Blackjack is one of the oldest classic casino games that according to most experts in the field has been around since the 1700s. While the exact origin of one of the most popular casino games is still unclear, we know for sure that Blackjack in a slightly different form existed in France at this time. Relying on slightly different rules, the game of Blackjack played at French casinos in the 1700s was called Vingt-et-Un which when translated to Twenty-One.
When discussing the origin of Blackjack, it should be noted the game was probably inspired by two other card games played in France at the time including French Ferme and Chemin de Fer. In addition to Chemin de Fer and French Ferme, it is very possible the game took some elements from a popular card game played in Spain. In the Spanish game One and Thirty the main goal for to reach thirty-one with at least three cards.
There are several other theories about the origin of Blackjack and one of these suggests the game was in fact invented by the Romans. According to some historians, the Romans who were avid gamblers played a game similar to Blackjack using wooden blocks. However, this theory cannot be proved. What we know for sure is that Twenty-One or Vingt-et-Un spread from Europe to North America. The game was brought to New Orleans by French colonists and it was not long before it reached other Southern cities and expanded across the whole country.
The Evolution of Blackjack
Back in the 1700s and 1800s when the game of Twenty-One expanded across North America and Europe, the rules were quite different from the rules of modern Blackjack games played today. In the earliest forms of Blackjack, only the croupier was allowed to double. Following the rising popularity of the game in Las Vegas, it was still called Twenty-One. To promote the game, Las Vegas Casinos offered special bets and one of these was a hand consisting of black jacks. While Las Vegas casinos stopped offering special bets of this kind later, the name Blackjack was born.
Over the years, the game of Blackjack evolved with other popular casino games and it continues to evolve even today thanks to amazing technological advancements. The popularity of the game was fueled by the online casino gambling industry. Online casinos introduced a whole range of Blackjack games that today are readily available to everyone. Some of the most popular online Blackjack variants you can play today are:
- European Blackjack
- Blackjack Switch
- Single Deck Blackjack
- Atlantic City Blackjack
- Double Exposure Blackjack
- Multi Hand Blackjack
- Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Many reputable, highly successful online casinos offer even more enjoyable live dealer Blackjack games that you also play from the coziness of your home. Considering the game’s amazing popularity, all reputable online casinos offer several Blackjack variants. The best blackjack casino in the UK as mentioned here caters to every single Blackjack fan out there since all of the most popular Blackjack variants are features including highly exciting live Blackjack games. This leads us to the best Blackjack winning strategies that when incorporated the right way significantly boost your winning odds.
Increase Your Blackjack Winning Odds with the Best Winnings Strategies
Over the years, numerous different Blackjack winning strategies emerged on the scene but not all of these boost your winning odds the same, similar to how not all trading strategies work as well as others. The most basic Blackjack winning strategy that most experienced Blackjack players use is mathematically correct and more importantly, it works all the time. When the only information you have is the croupier’s card and your hand, employing the most basic Blackjack strategy is the best way to go.
Before you employ any Blackjack winning strategy, make sure you familiarize yourself with the game. If you are a newbie and want to play online, choose Blackjack games that use either four or eight decks. The main goal is to minimize the casino edge and knowing when to stand and when to hit gets you there. If there is an option to surrender, you should never surrender a pair of eights against croupier’s Ace, ten, or nine. You should surrender a hard fifteen against the croupier’s ten. You should also surrender a hard sixteen.
When it comes to splitting, the most basic Blackjack strategy you can use suggests you always split eights and Aces but never split tens and fives. You should also split threes and twos against croupier’s seven, six, five, or four. If you have two six, consider splitting it against croupier’s seven, six, five, three, or two. Also consider splitting sevens against croupier’s seven, six, five, four, three, or two. Split nines against croupier’s nine, eight, six, five, four, three, or two.
If you are playing a Blackjack variant in which Double After Split is possible, split threes and twos against croupier’s three and two. If Double After Split is possible, also split if you two six against croupier’s two and split fours against croupier’s two. The most basic Blackjack strategy that relies on mathematics and probabilities suggests you always double hard nines against croupier’s six, five, four, or three.
Following the same basic Blackjack winning strategy, you double hard ten expect against croupier’s Ace or ten. You also double hard eleven except against croupier’s Ace. The same Blackjack winning strategy suggests you double soft thirteen or fourteen versus croupier’s six or four. Doubling soft sixteen or fifteen against croupier’s six or four is also recommended. Against croupier’s six or three, always double soft eighteen or seventeen. When it comes to hitting and standing:
- Hit on hard eleven or less
- Stand on hard twelve against croupier’s six, five, or four
- Hit on hard twelve in other situations
- Stand on hard fifteen, fourteen, and thirteen against croupier’s six, five, four, three, or two
- Stand on hard seventeen or greater
- Stand on soft eighteen
- Hit on soft eighteen against croupier’s Ace, ten, or nine
- Stand on soft nineteen or greater
