you lose.

 

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When to split and when to double down?

When you play blackjack, you should split 10s when there is an ace or a 3, 9s when there is another 9 or 8, 7s when there is another 8 or 7, and 6s when there is another 6. People are told not to split 2s because it might not be helpful.

 

In the same way, if you are handed a pair of aces in blackjack, your hand value could be 2 or 12. It is best to split them and hope to draw 7s, 8s, 9s, or 10s.

If the dealer shows a five and you have a pair of fives, you should let it ride because you could get a good hand. Seeing the 5s is better than seeing the 10s, 9s, or 8s if there are none to be seen.

If the dealer’s up card is a 9, 10, or ace, you should double down on a 10 or 11.

It is better to double down with soft hands like aces and 6–8 than with hard hands like 2–8. If you double down, you should do so when your hand totals 13 to 16, the dealer’s up card is not a 10, and your first card is not a low-value card.

If you are not sure how good you are at counting cards, you should double down on 13–16 when the dealer’s up card is 4-6.

 

Why BlackJack is the most popular casino game of all times

Unlike poker, blackjack is super easy to play, and quite easy to learn. Which makes it a fun game for family get-togethers, corporate events, birthdays, and more.

If you are new at blackjack, many people recommend that you watch some Youtube videos to understand the basics and also to understand the most common strategies to increase your odds of winning.

After educating yourself using Youtube and Google, start by playing some virtual blackjack games with virtual money for at least 1 week and see if you can win consistently.

You can start playing at a low-minimum table like $10, and as you get more confident move up to higher stakes tables like $20, $50, or even more if you want more thrills.

Picture of Author: Amanda Jones
Author: Amanda Jones

Amanda Jones specializes in content marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Marketing Management from the University of Florida and a Content Manager Professional Certificate from the University of Miami.

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