Most people are at least broadly familiar with blackjack. After all, it’s one of the most widely played card games on the planet. And even if you’ve never played it yourself (and we doubt it), you’ll have seen blackjack in movies and television shows. James Bond has played his fair share of games on the big screen over the years, and blackjack also featured heavily in the classic Dustin Hoffman/Tom Cruise 80s movie, Rain Man.
As you might expect from such an iconic game, there’s much to know about blackjack. With that in mind, we thought it’d be a good idea to put together a collection of some fascinating blackjack facts that you probably don’t know. Let’s get into them.
It’s An Old-Game
How many games made today will still be played more than three hundred years into the future? League of Legends, Madden, and Grand Theft Auto are good, sure, but we think the world might have moved on when 2300 rolls around.
If a game is able to celebrate its 300th birthday, then that’s a pretty indicator that it’s a hit. Blackjack is believed to have originated around 1700 in France, only back then it was called vingt-et-un, which the French speakers among you will recognize as being the French word for 21.
The game’s popularity spread throughout Europe during the 18th century before eventually making its way to the United States, probably via the heavily French-influenced New Orleans.
People Get the Object of the Game Wrong
We said at the beginning of the article that most people are familiar with blackjack, but actually, the majority of people get a pretty big factor — the objective of the game — wrong. See, if you ask a random person on the street about the goal of blackjack, they’ll probably tell you: “to get 21.”
But that’s not the case. The objective of the game isn’t to get 21 but to simply beat the dealer. If you can do that when all you have is 12, then great! Note: if you have 12, we’d absolutely recommend hitting; while it’s possible to win with such a low-value hand, it’s highly unlikely.
Playing Online Is Increasingly Popular
Blackjack is an ever-evolving game. Indeed, if you traveled back to 1700s France and played a game, you probably wouldn’t fully understand what was going on. It has changed over the years. While the game has remained settled for a while, how people play has changed. Today, it’s more likely that a person will look online for a game of blackjack than in a real-world casino. That’s because of the convenience and comfort that online casinos offer, but also because of the range of games they have available — at the best websites, you’ll find a few different versions of the game.
Sixteen is the Worst Opening Hand
If you’ve been given a hard sixteen as your opening hand, then bad news: that’s statistically the game’s worst opening hand! This is mostly because it’s so difficult to play. If you stick, then the dealer has a good chance of beating you; if you play, then you’ve got a good chance of going bust.
There’s still a chance, though. And if you lose? Well, there’s always the next hand.
So, what should you do if you’re dealt a hard sixteen in blackjack? The answer lies in the dealer’s showing card. If it’s seven or above, then it’s worthwhile asking for a card. If the showing card is below that, then consider standing.
And the Ideal Hand is…Blackjack!
If sixteen is the worst hand you can be dealt, what’s the best? Well, the clue’s in the game’s original name, vingt-et-un, which, you may recall from earlier in the article, is French for 21. If you’re dealt an ace and a card with a value of ten (King, Queen, Jack, Ace), then you’ll have won the game immediately. You’ve got around a 5% chance of landing blackjack, so it’ll happen sooner or later.
