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Blackjack
- also known as 'twenty-one' and 'pontoon' - is a card game that
nowadays is often found in a casino with people trying their luck
on achieving the elusive '21'. It is widely believed that the game
originated in France during the 17th century. However, as with most
other gambling games the precise evolution of the game remains a
mystery: suffice to say it has probably been around forever.
Blackjack
was introduced to the United States following the French Revolution,
but the game didn't become popular in the gambling dens until the
casino offered payouts as a bonus. This was the only method that
seemed to get people gambling on blackjack. One variation on the
bonus payout was for a player to make '21' with the black jack card
(worth 10 points) and an ace (worth 11 points). With the increasing
popularity of the game the payouts were phased out but the name
'blackjack' remained.
Blackjack
isn't just about achieving an outright '21', but the primary challenge
is to beat the dealer without going 'bust'. The casino obviously
has an advantage over the gambling players in the long run, but
with blackjack the player retains an element of choice.
Since
1931 when America first legalized gambling, blackjack has become
a classic casino card game. Furthermore, it is the combination of
both skill and math used in blackjack that has made the game hugely
popular. Blackjack provides an attractive proposition to any scientist,
mathematician or gambling player wanting to research the strategy
of the game.
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