The magic and power of this game lies in its simplicity that captivates our senses. It does not have a bunch of complicated rules that need to be mastered. It is quite amazing that not a lot of ingredients are needed for assembling a quality card game. Just three cards, a sum of twenty-one and some chips to bet with. Even just those three ingredients provide some fertile soil for dozens of strategies to emerge, making this game infinitely replayable.

The Origins

When one thinks about two decks of cards, he probably thinks — made in China. Unlike popular belief, most modern casino games including blackjack emerged in France before spreading around the globe in various forms and variations. French aristocrats invented many games to enjoy their free time before the Revolution rarefied their ranks. Their favorite pastime was called twenty-one, and it is a great-great-grandpa of blackjack. Blackjack is the Americanised version that originated in some smokey back-alley rooms of unlicensed casino joints during the Prohibition.

French Jack of spades quickly fit into his new American homeland, earning this nickname Black Jack, which is cool plus pretty catchy nickname. American casinos adopted this pastime with open hands by adding a few ingredients themselves, thus making it some perfect addition to their already existing catalog. Today, it is an iconic symbol of casual gambling that is embedded into our popular culture.

Blackjack in America

When Americans adopted this game from the French, they adjusted it to their mentality which is practical and entrepreneurial. This game survived all misfortunes that struck America, from the Great Depression to WW2, and emerged enriched with the American spirit filled with optimism and confidence. From Ed Thorp to the MIT blackjack team, this game became an integral part of American folklore.

Most Famous Blackjack Players

Ed Thorp used his math skills for beating this game, plus he invented what we call card-counting today. His ingenious mind showed us an incredible insight into this game which changed our perception forever.

Lawrence Revere is another pioneer in this card-counting department who developed his own strategies which he explained in his best-selling books. He used to work in various casinos, studying the game, before deciding that it was a time to become a professional player.

Ben Mezrich is a prominent member of a notorious MIT team that terrorized casinos across the continent back in the 1990s. By using team play, they were raiding casinos faster than the fastest payout online casino could cash you out. It was the beginning of a new era in gambling history.

Tom Hyland raided casinos in the 1970s before anyone even took gambling seriously. He made it into a lifestyle, a business that is done in an organized manner, with some clear intention of beating casinos in their own game.

Online Blackjack

Once gambling houses went online, this game followed while quickly becoming most wanted title in any game catalog. Game providers saw a golden opportunity and made it shine by enriching it with crafty animations plus appealing sound effects. Live dealers add a new level of excitement which gives players that unforgettable Las Vegas vibe.

Conclusion

This game remains a gambler’s favorite choice when they start their gaming sessions. It helped to elevate online gambling with real money to another level of excellence by showing that playing it online can be as thrilling as enjoying it in live play. People love it because it can be perfect and used for beating those casinos. That is why it will never go into oblivion.

About the Author

Frankie Wilde is a content writer at various gambling sites. Also, he is a passionate traveller and a great cook. Frankie shares informative articles with the world.