Blackjack – also referred to as ‘21′ and ‘pontoon’ – is a card game that nowadays is usually seen in a betting house with players trying their fortune on acquiring the elusive ‘twenty-one’. It is commonly believed that the game originated in France during the 1600’s. However, as with most other casino games the exact development of the game is still a mystery.
Twenty-one was brought to the US following the French Revolution, but the game did not become favored in the gambling dens until the house offered bonus payouts. This was the only way that seemed to get people betting on twenty-one. One variant on the reward payment was for a player to acquire ‘21′ with the blackjack card (given a value of ten points) and an ace (valued at 11 points). With the expanding appeal of the game the bonus pay outs were canceled but the name ‘pontoon’ stayed.
Blackjack isn’t simply about acquiring a straight ‘twenty-one’, but the main adventure is to beat the croupier without going ‘bust’. The casino clearly has an edge over the gambling players over the long run, but with chemin de fer the gambler retains a bit of choice.
Since 1931 when the U.S. initial legalized wagering, black jack has become a quintessential casino game. Furthermore, it’s the combination of both skill and mathematics used in pontoon that has made the game hugely popular. Chemin de fer affords an attractive proposition to any scientist, math guy or wagering player wanting to examine the scheme of the game.
