There are two card games called blackjack. One is a British card shedding game with no gambling dimension.  The other game is an American variant, like pontoon, or Vingt-et-un, where the players aim to beat the bank to a hand score of 21.

The game probably spread into the USA from New Orleans, via the Mississippi riverboats, and earned its name from the practice of giving a bonus for turning up both a black jack and the ace of spades.  Now the bonus has fallen from use, and “blackjack” refers to a hand with an ace plus face card or ten of either colour.

In a casino, the game is played on a long, narrow table with the players facing the banker.  The banker deals two cards to each player, the first face up, a second face down in the so-called “hole.”  Players take turns to bet and take another card, a hit, a stand with the cards dealt, or double.  In the latter, a single card is dealt for a double bet and the player finishes.  A fourth option, the split, can be run if the first two cards have the same value.  The player can run two hands, taking more cards.  Players take more cards, or not, as they try to get closer to 21 than the banker.  If they go over 21 – bust – the bets are forfeit.

The banker then tries to beat the players, turning over new cards until a minimum of 17 is reached.  The bank cannot double, but can go bust.  The bank pays out on better hands, returns bets on equal scores, and collects on lower or bust hands.

Betraying its French roots, the game is played with multiple packs of cards dealt from shoes.  The used cards are discarded, encouraging players to count cards in an attempt to increase their chance of winning.  A sound, basic strategy can see a player lose only 1% or so of the base stake, which is a much better rate than for most other casino games.

Jan 19 2012