Blackjack History

Blackjack history is a subject that has come up for contention countless times in the past, and disputes about the game’s exact origins are in fact just as much a part of its history as the games that birthed the modern form. One theory is that blackjack history begins in 17th century France, with the game called "Vingt-et-un". This phrase literally translates to "21", making a strong case for the veracity of this theory.

Nevertheless, an equally popular idea has been put forth, with its proponents claiming that blackjack history began with much earlier–in the 14th century more precisely–with the modest popularity of a game called "Thirty-one". Although the name may be a bit further off in comparison, this particular game has enough similarities with modern blackjack to warrant the validity of its lineage to the game as it is played today.

The object of Thirty-one was get a total of 31 with a hand comprised of three cards. It is interesting to note that it was during this time that the first printed playing cards were made, and this doubtless led to the popularity of numerous other card games, such as "Seven-and-a-Half".

Blackjack Began in France or Italy?

Another Italian invention, Seven-and-a-Half is another important game in blackjack history. While not exactly similar to blackjack as we now play it, the game did use only the 8's, 9's, 10's and face cards, which are of course some of the more valuable cards in modern-day blackjack. Similar to the blackjack rules, players of Seven-and-a-Half who got a total higher than 7.5 would bust out of the game.

The French game Vingt-et-un mentioned earlier actually was a lot more similar to modern-day blackjack in terms of rules and game play. Players of Vingt-et-un also had to get a hand as close to 21 as possible without busting out, and in a more significant step in blackjack history, the game introduced the practice of assigning either a 1 or an 11 value to the Ace card. For this last aspect alone, many people consider Vingt-et-un the most similar to the modern form of the game.

Blackjack’s More Recent Developments

Blackjack history underwent considerable transformation when it arrived in America, soon after the French Revolution. The game was then known as “21”–a name that is still in use in some parts of the world today–and it was a huge hit among the casino crowds, particularly after several gambling establishments began offering generous bonuses for hands comprised of a Jack and an Ace of Spades. This combination was and still is known as "Black Jack", and there you have the origins of the modern name of the game.

There have been many other significant developments in blackjack history in the years since, including the rise of Las Vegas and the subsequent hold of the game among the casino crowds, and the introduction of the online version of the game as played in the online casino. The game has remained virtually the same since it reached American shores however, and subsequently made it across the world, where it is now played by millions of people.