Blackjack – also known as ‘twenty one’ and ‘pontoon’ – is a card game that nowadays is generally seen in a betting house with players attempting their fortune on achieving the elusive ‘21′. It’s widely believed that the game came into existence in France around the 17th century. However, as with many other casino games the precise development of the game is still a mystery.
Black jack was introduced to the United States following the French Revolution, but the game didn’t become favored in the casinos until the casino provided payouts as a bonus. This was the only way that appeared to get players gambling on pontoon. One variation on the reward payout was for a gambler to make ‘twenty-one’ with the black jack card (given a value of ten points) and an ace (valued at eleven points). With the growing popularity of the game the bonus pay outs were canceled but the name ‘black jack’ lasted.
Black jack is not just about acquiring an immediate ‘twenty-one’, but the primary challenge is to beat the croupier without going ‘bust’. The betting house certainly has a house edge over the pontoon players over the long run, but with chemin de fer the gambler holds on to a bit of choice.
Since nineteen thirty one when the U.S. initial legalized gambling, chemin de fer has grown into a classic gambling den game. Furthermore, it’s the fusion of both ability and mathematics employed in blackjack that has caused the game to be hugely loved. Black jack affords an appealing proposition to any scientist, mathematician or gambling player wanting to research the strategy of the game.