Background of Blackjack
Blackjack – also referred to as ‘twenty one’ and ‘pontoon’ – is a card game that is generally seen in a betting house with people attempting their luck on acquiring the elusive ‘21′. It’s widely believed that the game came into existence in France through the 17th century. However, as with many other casino games the exact development of the game is a mystery.
Black jack was brought to the States following the French Revolution, but the game did not become favored in the gambling dens until the casino offered payouts as a bonus. This was the only way that appeared to get people wagering on pontoon. One variation on the bonus pay out was for a gambler to acquire ‘twenty-one’ with the blackjack card (worth 10 points) and an ace (given a value of eleven points). With the growing popularity of the game the bonus pay outs were phased out but the name ‘chemin de fer’ remained.
Twenty-one isn’t simply about getting a straight ‘twenty one’, but the main challenge is to beat the dealer without going ‘bust’. The casino clearly has a house edge over the black jack players in the long term, but with twenty-one the gambler retains an element of choice.
Since 1931 when America initial legalized wagering, pontoon has become a classic betting house card game. Furthermore, it is the combination of both skill and math utilized in chemin de fer that has made the game hugely loved. Blackjack provides an appealing adventure to any scientist, mathematician or gambling player wanting to analyze the tactic of the game.