Blackjack Fun Facts to Impress Your Friends

The game of blackjack has been around for several hundreds of years. Blackjack has also been called the game of twenty-one or Vingt-Un (in French). Although it is not possible to trace back the exact birthplace and date of Blackjack, it is assumed that it was played in Spain as it was referenced in 1601 by Miguel de Cervantes in his tale, Rinconete y Cortadillo.

Blackjack History: An Overview

Over the years, blackjack grew in popularity, particularly in France, where it was called Vingt-Un. In the late 1760s, French aristocrats were playing Vingt-Un, which quickly followed into Britain the following decade. It took a little while longer to reach the United States, with the first printed version of the rules available in 1825. The rules were the same as the 1800 rules that were printed for Britain. The game evolved over the 19th century until it finally became known as Blackjack around 1899 in the United States.

There are many different theories of how Blackjack adopted its name from Vingt-Un or Twenty-One. One of them was the assumption that if a player in the United States had the Ace of Spades and a black Jack (either clubs or spades), they would be paid 10:1. However, there is no supporting evidence to back this theory.

A more likely theory is that the name Blackjack comes from the mineral zinc blende. At the turn of the 19th century, during the Klondike Gold Rush, the term “blackjack” was used by prospectors that would find zinc blende around different gold and silver deposits. Whilst also playing the game of twenty-one, the theory suggests that the prospectors would name any hand that contains an Ace and 10-value card “blackjack” – as this is the strongest hand in the game.

Blackjack is the most popular casino card game, due to its easy to learn rules and the fact that strategy can be used to reduce the house edge. There are many different variants in blackjack that have developed ever since the end of the 19th century, however, the same basic principles remain.

Playing Blackjack Online

Today, Blackjack can be played in many ways. Most notably, in land-based casinos or at online gambling sites. Although the game will remain the same, the experience of playing at a land-casino and playing online are completely different. This affects the social atmosphere, the strategy for playing and the information that the player is provided. For instance, in land-casinos, players can see each other’s cards, whereas in online casinos, players play alone- unless they are playing live dealer blackjack.

In addition, online Random Number Generator (RNG) Blackjack games give players all the time in the world. The same cannot be said for land-based casinos or live dealer games. With the benefit of taking as much times as they need, the player can consult strategy charts for their plan of action. At land-casinos, this is not the case. The same can be said for the cards to deal and for other player’s turns. At RNG Blackjack games, all the action happens instantly at the click of a button.

It is widely accepted that playing blackjack online is far cheaper than when sitting at a casino. Most land-based casinos tend to accept a minimum wager of €5 per hand. However, when playing online, most blackjack games will allow you to place a minimum wager of only €1. This makes gaming far more suitable for players that are working with a gaming budget. It also means you could enjoy an extended period of playing blackjack online.

In addition to being cost friendly, playing online has other benefits, such as the convenience of playing at home. When playing online, there is no need to spend time and money travelling, or to follow a certain dress code. Playing online is available instantly and is compatible with a huge range of devices. Thus, no one cares what you are wearing. Other benefits of playing online include the availability of games 24/7 and how you will always find a seat at a table. This goes for both video and live dealer blackjack games, with thousands of tables with empty seats and even certain games – such as Blackjack Infinite – that allows an unlimited number of players to join.

There are benefits to playing blackjack online and in land-casinos. The online format is far more convenient and could be considered cost friendly. As for land-casinos, the experience is what truly counts. In addition, card counting is also only possible to do in a land casino. However, there are certain guidelines and etiquette principles that one should employ when playing at land casinos. For instance, players should always ask permission from those sitting at a table before they join. In addition, players should not touch their chips after they have placed their wagers and should follow simple hand gestures that indicate to stand or to hit.

To choose between playing online or at land casinos, essentially, you should determine what kind of experience you want. Neither one is better than the other is. Land casinos offer players the casino experience with other players and the social environment. As for online casinos, you will find a lot more options in terms of games, bonuses, availability and these games can be played from just about anywhere – provided you have a stable internet connection.

A List of Blackjack Fun Facts

  • What separates blackjack from other casino games is that the player has the chance to reduce the house advantage. That is why you will find some people who make a living just by playing blackjack. Some blackjack games have a house edge of 0.3% or even smaller. This is why the game is ever-growing in popularity.
  • Card counting and blackjack go hand in hand. Many card counting techniques are employed at land casinos and they have been around for ages. However, card counting was not proved until 1962, when mathematician Ed Thorp published Beat the Dealer – a book on how to count cards in blackjack.
  • Many did not know that blackjack is indeed one of the oldest casino games of all time. The game has been played since the late 16th century and had rules that are extremely similar to those which are used today.
  • The most popular casino table game in the United States is blackjack. There are many reasons why. Beyond the favourable house edge, many films and television series show blackjack as being one of the best games to play to make a profit when using a card counting strategy. Some examples of this are Rain Man, The Hangover and 21.
  • Not all land casinos can ban players for card counting. In Atlantic City, it is legal to count cards when playing blackjack. So, to weaken the players chances of winning, casinos use automatic shuffling machines and play with eight decks of cards.
  • Stephen De Raffaele is a blackjack dealer who has been listed in the Guinness World Records books for dealing blackjack for the longest time. He was serving cards for 51 hours and 33 minutes, stamping his name in the records book back in August 2001.
  • There is a Blackjack Hall of Fame that includes a list of famous players and authors. The Hall of Fame is found in Barona Casino, San Diego, and includes names such as Arnold Snyder, Ken Uston, Darryl Purpose and Don Schlesinger.
  • The shoe at the end of the table – which is used to shuffle cards – was named after its shape – looking very similar to a woman’s high-heeled shoe.
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